The Magnetic Fields “i” (Best of the Decade)

69 Love Songs will undoubtedly go down as the New York-based Magnetic Fields’ opus. However, in examining only the band’s 21st Century material, the so-called “no-synth trilogy,” (of which only two albums have been released so far) it is i that (arguably) stands out as the Fields’ best work of the decade. Sure, Distortions has more clever lyricism, more challenging sonic structures, and a cooler concept; shit, to the objective listener it is probably the better record. However in this reviewer’s completely subjective opinion, i is just too lovely to take second tier. Despite Stephin Merritt’s attempts to shroud every song in gloom, the neo-classical pop arrangements break through with a baroque shine that turns Merritt’s infinite sadness to infinite beauty. “I Don’t Believe You” is undoubtedly one of the Fields” catchiest tunes, and it also one of the best examples of how Merritt makes his never-ending pessimism a funny affair (though the notoriously cranky songwriter might disagree with the humor). Then you have the delicious schadenfreude of “I Wish I Had an Evil Twin,” the sad clown narrative of “I Looked All Over Town,” and the simplistic loveliness of “In an Operetta,” to name only a few of the record’s standouts. All the tunes are strung together with the “I” concept (all the songs begin with it) and throughout the record Merritt’s songwriting is more confessional than ever before. Sure, Distortion may be the conventionally better album, but as far as I am concerned I am sticking with this one.

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Also: The Magnetic Fields @ State Theatre