The Magnetic Fields - Realism

Originally meant to be the acoustic companion album to 2008's Distortion, Realism has been described by Stephin Merritt as his folk album. Due out on January 26, Realism may not utilize electric instruments (Merritt avoided using a traditional drum kit to distinguish Realism from the noise-pop of Distortion), but it still has those charming Magnetic Fields melodies that Merritt is so well known for. "We Are Having A Hootenanny" sounds like it should be played around a roaring campfire, while the quirky "Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree" would be more likely found on an off-beat Christmas mix CD. The only song that uses an electric guitar on the album is "The Dada Polka," a noisy garage-rock song that is the high point of Realism. Overall, it's hard to compare this album to Distortion since they stand at such opposite ends of the Magnetic Fields spectrum, but it is clear from several listens that Distortion is definitely the more cohesive album. Diehard Fields fans should still check out Realism though, but I would recommend casual listeners start with Distortion first.

DOWNLOAD: The Magnetic Fields - Realism [Nonesuch]
Recommended Tracks: "We Are Having A Hootenanny," "Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree," "Seduced And Abandoned," "The Dada Polka."