“Distortion” by the Magnetic Fields

Rating: 7.4/10

The Magnetic Fields are a band like no other. Not only is Stephin Merritt’s songwriting great and the music stellar, but their albums go beyond the usual rock or pop formula.

Instead of being a mere collection of songs, Merritt heavily conceptualizes his albums so that songs fit into specific contexts. Take the three-disc box set from 1999, “69 Love Songs,” or 2004’s “i,” in which every song started with the letter “i.”

Their newest album, fittingly titled “Distortion,” is an album comprised of noise and pop music sensibilities. However, unlike their prior works, most of this album is hit-or-miss.

The Jesus and Mary Chain might either want to sue the Magnetic Fields or praise them for this effort. Fans of that group will think that “Distortion” is either a blatant rip-off or the best Jesus and Mary Chain album never recorded.

Like most Magnetic Fields albums, it is crucial to listen from start to finish, because there are definite elements of prior songs present in the later tracks.

The bass lines run up and down a wall of fuzz for a majority of these tracks. The atmospheric but dissonant pop sound stays throughout the album. It gives the album a momentum, like it’s building up to something transcendent. But it never actually does. In fact, some of the tracks are just boring or obnoxious.

“Too Drunk to Dream” just doesn’t fit in with the rest of the album’s sonic texture. However, “Please Stop Dancing” and “Zombie Boy” are two legitimate gems and easily the best two songs on the album. Also noteworthy is “The Nun’s Litany” with its hand claps and sweet melody.

As a whole, this album might not stand up on repeated listens. It doesn’t feel like an album you’d put at the top of a year-end list. For now, however, it is at least worth a listen and about 45 minutes of your time.

If someone could listen to it repeatedly, I would have to wonder about the health of their ears. With so much “Distortion,” it might not be an album to listen to in the car or anywhere but your home computer.