.
http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/images/album_review/897f365ba3da30dd084b700ace26a3b3008fe6f3.jpg Magnetic Man

Magnetic Man

Magnetic Man

StarTime/Columbia
Rolling Stone: star rating
Community: star rating
5 3 0
May 24, 2011

Like Massive Attack, Magnetic Man are a British act taking an underground scene at critical mass - in this case, the low-frequency freakouts of dubstep - to aboveground masses. The trio of Benga, Skream and Artwork have made remarkable records individually, and the head-blasting instrumentals here ("Mad," "K Dance") are the stuff that makes glassy-eyed bass fiends growl "siiiiiiick."  For guest singers (including John Legend), the sonic drama gets dialed back, which is a shame. Only the bonus remixes - see the badass reworking of Katy B's "Perfect Stranger" - deliver on the fusion promise.

Listen to Magentic Man ft. Katy B "Perfect Stranger" (Benga Remix):  

Related: Random Notes, Rock's Hottest Photos

prev
Album Review Main Next

ADD A COMMENT

Community Guidelines »
loading comments

loading comments...

COMMENTS

Sort by:
    Read More

    Music Reviews

    more Reviews »
    Daily Newsletter

    Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

    Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
    marketing partners.

    X

    We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

    Song Stories

    “Time to Pretend”

    MGMT | 2008

    Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

    More Song Stories entries »