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Love at the Bottom of the Sea Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

  • Summary: Synthesizers and Stephin Merritt return to the Magnetic Fields with the first album of new material for the band since 1999's 69 Songs.
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Top Track

Quick!
You better think of something quick before I don't love you no more Quick! Before I walk out that door Quick! Before it all ends in jeers What a... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 41
  2. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. These 15 song-puzzles in 34:20 are sophisticated amusements all, although often the amusement is attenuated and one I get bored with before half its 2:38 is over.
  2. Mar 6, 2012
    80
    If there's any particular conceit here, it's Merritt at his wry best, sharpening his pop hooks and keeping songs tightly wound.
  3. Mar 5, 2012
    74
    Love at the Bottom of the Sea is an endearing, comfortable offering from a band that will hopefully do 10 more albums.
  4. 63
    The 15-track set reclaims the willfully dinky synth-pop sound the Magnetic Fields renounced in recent years in favor of fuzzed-out guitar rock and strummy chamber folk.
  5. Q Magazine
    Mar 14, 2012
    60
    It's lacking some of his scabrous wit, but this is Merritt's most enjoyable album for years. [April 2012, p.101]
  6. Mar 5, 2012
    60
    There's still a feeling of something missing here, and while the material is much stronger than on the band's most recent releases, there's also a sense that these are the first 15 songs Merritt wrote for the project and not the best of a larger selection.
  7. Mar 15, 2012
    20
    I hate to say it, but Love at the Bottom of the Sea is such a drag: a damp and dreary album, drowning in bad faith and bad jokes.

See all 41 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Mar 9, 2012
    10
    This is the first Magnetic Fields record I played and it made me download their entire discography. It's absolutely amazing, cute songs withThis is the first Magnetic Fields record I played and it made me download their entire discography. It's absolutely amazing, cute songs with catchy beats and Derek's great voice. Expand
  2. Mar 18, 2012
    8
    Great record. Laughed and cried at the same time. Lyrics are hilarious and instantly stuck in your mind. "Andrew in drag'' may be my personalGreat record. Laughed and cried at the same time. Lyrics are hilarious and instantly stuck in your mind. "Andrew in drag'' may be my personal single of the year... Pure fun. God, i wanna dance... Expand
  3. Dec 11, 2014
    7
    "Love at the bottom of the sea" sticks to the Magnetic Fields formula of quirky pop - nice but relatively unremarkable melodies accompanied by"Love at the bottom of the sea" sticks to the Magnetic Fields formula of quirky pop - nice but relatively unremarkable melodies accompanied by often clever, always weird lyrics. Opening track "God Wants Us To Wait" is one of the bands better tracks in recent times however the rest of the record treads water, keeping at an above average mark. In typical MF style, the songs are kept short, sweet and to the point which gives them an appeal and allows even the weirdest tracks to remain listenable. Fans will enjoy - newcomers would be better advised to check out 69 love songs. Expand
  4. Mar 31, 2012
    3
    "The Machine in Your Hand" is one of the few compositions on the 15-track album of The Magnetic Fields - "Love At The Bottom Of The Sea","The Machine in Your Hand" is one of the few compositions on the 15-track album of The Magnetic Fields - "Love At The Bottom Of The Sea", which presents a fairly bearable level. The entire release is just boring - synth pop genre give you a huge range of possibilities, but band seems to forget this and they're exerting childish vocals to the not very diversified base. Expand