Spring Break
The Magnetic Fields don't pack much charge
Michael Blessing
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
|
The nearly two decades to follow have consisted of a new record every few years. Their musical journey traveled into some varying sounds, each album having a different twist and turn, but always keeping their straightforward edge. "Distortion" is undeniably the furthest away from any other sound the group has put out. This is a completely new style that has trekked far away from the group's starting point.
The new album is aptly named "Distortion" for the various feedback and static sounds underlying the vocals and instruments. A lo-fi feel is created that covers the whole record like dust on a book case.
The opening track, "Three-Way," puts a catchy rhythm in the air, with upbeat percussion and sweet sounding lo-fi presence. Man and woman in turn happily shout three-way periodically through the tune. It is a pleasant song, but really lacks any substance. It could have had more than the revolving beat, and just the shout of three-way. It becomes repetitive, and boring. This, however, does not represent the sum of the album.
The Magnetic Fields show themselves and their creativity in the tracks to come. They took a look back in time even further than the 80s to grab some inspiration. Sounds of the 60s pop ring loud throughout, but most obviously in tracks like "Drive on, Driver" and "Xavier Says." The lead vocals in both of these belong to Shirley Simms, who provides the memorable sound of this record. It is smooth with a retro feel that makes for a pleasant listen.
Stephen Merritt sings lead in most of the previous records, but in "Distortion" he only has a few tracks. It really suffers when he takes over. His deep voice just does not sit well with the feedback that is pumped into the music. "I'll Dream Alone" and "Mr. Mistletoe" need a higher pitched vocalist to match the slow rhythmic thumping. His voice seems to hold back the harmony of the songs. Shirley Simms should have been the front voice for this entire album.
Despite the pleasant, creative music, "Distortion" is held back by tracks thrown in that do not fit the equation. The album seems to choke on several songs, like "Three-Way," "Zombie Boy," and "Courtesans." They all lack feeling, and the same sounds echo repetitively. In "Zombie Boy," the feedback takes lead, and becomes annoying. It is just too much of the scratching, screechy sound.
Overall, the album has many bright points that are, unfortunately, overshadowed by the lackluster tracks. They weaken its credibility too much. The Magnetic Fields have developed a distinct sound with this release, but only half of the songs should be listened to. Distortion will only be enjoyed by those extremely into the lo-fi sound. For the rest of the music listeners, it is not worth a purchase.
Be the first to comment on this story