In a profile of Stephin Merritt in today's New York Observer, J. Gabriel Boylan examines the feedback blanketing the new Magnetic Fields' album, Distortion, and finds that despite its rock 'n' roll roots, the album maintains the band's signature sound of "intricate chamber pop," only here "delivered through a blissful, noisy haze."

Despite what may seem to be a fairly simple concept (music + distortion = rock), Boylan says "the simplicity hides the workmanship" behind Merritt's latest creation; the band has "upped the ante of their thematic self-challenge by using their usual instruments" rather than computers or synths to create the titular fuzzed-out sound.

Whatever the inspiration behind the new record, there's no mistaking that this is a Magnetic Fields album through and through. Writes Boylan:

Mr. Merritt clearly adores the Jesus and Mary Chain, along with the Beach Boys, the Beatles and the Velvet Underground, yet he is clever, and talented enough to put the Magnetic Fields stamp on everything he does. The consistent fuzz harkens back to earlier albums like Holiday, yet nowhere has the band been so rocking so much of the time, and the sonic assault is addictive, especially in such small chunks.

To read the article, visit observer.com.