Alternate View of Reality

Oh, let's talk new Magnetic Fields. This is my first official post on the band, and I guess there's very little surprise in it as the band seems to take their time with new material these days. Yes, it's been 4 years since "i" was released, and to tell the truth I had pretty much forgotten about Stephin Merritt and company. That's not to say I haven't picked up classics like the 3-disc "69 Love Songs" a couple times each year for refresher courses, but it's never to the point where I think about The Magnetic Fields on a daily/weekly basis. Of course the new album "Distortion" has totally jogged my memory, and suddenly I'm back in love with the band again and they remain in my consciousness on a much more frequent basis. Quite frankly, it's a lovely feeling.

Now to be completely honest, I wasn't that inspired by "i," which was certainly a sound adjustment for the band with a new focus on acoustic guitars and more personal lyrics. Not that having Stephin Merritt pouring his heart out on record makes it terrible, but I never quite got used to it in comparison to the band's previous material. What's so wonderful is that "Distortion" pushes everything back in the right direction. I wouldn't call it a return to form, because this record doesn't sound exactly like the band's early albums, but rather a hodgepodge of sonics from all that old material. Like the smart musicians that they are, The Magnetic Fields make all of it sound great and work to the best of its ability.

The one thing I will not call Stephin Merritt is a liar. Albums and song titles mean what they say and say what they mean. When you call your record "69 Love Songs" and then actually put 69 love songs on it, that's truth. When you call an album "i" and then have all the song titles start with that letter (in alphabetical order, no less) but also write about a bunch of autobiographical things (first person "I"-like writing), that's also truth. How then can you not expect tons of guitar fuzz and loud interference to not be in every track on an album titled "Distortion"? Once again, this is a record that spews literal truth with its sound and printed word being completely cohesive.

What's also really satisfying about "Distortion" is that underneath all the fuzz and arbitrary noise there's a strong indie pop record (much like the band's very early material). Peel back the layers and you've got a collection of really accessible material that could easily play on the radio with some fanfare. That the band chose to not go that route and instead attempt something a little different and new for them is admirable. The last thing anybody really wants is another formulaic indie pop album anyways. And while at times the tracks can get a little down and depressing, for the most part this is a really fun album. It was a little challenge for me to come up with a couple other artists or albums to compare this to, but I think certain albums by Guided By Voices, Big Star and Roxy Music can all be mentioned in the same context as "Distortion." Once again I'm reminded of the magic that The Magnetic Fields bring to the table with one of the finest records I've heard thus far in 2008 (keep in mind though, we're still at the very beginning of the year).

The Magnetic Fields- Drive On, Driver

Buy "Distortion" from Amazon

Labels: the magnetic fields