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Product Description
From Amazon.com
Sweet and sour, incurably romantic, and deeply misanthropic, Magnetic Fields' mastermind Stephin Merritt is a one-of-a-kind voice in modern lo-fi pop. This 1994 outing is a bit of a departure, with Merritt taking his trademark ABBA-styled Casio-pop for a spin in the country--literally. Awash in lush, Nashville-ready production, songs like the doleful "Lonely Highway" (which encompasses snatches of the Lee Hazelwood classic "Jackson") and "Born on a Train" are nothing short of thrilling. But much of this particular stretch of the Fields is lacking in charm, since Merritt's wry stance chafes a bit too hard against the guileless melodies. Completists may feel compelled to take a ride, but novices should probably stick to the more urbane journeys offered by Holiday and Distant Plastic Trees. --David Sprague
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After the '69 Love Songs' box set surprised/delighted/entertained and moved me on a regular basis for oh... seems like forever, I decided to delve deeper into the MF back catalogue.
This was the first I bought (hoping for more like 'Papa was a Rodeo') and whilst initially I was a little disappointed - The majesty of 'I have the Moon' and 'Two Characters...' soon won my heart.
Having now bought the remainder, I'd recommend 'The Wayward Bus' as the next must have, but face it - in the end you're going to want to buy them all.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A concept album by Magnetic Fields? Surely not. Yes...and again, it works. If you like any of their other albums then you'll not be disappointed. It might not be up there with Love Songs but 'Born on a Train' is a real classic. Well worth a visit.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
17 reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Classic
18 Mar 2005
Format:Audio CD
I first heard this album about eight years ago, and I have listened to it several times a month since. It just doesn't get old--the more I hear it, the more remarkable it is. Many people have commented on Merritt's eclectic instrumentation, which is indeed striking. But the really fantastic thing about his music is just how great he is at turning out a tune. The instrumentations are novel, but not novelties, and the tight melodies have the charm and stay-in-your-headness of folk tunes. Stephin Merritt is just so damned smart--and not in a look-at-me-I'm-so-deep or hipster way, but in the understated, constant, prolific manner that makes for lasting songwriting. His lyrics are also smart and moving, even when, as with the 69 Love Songs trio, he insists on claiming they're ironic or meta. He's a master at wry, pithy little lines that stick with you a lot more strongly than most of the abstract, self-congratulatory crap that passes for poetry these days.
I've listened to each Magnetic Fields album several times over--I'm completely addicted to them, in fact--and while there's not a bad one in the bunch, Charm of the Highway Strip does stand out as the most consistently fantastic and aesthetically unified project. Give this album a try. You won't regret it-none of the many people I've forced this on have.
I've listened to each Magnetic Fields album several times over--I'm completely addicted to them, in fact--and while there's not a bad one in the bunch, Charm of the Highway Strip does stand out as the most consistently fantastic and aesthetically unified project. Give this album a try. You won't regret it-none of the many people I've forced this on have.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
this album charmed me senseless
12 Jan 2004
Format:Audio CD
Seriously, if you are a magnetic fields fan, BUY THIS. You may not prefer the more dark, country, sound of this album as opposed to the often springy 69 love songs, but i guarantee you, there is no way not to fall in love with this album. By my second listen, this album was already sacred to me, and right now it is sitting in its case after my last spurt of listenings, waiting patiently until the time is right for me to take it out again. My nightmare would be to overplay this album. Stephen Merrit's low voice will make you feel lonely as he sings of a girl's fear of trains, or a lonesome highway, but at the same time he soothes you, in making you too feel like an explorer on some vast, endless highway. The songs on this album make you feel that while you may be lonely, it's an almost noble thing to be.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
sad gorgeous americana
17 May 2002
Format:Audio CD
I will shamelessly say that Stephan Merritt's voice soaring sadly with the lyrics "your eyes are the mesa verde/big and brown and far away" never fail to cause the little sharp pricklings behind my eyes that are the precursors of tears. This album makes me want nothing more than to drive the miles of lonely roads that these songs deal with so beautifully, in a pair of cowboy boots and a sunburn. Merritt has never sounded better, his thick voice wrapping the lyrics in warm wooly blankets of sound and not twanging too much over what are really country songs with a few indy rock effects thrown in for good measure. And why not mix country with indy rock? It's pure americana, baby, and it makes me homesick like a motha.
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