There's just one day left before the release of The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, Realism, and that means two things: the fourth installment of the five-part video series about the new record (today revealing which room in the house offers the best acoustics for recording) and the CD release party, which the band hosts at New York's Beauty Bar tonight. All are welcome; admission is free. The Independent names Realism its CD of the Week.
There's just one day left before the release of The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, Realism, and that means two things: the fourth installment of the five-part video series about the new record at nonesuch.com/media and the CD release party.
While fans across the globe are encouraged to celebrate the launch of the album in their own way, we welcome those of you in the New York City area to join the band and the Nonesuch staff at Beauty Bar in downtown Manhattan tonight from 9 to 11 PM. Admission is free, assorted candies will be served, there will be drink specials for the first hour, and bubblegum music will be played throughout by some very adept DJs, perhaps including Mr. Stephin Merritt himself. For more on Beauty Bar, visit beautybar.com.
And speaking of Mr. Merritt, he and his bandmate Claudia Gonson continue their discussion of the new album in the aforementioned fourth video in the Realism series. In today's segment, In the Reverb Chamber, the two reveal further details behind the recording process for this record, giving credit where its due to the most acoustically-gifted room in the house. (Look for a hint on the album's cover art.) To support the argument, Gonson offers some illustrative vocal-percussion examples to the discussion. Watch it now at nonesuch.com/media.
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The Independent (UK) has made Realism its CD of the Week, touting one track as suggesting "the Beach Boys on some imagined interim album between Pet Sounds and Smile." The Observer, in its review, hears "a return to Merritt's inimitable balance of doleful and droll that earnt 1999's 69 Love Songs such adulation." Metro gives the album four stars, sayings its "instruments are skilfully varied (from tabla to brown paper bag) and its melodies dusted with high camp."
Last week, Drowned in Sound rated the album an 8 of 10, lauding the band's "Eternally Great Pop Songs." The site has since published an extensive interview with Merritt and DiS's Dom Gourlay, in which the singer/songwriter discusses the new album, including its regrettable lack of hand claps, among many other things. You'll find that at drownedinsound.com.
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