When i was in college, a coworker at my part-time job on campus introduced me to The Magnetic Fields. I was instantly hooked to the simple yet refined pop sounds of Stephin Merritt, and found myself seeking out his completely discography, either with Magnetic Fields or other projects like Future Bible Heroes or The Gothic Archies. My favorite of the other groups has got to be The 6ths, a project that finds Merritt's songwriting and production paired with a slew of guest singers like Mary Timony, Lou Barlow, and more. Here's "Falling Out of Love (With You)" with vocals from Galaxie 500/Luna front man Dean Wareham, our Daily Jam.
Way back in 1999, The Magnetic Fields made the gimmick album to end all gimmick albums, the quirky and sublime 3-album "69 Love Songs." Evidently, Stephin Merritt has the itch again with the upcoming 5-disc album "50 Song Memoir." Merritt wrote a song for every year he's been alive (i had no idea he was 50 years old), beginning when he turned 50 and playing over 100 different instruments over the course of the record. And it all comes out on my birthday next year (March 3rd) on Nonesuch Records. Listen to "'74 No" below.
