magnetic fields

Stephin Merritt is not a happy guy. And never has this been clearer than on Distortion, the first album in four years from his most famous vehicle, the Magnetic Fields.

In contrast with the warmer string melodies of 2004's i, the new album offers a feedback-heavy, lo-fi sound in keeping with its name.

A heavy influence from the Jesus and Mary Chain's Psychocandy shrouds the album in an outright coldness rather than Merritt's usual tongue-in-cheek lyricism. This darker ambience brings his cynical perception of love to the forefront, rather than hiding it behind witticisms like previous efforts have.

Still, Merritt retains much of this whimsy, notably on tracks such as "Nun's Litany." The track, which is about a nun wanting to be a porn star, marries his unflinchingly sardonic outlook with a dose of absurdity.

One of Distortion's best tracks, "Too Drunk to Dream," strikes a similar balance. Juxtaposed with upbeat garage rock, this ode to drinking away feelings of love feels light-hearted. But Merritt's baritone cannot be anything but serious when he laments, "Sober, life is a prison / S-faced, it is a blessing."

"Mr. Mistletoe" and "Courtesans," sung by secondary vocalist Claudia Gonson, further highlight the album's darkness with their celebrations of loneliness, but do so without being trite.

These depressing themes have the same mark that Merritt has always left on his songs, but Distortion is a very different album. The fuzzy feedback, seemingly both an exaggeration and fitting extrapolation of the band's previous work with synthpop, works for Merritt. The distortion gives an ambience that fits his messages of unrequited love.

Given Merritt's musical past, his next album will sound the opposite of this one. Nonetheless, this album will certainly be remembered as one of his best.