The Magnetic Fields- Distortion
February 27, 2008
The Magnetic Fields
Distortion
January 15th 2008
Nonesuch Records
Despite my doubts about the new album Distortion from The Magnetic Fields, I was fortunate enough to be outsmarted by my neighbor, who insisted I give it a chance. Distortion is just as its name implies; it is framed in an early 80’s gothic-rock style and flooded with metallic reverberations and cavernous melodies. The Magnetic Fields have clearly drawn influence from post-punk innovators Joy Division/New Order. Much of this comparison is directed at the production of the record itself. The slightly distant and droney tone of Stephin Merritt is highly reminiscent of Mark Smith of The Fall. Hello Bend Sinister, meet Closer. At times it seems as if the zygotmatic pre-thoughts of Talking Heads wandered into the love child of The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine ala Factory Records. In short this shit is potent!
The Magnetic Fields’ similarities and analogies to other bands have their down side too. Till the Bitter End has a Blonde Redhead quality that reminds me of just how much I want another Blonde Redhead album. Somehow I don’t imagine they were counting on the subliminal advertising of Magnetic Fields tunes. Drive On, Driver cannot be reconciled with the rest of the record. It is like a hot chick with bunions or a hump back (for the record, I have nothing against bunions or hump backs). But songs like Please Stop Dancing and Zombie Boy are unmistakably brilliant. Their detached and defuse pop appeal is inspiring. In a strange way they embody everything Stars want to but can’t because they are too narcissistic. The Magnetic Fields on the other hand are extremely self-reflexively aware of Distortion’s influences and have taken steps to ensure that they do not appear to take themselves too seriously. This awareness not only saves the record from obsolescence, but it is exactly what makes it so relevant to how the music industry navigates itself forward, sometimes stopping to reflect on the nostalgic moments of its past.
http://www.myspace.com/themagneticfields
Other Music
Distant Plastic Trees- 1991
The Wayward Bus- 1992
The House of Tomorrow EP- 1992
Holiday- 1994
The Charm of the Highway Strip- 1994
Get Lost- 1995
69 Love Songs- 1999
i- 2004
