DISTORTION
posted January 23, 2008, 11:19 am | Log In To Post Comments | 
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Tags: magnetic fields, distortion
There were two really highly anticipated albums that came out this month. One was Distortion, by the Magnetic Fields. The second, Jukebox by Cat Power, which I'll write about later.
DISTORTION: It came out the 15th and I bought it as soon as I woke up. I've been waiting for this album ever since I heard about it six months ago. Not so much because I'm a huge Magnetic Field's fan (but I like them a lot). More that it was a sequel to Psychocandy, probably one of the best albums of all time. I'm a huge JMC fan, not just because of their sound but everything they've ever done, how they created shockwaves within the alternative music scene that gave way to what we call today "shoegazing," and really helped along the indie rock movement. Along with the Smiths, I'd have to say JMC was the first indie band. Obviously that's up for debate. But in my opinion, a truly independent ANYTHING is something that so nearly resembles something else, or comes close to conforming, but then goes in another direction. Jesus and Mary Chain's path in the beginning, from the surface, seemed predictable: they were going to be just like the Sex Pistols, spit at the audience, make some hits, piss off a lot of people. They dressed like them, they were notoriously bad-ass like them, fought and dressed like them. Yet they weren't like them at all. They created this sound, this low-fi buzzing goodness, and embraced the clashing feedback they became so well known fore. They set the standards for generations to come. And, like most truly indie bands, they got almost no credit for this. But, alas, this is not about JMC. This is the Magnetic Fields' attempt to sound "just like honey."
According to SPIN, Distortion only sounds "kinda" like honey. The Magnetic Field's sequel is hardly a sequel, but it does pay homage to this greatly influential band. However, like I said, it is NOT a sequel. It doesn't sound like Jesus and Mary Chain one bit. It doesn't have those typically simple lyrics (Ex: I want your candy/I want stuff). The sound is still very much Magnetic Fields-esque. They sound more like the Beach Boys on "California Girls" and "Drive On, Driver." And their lyrics are more dense, more complicated that JMC. If you look at the titles of these songs: "The Nuns Litany" and "Courtesans," among others, you can see that these songs won't be about any drugs. Which I think is what made JMC great: their lyrics weren't very good, their organization just mediocre, but their overall delivery was great. "Too Drunk To Dream" is a really funny track about acceptable forms of alcoholism, which I guess JMC could probably relate to. "Zombie Boy" is haunting, Steve Merritts voice yet again overpowering the song. "Three Way" is just a bunch of feedback bouncing off the walls and three shouts: THREE WAY! spread out through the song. But in general this is great effort. They try to sound more "JMC" than JMC ever did, which maybe could have been done a different way, but then you wouldn't get these great yet authentic tracks from the Magnetic Fields.
Comments:
Nice write-up on Distortion. I still need to pick it up. It is on my list though.
You should throw this great review up on the album page too. You might get some more eyeballs looking at it.
Additional Tags: Distortion
posted on January 23, 2008, 12:02 pm
