All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

The Onion (A.V. Club)

The songs themselves are as lush and prickly as anything Merritt's ever made.

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100

MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)

He's made a novelty record that gets deeper with time.

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Entertainment Weekly

The perfect antidote to a season of false cheer and frozen toes.

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Delusions of Adequacy

This is a terrific album, one fully ready and suited for headphones; an album that should be easily enjoyed by all and that will surely be loved by many.

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Lost At Sea

Distortion is really a triumph of the evening-out.

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NOW Magazine

While the Jesus and Mary Chain might have been limited by their musical ability and knowledge, Merritt and company understand the pop principles they’re working with.

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Billboard

The epitome of a melancholy winter record.

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Drowned In Sound

Save the odd occasion where Merritt opts for smirking affect over emotional resonance, it all adds up to an excellent addition to an already distinguished back catalogue.

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Dusted Magazine

The latest, the crustily erotic Distortion, is nearly its ["69 Love Songs"] equal. But way shorter.

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New Musical Express (NME)

Distortion is above cynical reproach--effortlessly modern and definitively 2008, yet flitting with the ghosts of Shields, Madder Rose (ask your 90s alt.indie expert uncle) and The Jesus And Mary Chain.

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Observer Music Monthly

A lovely addition to the noisy canon and a barbed new year tonic.

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Pitchfork

Distortion isn't a return to form so much as a return to content.

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PopMatters

Merritt does what he always does. He writes clever songs that are sweet and bitter, comforting and subversive.

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Rolling Stone

It rocks, in this case a meaningful, temporary departure. Its unmelded sonic gestalt suits its thematic disquiet. It's Stephin Merritt's second-best album, which is saying a great deal.

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Slant Magazine

Distortion gets a lot right.

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Hot Press

The new record sees him pushing his songbook to extremes in entirely unexpected fashion.

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Magnet

Whether Merritt's return to lo-fi will fly at Lincoln Center remains to be seen, but his melodic mastery is never in question. [Winter 2008, p.108]

Boston Globe

Distortion isn't an easy listen, with its strict, difficult palette. But it's an endlessly fascinating and provocative one.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

Distortion does not reinvent the wheel of alternative rock, but it may have just started it spinning again.

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Dot Music

It's that time of year when critics are desperate to anoint the first "great" record of the year. Distortion is too tricksy and knowing to be that, but it's a thoroughly entertaining also-ran nonetheless.

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Mojo

It's faux-naif orch-pop that crashes and thunders. [Feb 2008, p.108]

No Ripcord

The fact is there are just too many smart, well-written songs on this album to get hung up on the messy sound.

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Prefix Magazine

The lightness, even with the same downtrodden lyrics, comes from the upbeat arrangements that find their way through the slosh of feedback--an appropriate sound for lyrics that evoke the same feeling--sloshing through the everyday. Perhaps Merritt realizes that to be comically self-loathing or misanthropic is, perhaps, all a person can ask for.

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Almost Cool

After multiple listens, there are certainly a batch of songs that rise like cream to the top, and while the release doesn't have seriously low points, it's not as solid throughout as the best work from the group (especially towards the end).

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Blender

Every instrument here distorts, giving tearjerkers like 'I’ll Dream Alone' complementary grit.

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All Music Guide

It's a double-sided hook that clears the murkiness from the remaining five tracks, while simultaneously improving the first half (especially tracks like 'California Girls' and 'Please Stop Dancing') when spun for a second or third time.

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cokemachineglow

Despite its painfully obvious flaws, Distortion isn’t bad in the sense that it lacks gratifying melodies or does not possess a certain nostalgic charm.

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Spin

Ultimately, the album succeeds despite the extra fuss, not because of it.

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Uncut

He may be treading water a little until he really gets into his groove as the 21st century Sondheim, but Distortion at its best is beguiling and quietly devastating.

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Q Magazine

There is plenty to enjoy, although it never comes close to recapturing the eclectic brillance of 1999's career high, "69 Love Songs. [Feb 2008, p.99]

musicOMH.com

Most of the songs have plenty to give in these spheres, so for fans this can be viewed as a qualified success, if never quite approaching previous highs.

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The Guardian

When Distortion goes wrong, however, it dive-bombs.

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Under The Radar

There are some entertaining songs here ('Drive On, Driver,' 'I’ll Dream Alone') but overall, there is scarcely an affective moment on Distortion. [Winter 2008, p.83]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

John McC. gave it a9:
Tuneless? I think not. A great pop album reminiscent of earlier Magnetic Fields records.

Brian S. gave it a2:
All the tunefulness from the previous album is gone, replaced by a series of songs that are more kitsch than substance. If "Washington, D.C." was your favorite song from "69 Love Songs," you'll like this record. If you're looking for real songs, such as "I Don't Believe in the Sun" and "Long Forgotten Fairytale," you'll be disappointed.

scott s gave it a5:
Not bad. not great. some solid tracks, but overall a less than average MF record. if you listen hard enough you can tell the songs are well written, however, with all the production and "distortion" it's hard to really enjoy it.

Jon R gave it a9:
This is really a great album. Pessimism abound but these are some wonderfully crafted pop songs.

Jason A. gave it an8:
This is a really great album. Fans of The Magnetic Fields won’t be disappointed. The only detraction that I would have to add is that sometimes the production is a little tinny. Yeah, I know that Stephen Merritt was going for an early JAMC feel but I still wish that there was a little more bass in the mix. I’m also a huge JAMC fan but you’ve gotta be in the right mood to listen to Psychocandy and the same applies to this album. Even though it is very early in 2008, I think that Distortion is going to hold up well throughout the year and end up on a lot of critics year end best of lists in December. Courtesans and Mr. Mistletoe are the only 2 songs that haven’t really grabbed me yet. Stand out’s include California Girls, Too Drunk To Dream, I’ll Dream Alone and Old Fools. Stephen Merritt seems miserable in the same way that Morrissey is and you’ve got to love that!

Scott M gave it a7:
It tends to wear out its welcome a bit but there are some pretty solid songs contained within.

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Distortion

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