The Magnetic Fields' 50 Song Memoir Is a Glorious Letdown

by Rich SmithThe Magnetic Fields play new LP 50 Song Memoir over two nights, Sat–Sun May 6–7, at the Moore Theatre.MARCELO KRASILCIC
Stephin Merritt sounds like a hunchback singing Cole Porter songs from a bell tower in the city of true romance, and I love him every second for it. He and his Magnetic Fields have made a career out of stress-testing the diamond-cut pop song. They distort the fuck out of it, dunk it in irony, sandblast it with spite—and yet each one comes out glea