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Showtunes
by Stephin Merritt

Stephin Merritt reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 69 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
6.8 out of 10
based on 12 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 7 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

This 26-track set compiles works composed by the Magnetic Fields leader for three separate Chen Shi-Zheng operas.

LABEL: Nonesuch
RELEASE DATE: 14 March 2006
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Indie, Rock, Soundtrack

NOTES: This disc only contains select tracks from the three operas; the full scores will be released online later in the year.


What The Critics Said

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...

90
NOW Magazine
The album is absurd, confusing (the random sequencing can be a bitch if you're trying to follow individual plots), hilarious (only Merritt could pen a libretto titled What A Fucking Lovely Day!) and bloody brilliant.
Read Full Review
88
Los Angeles Times
This suggests that a full focus on inventive musical theater may be where his talents will flourish. [19 Mar 2006]
80
musicOMH.com
Each of these tracks - the duelling-banjo Train Song; the elegiac And He Would Say - is really perfectly formed, beautifully satisfying in structure alone.
Read Full Review
80
All Music Guide
Some will be left wondering just what the hell Merritt is up to -- those poor sad kids who hung on every post-rock word of the Magnetic Fields records as if Merritt's abandoned them. And then, of course, there are the rest of you who will be delighted, puzzled, and intrigued by the sheer originality of this recording.
Read Full Review
75
Pitchfork
I'm not entirely convinced that this is the best way to present these songs; the live-sounding recordings don't always bring out the full force of the material, and create a sense of continuity that is only undercut by the album's sequencing.
Read Full Review
75
Entertainment Weekly
DVD visuals would help, but it still beats Andrew Lloyd Webber. [17 Mar 2006, p.114]
70
Uncut
The overall tone is bracingly sour but surprisingly accessible. [Apr 2006, p.98]
60
Under The Radar
As a concept, this is an excellent work, filled with flashes of greatness. But as an album, Showtunes is often dragging and uneven. [#13, p.93]
60
Slant Magazine
There can be too much of a good thing, and making your way through all 26 tracks of Showtunes will definitely leave you with a tummy ache.
Read Full Review
60
Mojo
Like Weimar cabaret Gilbert & Sullivan. [Apr 2006, p.104]
40
Q Magazine
Highly theatrical, camp and not a little shrill. [Apr 2006, p.116]
40
The Guardian
Merritt is a witty writer but, particularly after the frequently magnificent 69 Love Songs, that wit is becoming over-familiar.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

jeff b gave it a9:
These songs are MUCH better when integrated within their whole mini operas. iTunes has all three of them. Strange but beautiful stuff. Lots for the Merritt/Fields fan to grab to.

josh n gave it a3:
It's gets a three for "Shall We Sing a Duet" and it's reprise, otherwise I will never listen to any other song on this album. Reviews make it sound like listenable showtunes when actually it just pradles on to the point of irritation.

Chaz M gave it a1:
This album is utterly unlistenable, except for by critics hoping to make a point in the already frustrating spectrum of "Indie Rock." By the way, I do love 69 love songs

matt a gave it a7:
There are some beautiful moments, but, as Pitchfork pointed out, the way Merritt chose to release the songs feels wrong. Using just a few traditional Chinese instruments for the musical makes sense, but for this record it feels like something is lacking. Obviously, this is how Merritt wanted it to be, but I just can't help but wonder if he would have fused the style on the record with magnetic fields. That right there would have raised it to a nine in my opinion.

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