After choosing to tackle everything himself vocally on 2004's incredible album I, wordsmith wunderkind Stephen Merritt decided to invite vocalist Shirley Simms back to share vocal duties for The Magnetic Fields, which happens to be her first work for the group since their seminal 1999 triple disc release 69 Love Songs.

Musically speaking, the title kind of says it all. Seemingly inspired by 80's distortion icons The Jesus & Mary Chain, Merritt seems to be reveling in all that fat reverb. The album itself is noisy on the perimeter, but it's just a different package for Merrill to deliver his top notch songwriting and storytelling.

Merritt's wit is still as razor sharp as ever and nothing proves it more than the Simms sung "California Girls." Having the opposite opinion of these types of gals than the Beach Boys did many decades ago, Simms in her dry way snapes "If they must grow up they marry Dukes and Earls, I hate California girls." From start to finish Distortion follows a he said she said trade off in lead vocals but the best track comes courtesy of "Please Stop Dancing," a magnificent duet between Simms and Merritt that tops all the rest on an album full of greats. In typical Magnetic Fields fashion Merritt and company have created yet another stunning success that will surely be remembered at years end.