Holiday

Band: The Magnetic Fields
Album: Holiday
Label: Feel Good All Over, 1994 (reissued by Merge Records)

Before the Magnetic Fields was the "new thing" on NPR records, before 69 Love Songs, before a lucrative record deal on Nonesuch Records, before the soundtrack work for A Series of Unfortunate Events, Stephin Merritt's solo project was a synth-pop band of the highest calibre, and with the recent release of Distortion on Nonesuch, I thought it would be only appropriate to review my favorite of Merritt's albums: Holiday.

Listeners of later Magnetic Fields albums, such as the aforementioned 69 Love Songs or i might be disoriented by the lack of any acoustic instruments on most of the tracks, but I implore that anyone interested in those albums should try to at least get to the third track: Deep Sea Diving Suit. Merritt's densely packed keyboards and drum machines almost emphasizes the constraints of his character. The melody, strangely upbeat, is almost as intensely catchy and driving as the character's desire to reach the one he loves. This synthesis, making the melody reflective/reference the lyrics, was what drove me to continue listening to this album. And although it's not always apparent or present in all songs, when it's noticeable, it's definitely striking.

If you don't enjoy an analysis of the songwriting, then you can at least appreciate that this album is the most fun the usual depressing Merritt has written - almost all songs are danceable, upbeat, and almost all are at least fun. This album takes its title literally, as the subject matters are all either exotic or common in the vacationing world, and the music reflects the carefree mood of the theme.

Holiday is also Merritt's strongest - there's no filler, and no horrendously awkward songs (thank god). The highlights of the album (Take Ecstasy With Me, Deep Sea Diving Suit, Strange Powers, Sad Little Moon) are among the greatest songs he has ever written, and are definitely some of the finest work of the 1990's. The only real limitation towards appreciation of the album is that some of the sounds Merritt uses are either irritating or pointless. For example, in the verse of Torn Green Velvet Eyes, there is a noise that kind of sways back and forth that is almost completely distracting and definitely irritating, but the rest of the instrumentation and the melody of the chorus definitely make up for those moments. But, if you can withstand the occasional odd noises, this album might become your new favorite.

Highlights (sadly not mp3):
Deep Sea Diving Suit
Strange Powers
Sad Little Moon
Take Ecstasy with Me

Weak Songs:
Torn Green Velvet Eyes
Sugar World
In My Car

Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Desert Island
3. Deep Sea Diving Suit
4. Strange Powers
5. Torn Green Velvet Eyes
6. The Flowers She Sent and the Flowers She Said She Sent
7. Swinging London
8. In My Secret Place
9. Sad Little Moon
10. The Trouble I've Been Looking For
11. Sugar World
12. All You Ever Do Is Walk Away
13. Take Ecstasy With Me