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Showtunes - Stephin Merritt
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Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: This 26-track set compiles works composed by the Magnetic Fields leader for three separate Chen Shi-Zheng operas.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. NOW Magazine
    90
    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.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    88
    This suggests that a full focus on inventive musical theater may be where his talents will flourish. [19 Mar 2006]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Under The Radar
    60
    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]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 2 out of 4
  1. jeffb
    9
    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.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. matta
    7
    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.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. joshn
    3
    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.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 4 User Reviews

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