THE MAGNETIC FIELDS / Realism [2010]

When concluding the No Synth Trilogy, Stephen Merritt decided to go the opposite of the sonically distorted textures of Distortion and take in some acoustic folk sounds for The Magnetic Fields' 2010 album, Realism.
Merritt sounds right at home with simple & melodic plucky pop songs that allow him to gently layer the delicate, airy vocals over top of it all with great ease.  As light and bubbly as the songs sound, Merritt always manages to sneak in snarky lyrics with a cold smile on his face.  Unfortunately it really is an album that has me divided over the really great songs scattered throughout the half-baked, near irritating songs that are borderline kiddy tunes with a bit too much pep.

3 Hootenannys out of 5

Songs Of Note: You Must Be Out Of Your Mind; Seduced And Abandoned

THE MAGNETIC FIELDS / Distortion [2008]

2008's Distortion, the 2nd album in The Magnetic Fields' No Synth trilogy, is like Stephin Merritt's distorted love letter to The Jesus And Mary Chain's Psychocandy.
Buried underneath a gentle yet powerful distortion, is Merritt's taste for 60's pop meshed with sunny goth syrup complimented with absolutely twisted lyrics which all makes for an interesting and oddly pleasant listen.  As strong a presence as Merritt has, it's Shirley Simm's voice that steals the show when she's allowed to come to the forefront.  Now a little more confident without their trademark synths, Distortion makes for even more of a solid listen than their previous effort.

4 sober prisons out of 5

Songs Of Note:  California Girls; The Nun's Litany

THE MAGNETIC FIELDS / i [2004]

After 1999's monumental 69 Love Songs, synth-pop band The Magnetic Fields had a lot to live up to. In a brave move, they ditched the synths and relied heavily on guitars and strings for the selfishly titled i, the first part of trilogy of albums called No Synth.
Like a smug hybrid of Ian Curtis, Shane McGowan and Cole Porter, Fields' frontman Stephen Merrit sounds as if he's been taking some much needed vocal lessons. The songs are friendly enough, the lyrics are fantastic and the production is top-notch, only the album lacks in enough songs to make a great record. Not to say there aren't any gems on here, because there are...just not enough.

2½ Songs that start with "i" out of 5

Songs Of Note: I Don't Really Love You Anymore; In An Operetta