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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.

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Los Angeles Times

This suggests that a full focus on inventive musical theater may be where his talents will flourish. [19 Mar 2006]

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.

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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.

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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.

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Entertainment Weekly

DVD visuals would help, but it still beats Andrew Lloyd Webber. [17 Mar 2006, p.114]

Uncut

The overall tone is bracingly sour but surprisingly accessible. [Apr 2006, p.98]

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]

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.

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Mojo

Like Weimar cabaret Gilbert & Sullivan. [Apr 2006, p.104]

Q Magazine

Highly theatrical, camp and not a little shrill. [Apr 2006, p.116]

The Guardian

Merritt is a witty writer but, particularly after the frequently magnificent 69 Love Songs, that wit is becoming over-familiar.

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What Our Users Said

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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