one weekend, two concerts. last night’s magnetic fields show was very pleasant, and although that sounds banal i mean it in the most flattering way. it wasn’t exactly exciting, because for the first time in my experience at the henry fonda, they had folding chairs set up in rows. i was not expecting to sit, but it made sense; the magnetic fields don’t put on so much a rock show as a musical performance. for what it was, though, the first word that comes to mind is ‘gorgeous’.

they’re just such a talented bunch when it comes to crafting cleverly worded, well-constructed pop music. i love stephen merritt’s songwriting in all its various incarnations, all of which they pulled from for their two-part set (intermission at a rock show? unheard of!). the way his lyrics dance along the line between profound and funny is unbeatable. and as a collective, i think they make great decisions as to which singer and what music best fits each song, even when the live version isn’t exactly faithful to the original. as strange as it was to be sitting still and listening instead of toe-tapping or head-nodding at a concert, the serenity served to highlight the gorgeous quality of beautiful music coming together. the less-distorted versions of songs from their new album distortion might even have improved when pared back to focus more on the words, and i just enjoyed myself the whole way through. finally seeing one of my favorites on a rare public appearance was a very satisfying way to spend 30-or-so dollars.

unfortunately, i wish i could say the same of friday’s MSTRKRFT show. if you read my buddy ted’s account, he absolutely loved it. i, however, am less enamored. not to disparrage him or them, but i think it took this show to point out exactly why i don’t have the same audio-crush on them that a few of my friends do.

being a big fan of their remix work (of which ted has also posted several great samples), i was expecting to like it way more than i did. but i quickly realized they came to play ‘their music’, not do a dj set. here’s the disconnect: i think they have absolutely mastered the craft (kraft?) of a very specific sound; a sort of crunchy, rock-and-roll, distorted synth sound that they use super effectively to take any song remotely danceable and knock it out of the dance club atmosphere. that’s why their remixes are so good — they take what’s already great and put it into overdrive. however, if you take the base sound that they’ve perfected for that purpose, and try to make it stand it on it’s own, you start to lose me. it’s just not a musical form i have any interest in, no matter the possible merits audible to the more initiated.

for example, listen to these quick slices from some of their mixes:

sample 1
sample 2
sample 3

and you have vaguely what the first hour of their live show is like. for a house music enthusiast (or ecstasy user), it might be spanish fly. but i am a person who likes a couple basic things when having a dance party: a little variety, and some words to sing or shout along to. i just could not get into what quickly became, to my ears, a droning repetitive buzz-saw house beat. when they pulled out some justice and daft punk samples at the end, i was ready to jump right back in there. but i have to say politely that by this point i had barely made it that far without walking out. i am just not a guy that likes house music. let me know next time you’re spinning at a club with actual songs, not just punching buttons on your BeatThumper 3000, and i will gladly give you vowel-snubbing scoundrels a second chance.

speaking of which, i give full credit to their opening act, dj z-trip, for doing exactly what i do like a dj to do. take some familiar and unfamiliar tracks, then mix and match them in fun and unexpected ways that show talent, finesse, and a desire to charm the pants off your crowd. check out his page for lots of downloads similar to what he spun at the show and tell me it isn’t more fun to listen to than an hour of MSTRKRFT’s pounding, and i will not believe you. so it wasn’t a total waste.

anyhow, back on the positive side and last night’s show. i’m currently adjusting my ears to the new magnetic fields songs as heard in their shoe-gazey form off the new cd i picked up at the show. i’m not sure i’m convinced this was the best way to go for them, but at the very least you get more classic lyrics from merritt’s notebook. i’m particularly fond of too drunk to dream, for it’s simple premise of getting fucked up in order to forget that formerly special someone. a precious pay day song pick for you to enjoy.