i

The Magnetic Fields

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 4, 2004)
• Original Release Date: May 4, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B0001NNL8O
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,142 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The long-awaited follow-up to the acclaimed 1999 release 69 Love Songs, i finds singer/songwriter Stephin Merritt in full possession of his acerbic wit. Featuring lyrics ripe with melancholy and bittersweet imagery, the record's fourteen tracks are possibly the most personal Merritt has created to date -- a departure from the many voices on 69 Love Songs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressed is Imminent, November 26, 2004

By	Rygel (Nevada) - See all my reviews

Something that always is impressive about Stepen Merritt is his bravery in bringing pop music out of it's dull, repetition and into a brilliant ride of lyrical bliss and musical genius. His use of everything from the cello to the banjo on the latest work of The Magnetic Fields 'i' is both deep and catchy. With poppy songs like "I Don't Believe You" and "If there's Such a Thing As Love" put into a mix with the odd "In an Operetta", with the bitter breakup tune "I Thought You Were my Boyfriend". The Cd ends with the beautiful "It's Only Time" which is the highlight of the CD, both lyrically and with it's lovesick tune.

This is an album that has no bad songs at all and never disappoints, even with it's experimental adventures.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than 69, September 16, 2004

By	K. Busch (Medford, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I hold a minority view: I think this album is better than the 69 Love Songs. The lyrics are at least as good -- clever, heartbreaking, insightful, ironic, funny. The biggest improvement is better musical composition. As in good classical music, the accompaniments have become interesting. "I Die" is almost a duet for voice & cello. "I Thought You Were..." has a haunting counter-tune in the treble. "Tongue-Tied" uses pauses as cleverly as Haydn. "Infinitely Late" is spare and rich simultaneously.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, but too much filler, July 15, 2005

By	William J. Brinkman II (Oxford, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an unusual CD, with a lot of things to recommend it. Stephin Merritt has the ability to write catchy tunes in many different styles, always showcasing his smoky baritone voice. "I Don't Believe You" is a witty and up-tempo quasi-love song. "I Wish I Had An Evil Twin" reminds one of They Might Be Giants, while "I'm Tongue-Tied" is a honky-tonk lament in the style of "Crazy."

I don't even want to talk about the "I" theme, but it does not seem forced, and does not detract from the album.

My main criticism of the album is that tracks 10-14 are fairly un-memorable. They are pleasant and hum-able, but to me they seem like filler.

This is definitely a must-have CD for anyone with a particular interest in great song-writing, but it is not a masterpiece.