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The Magnetic Fields
Realism
By Jeremy Willets
Realism, was supposedly conceived as a companion to 2008’s Distortion. But the point of conception is clearly where the similarities between the two diverged. The two albums couldn’t be more different. While Distortion was Stephin Merritt’s take on noisy pop, Realism is the mercurial composer’s version of ornate pop. And he manages to pull everything off this time out without two staples of modern music — drums and synthesizers. The opening cut “You Must Be Out of Your Mind” might be the most delicate “screw you” track in music history. Merritt’s lyrics are brimming with venomous revenge; but they’re almost charming when they’re paired with his intricate acoustic guitar work. It’s easily the album’s standout track.
Songs like “Interlude” and “I Don't Know What to Say” are chamber-poppy and precious, while “We Are Having a Hootenanny” delves incredibly close to country. “Seduced and Abandoned” gives one the feeling that Merritt might just be the kind of guy who would stab you in the back — but only because that kind of thing has been done to him one too many times. “The Dolls’ Tea Party” sounds, fittingly, a bit like the Dresden Dolls, while the hook of “The Dada Polka” is almost cloying in its persistence. Singers Shirley Simms and Claudia Gonson do their part in breaking up the tracks that feature Merritt’s occasionally deadpan voice. Although Realism is a pretty trim effort — none of the 13 tracks are longer than 3:30 — it’s still certainly enough to satisfy Merrit’s cultish following.
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