The Magnetic Fields: Distortion

Copy at Case Memorial Library
Eric R. Danton wrote in his Hartford Courant blog Sound Check: "The Magnetic Fields' latest album, 'Distortion,' takes the band's chamber-pop sound in a startling new direction, with swirling fuzz-tones wreathing catchy pop melodies. It's easy enough to coax feedback and distortion from guitars, but singer Stephin Merritt … and company went a step further and sent piano, cello, organ and accordion to the verge of feedback for the sound of this album, he told me in a recent interview for this story. Given the noisy leap forward, and the fact that the Magnetic Fields open their first tour since 2004 Monday in Northampton, 'Distortion' seemed like a topic worthy of discussion. Our podcasting crew was divided over the new sound: Babe Zero and I love it, Stephen Busemeyer and Elizabeth Zuhl weren't so sure. Listen to songs from 'Distortion' here. Listen to previous podcasts here. Download Podcast — Magnetic Fields (caution: one of the songs we discuss features a colorful, explicit term for 'inebriation')" ("Magnetic Fields Podcast," 2/11/08).