$16.98 (list price), Distorted Pop/Rock, Nonesuch

Basic Story: Stephin Merritt and Co. return with a new record intended "to sound more like Jesus and Mary Chain than Jesus and Mary Chain."

Sample: "I gotta get too pissed to miss you/ or I'll never get to sleep/ I gotta drink wine not to pine for you/ and God knows that ain't cheap."

Verdict: Distortion couldn't be a better title for the latest from The Magnetic Fields. The album is literally drenched with the grungy effect making for quite an intense listen. But do not be deterred. Underneath all the disorientation are some of the bands most perfect, catchy, clever and upbeat songs to date. The album standout, "Too Drunk To Dream" finds singer Stephin Merritt singing about the better life - that is, the drunken life - one of several on Distortion that will have you feeling his pain while simultaneously dancing it away.