Magnetic Fields
Love at the Bottom of the Sea (Merge)
Reviewed by Kate X Messer, Fri., March 16, 2012
Magnetic Fields
Love at the Bottom of the Sea (Merge)The abiding narrative, that this is the Mags' big return to electronic music, is overplayed. Yes, Stephin Merritt & Co. have found pretty new toys to play and play with – new synthesizer tech that does things beyond their last electo-cuting, the landmark 69 Love Songs (Merge), before they "unplugged" for the i, Distortion, and Realism trilogy (Nonesuch) – but the lasting impression is in the lyricism and melody. Their liberal word-cram of mixed meter and sea-shanty pentameter is on full display on instant jaunty novelties like "Andrew in Drag," "My Husband's Pied-a-Terre," and "God Wants Us To Wait." High points include the haunting yet hysterical "Your Girlfriend's Face," but where the wordplay really gets in its cups is the Lee Hazelwood/Leonard Cohen rumble of "I've Run Away To Join the Fairies" and Marty Robbins grave-churner "All She Cares About Is Mariachi." Even saying the song titles aloud is a sing-along. (Fri., 8:45pm, ACL Live at the Moody Theater)
