The Magnetic Fields

This morning, while reading the Guardian's predictions of next hot artists of 2008 over tea, toast and gummy bears, I enjoyed that us Moggers have been ranting about most of these folks long before those tortoise-shell glassed reporters knew the difference between Black Kids or Vampire Weekend.....I may have even rolled my eyes :) Also, in particular, Flux (Colin) and Anna gave me some recommendations RIGHT ON TARGET (see their comments below the Guardian article). It's ... MORE

Rare candour from a musician in a press release. This is Stephin Merritt talking about the Magnetic Fields album, “Distortion”. The goal, he says, was “to sound more like Jesus And Mary Chain than Jesus And Mary Chain.” I always think that Merritt’s most interesting when he’s grappling with a sonic concept rather than an intellectual one, which is why my favourite Magnetic Fields album has always been 1994’s ersatz-country “Charm Of The Highway Strip”, rather than the us... MORE

Some friends and I went to see The Magnetic Fields on Saturday night. Somehow in all the time that I have lived in the New York metropolitan area, I never managed to see a show at Town Hall before. Town Hall is right in the middle of the theater district and is simply a neat, small, non-extravagant two tiered space that looks more similar to the theaters where I see small plays than to larger or small venues for concerts. It provided a great venue (except for the squeaky d... MORE

Wait, an underpaid, underrated musician is getting money handed to him by a large, multinational corporation for a sixty second television spot containing new, original material. If it were me, I'd be laughing all the way to the bank....alright, it's cool then. check it out, Mr. Magnetic Fields redefines "The Wheels On The Bus" for Volvo.

The Magnetic Fields - Distortion (2008) 8/10 It seems that modern music journalism is pre-occupied by comparison. Every essay, review or précis endeavours to find the musical equivalent from any given musical era, the mean root to the creative formula that surfaces on a new release. Early press reports for Stephin Merritt’s latest recording were that it was an amalgam of Jesus & Mary Chain maudlin drones and Phil Spector’s kaleidoscopic “Wall Of Sound” textures. Frankl... MORE

Even though The Magnetic Fields have been around for a good while, this is my first foray into their music. I remember downloading 69 Love Songs several years ago and it never really caught my attention, but the new album was getting so much attention that I couldn't really pass it up. When I first started the record I was pleased to find some cheery lo-fi pop in the form of Three-Way and California Girls, the later of which felt like true indie-rock anthem material. But w... MORE

My friend sent this along as a cure for assorted winter sicknesses, and boy howdy does it do the trick. Stephin Merritt sings 'Nun's Litany,' solo acoustic ukelele style. I need to make another trip to the record store to pick this up (oh, Canadian release dates...).

"I may not find the cure for cancer

but I'll meet plenty of single guys." Divine.

I can't get enough of this song right now. It's off The Magnetic Fields' new album Distortion. "I'll Dream Alone" makes my heart ache, even if I am only dreaming about it. Oh, but I can still feel it. =)

New Magnetic Fields. Why is it that such a simple song makes me smile... I present "TOO DRUNK TO DREAM". I see this song being sung by bad band in Irish bars in the vein of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline.

The Magnetic Fields have an endearing DIY sound that speaks to me. This song has a wonderfully raw whistle solo. Am I the only one that thinks Stephin Merritt sounds like the guy from Human League?

LD Beghtol has written 69 Love Songs — A Field Guide, an illustrated history of the album. LD was a member of The Magnetic Fields for the recording of the album, singing on several of the songs. He has also contributed several comments to the 69 Love Songs wiki that I started a few years ago. So you are warmly encouraged to buy his book (Amazon UK, Amazon US).

For real. Go to google and search the phrase "wearing ladies underwear" and my podcast comes up number one. I found out when a ladies underwear company emailed me asking to advertise. Strange huh?

Ever had one of those destructive relationships where you resort to breaking up only because murder is against the law? This bud's for you.

A little late to the New Wave scene was the Magnetic Fields whose original singer left after the second album to become a dental hygenist.