Customer Reviews

Magic, Murder & the Weather

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not the best Magazine studio record. That said, it's a better album than the best efforts of other bands. Do I sound like a doting fan? Guilty as charged. But, for good reason. From the start, Howard Devoto and his band wrote haunting, cool songs and played them with aggression and elegance. They were born in the true, dying days of Punk, but the chromosomes went back a little further to Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, and Bowie's Thin White Duke. By the time of their fifth album, Magic, Murder and the Weather, the edge had dulled a bit, but the sophistication remained. The departure of founding guitarist John McGeough, and his replacement by Ben Mandlesohn, added space to the music. At times, Mandlesohn sounds like Steve Hackett in the Peter Gabriel days of Genesis. Standouts on this album include "About the Weather" with its erie, Motown-esque piano; the lovely, breathy "Vigilance," which sounds like it's being played 50 feet above the Earth, and "This Poison" with its reggae-driven fatalism. As always, Devoto sings his ironic words with his distinctly detached phrasing. There's a little more humor in his writing, especially on "Suburban Rhonda." This album was a disappointing swan song in its day for this utterly unique and inspired band; but it still resonates and entertains after 20 years.

I think that Magazine is generally an acquired taste, and that some songs need to be listened to many times before you appreciate them. That is especially true for this album. The first time I heard it, I thought it wasn't very good. The second time I heard it, I liked it more than before, but still wasn't thrilled with it. By the fifth or sixth listen, I had decided I loved it, and was playing it almost daily. I would not say that this is Magazine's best album. I think that title goes to The Correct Use Of Soap. But this album is definitely essential if you are a Magazine fan. If you are just getting in to Magazine, it is probably not a good idea to buy this album first. I would recommend The Correct Use Of Soap for new listeners since it is the catchiest of all their albums. But once you have become accustomed to Magazine's eccentric dark pop sound, I definitely recommend that you buy this album!

THE NEW REISSUES OVERALL:

SOUND: The mastering job makes a noticeable difference. The mix remains true to the originals, but there's more definition around the edges of each part - resulting in more powerful dynamics and an overall clearer sound. They refrained from maxing out the volume, which also helps with the dynamics.

MUSICAL CONTENT: They did it exactly right. Every non-album studio-recorded a-side and b-side has been slotted onto the ends of the appropriate albums. Previously, you had to buy the four albums, the non-album collection "Scree," and an additional disc to get the original a-side version of "Shot By Both Sides." (There was a great live 3-song b-side on an e.p., which is now only available on "Scree." Some alternate 2002 mixes of "Magic Murder and the Weather" songs are only available on the boxed set, "Maybe It's Right to be Nervous Now." The third disc of that box - the complete Peel Sessions - was released as a stand-alone cd in November, 2008.)

PACKAGING UPSIDE: Magazine had great album covers, but the Virgin cds all printed a diagonal banner across them indicating that they were budget cds. So that has been rectified. Also, the new cds come in clear jewel boxes and have nice artwork adaptations beneath the cds (which also have album-specific graphics on them). Typography on the spines is also specific to the albums and their visual aesthetic.

PACKAGING DOWNSIDE: The Virgin cds did a good job of adapting the back covers of the albums for the jewel box, and only the new "Correct Use of Soap" really tries to do that (poorly). The printing job is okay but not great. The typography on "Soap" and "Magic" is a little wonky, and the background color on "Soap" far more yellow than the original artwork/album. The Virgin cds also included the complete lyrics. The new cds do not have any lyrics. There's no additional graphic content either - photography, single covers, or anything else. Aside from the credits, all you get are mediocre essays that don't tell you much if you're already a Magazine fan.

I suppose they might have just run out of ideas by this time. Or somebody just blurted out, "hang it up, Howard!" Or John McGeoch was a much more talented musician than whoever is the replacement guitarist for this record. At least I felt some intense emotion listening to their classic albums, Real Life and Secondhand Daylight. Those are my all time favorites, and I'd hands down recommend either of those 2 albums over this. This one's decent, just kinda out there.

I'm in the minority, but I thought this album was their best. It has a great sense of continuity, and some great songs, a great sound and a weird murky sound. I love it.