See 16 more photos
The Magnetic Fields
On Tour12,172,859 plays (298,086 listeners)
Listening now: odt2000, humbert_humbert, tasfia
indie, indie pop, lo-fi, indie rock, alternative… see all
Boston, United States (1990 – present)
The Magnetic Fields is a New York-based group fronted by Stephin Merritt. Recent albums released under the name “The Magnetic Fields” usually consist of synth-pop music in a 1980s style underlying clever lyrics which are often heavily ironic.
The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist) Claudia Gonson. While 1991’s Distant Plastic Trees and 1992’s The Wayward Bus (now most easily available together as a compilation, The Wayward Bus / Distant Plastic Trees) are sung by Susan Anway, all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself.
Longtime members include: Gonson, (cellist) Sam Davol, and (banjo player/guitarist) John Woo. Contributors include (but are not limited to) the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, and the accordionist/writer Daniel Handler (famous for writing the childrens’ books A Series of Unfortunate Events under the alias Lemony Snicket).
Their most popular and best-selling album to date is 69 Love Songs issued on Merge Records as a triple album filled with many fairly short songs that are reminiscent of early Beatles productions.
The album is notable for its employment of many unorthodox musical arrangements and downright impressive quantity of material presented. Instruments used on this album include the ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, piano, flute, xylophone guitars, various percussion instruments, and a standard setup of synths and effects. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks. The album is a three CD set, released in the US as three separate albums (also available as a boxed set) and in the UK as a triple album.
The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist) Claudia Gonson. While 1991’s Distant Plastic Trees and 1992’s The Wayward Bus (now most easily available together as a compilation, The Wayward Bus / Distant Plastic Trees) are sung by Susan Anway, all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself.
Longtime members include: Gonson, (cellist) Sam Davol, and (banjo player/guitarist) John Woo. Contributors include (but are not limited to) the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, and the accordionist/writer Daniel Handler (famous for writing the childrens’ books A Series of Unfortunate Events under the alias Lemony Snicket).
Their most popular and best-selling album to date is 69 Love Songs issued on Merge Records as a triple album filled with many fairly short songs that are reminiscent of early Beatles productions.
The album is notable for its employment of many unorthodox musical arrangements and downright impressive quantity of material presented. Instruments used on this album include the ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, piano, flute, xylophone guitars, various percussion instruments, and a standard setup of synths and effects. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks. The album is a three CD set, released in the US as three separate albums (also available as a boxed set) and in the UK as a triple album.
Videos
-
Play
the magnetic fields - courtesans
-
Play
Magnetic Fields - Plant White Roses
-
Play
Magnetic fields - Heros
-
Play
Magnetic Fields - Two Characters in Search of a Country Song
Top Albums
Shoutbox
-
Hklti36Fljf wrote:
magnificient
-
no_wire_hangers wrote:
amazing show, it was great hearing acoustic versions of the songs from distortion
-
slider_13 wrote:
I have just begun listening to 69 Love Songs for the first time. I heard a program about it in an alternative radio in Portugal and only now discovered this band. I am really curious about this.
-
Chrissketch wrote:
69 Love Songs is definitely in my top 5 albums of all time.
-
vihreakuolema wrote:
best lyricists on the planet
-
DotsDisconnect wrote:
i will try hard to get into the magnetic fields. I'm either hot or cold with this band
-
LilleFluff wrote:
The Book of Love is fantastic.
-
oohdoiloveyou wrote:
john wooooooooooooo
-
JuiceLee94 wrote:
going to see them again in October with Shugo Tokumaru at GWU. really looking forward to it...The last show of theirs that I saw in the Old Town School of Folk Music was incredible and if this can measure up to it I'll be very happy.
-
oohdoiloveyou wrote:
thank you kind picture voting angel
-
oohdoiloveyou wrote:
vote for the cafe picture, this picture blows.
-
Prayermad wrote:
wayward bus
-
Rarn wrote:
Every few months I devote a night to 69 Love Songs. It always works emotionally whether I'm hopelessly in love, hopelessly depressed, on the hunt, or just content alone. Always makes me smile somehow. Plus the music is great. Stephin is straight up one of the cleverest lyricists around.
-
LifePaintedArt wrote:
69 Love Songs is now scrobbling. It's the first time I'm listening to it - and I love it. Currently settling at Pt.3 song 10.
-
vuckothewolf wrote:
stephen is gay, you rejects :D like all great songwriters :D
-
oatmeal_pet wrote:
I agree with raceofdoom. How anyone could think of TMFs as bland is quite beyond me, but to each his/her own I suppose. Some people just have bad taste. ;)
-
alyssayounk wrote:
i'm sorry i love you stephin merritt
-
joega4111 wrote:
i think stephen merrit is gay
-
Indyalanjones1 wrote:
The UK version of 69 Love Songs has a small review on the album cover from Gay Times. What is that about?
-
raceofdoom wrote:
gah, anyone who says the magnetic fields are "bland" clearly hasn't heard the first five albums.
Events
- Oct 11 The Magnetic Fields Capitol Theater @ Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI, United States
- Oct 13 The Magnetic Fields Majestic Theatre, Dallas, TX, United States
-
Oct
14
The Magnetic Fields
Paramount Theatre, Austin, United States
4 shouts
| 69 attendees
Listeners
-
humbert_humbert
Listening now
to Asleep and Dreaming -
penkwin
Listening now
to Mr. Mistletoe -
tasfia
Listening now
to Very Funny -
MarvellousBoy
Top Listener
-
michellette
Top Listener
-
lostsince1985
Top Listener
Recent Activity
- johnsprackland and cohaerenti added The Magnetic Fields to their libraries. 2 hours ago
- cleverreference tagged The Magnetic Fields with ‘seen live’. 5 hours ago
- Sken-Pitilkin and dressescanfly added The Magnetic Fields to their libraries. 6 hours ago
- lpollak tagged The Magnetic Fields with ‘new york’. 7 hours ago
- lpollak and fuzzzybaby added The Magnetic Fields to their libraries. 7 hours ago
- etaegeun001 tagged The Magnetic Fields with ‘myjukebox’. 9 hours ago
- carolzildonilda, Shelby86 and mcpoopy7000 added The Magnetic Fields to their libraries. 10 hours ago
- Wormwood37 wrote about The Magnetic Fields in Playlist for Things that Are Square on KUCI 10/9/08. yesterday evening
- TheMotions, ninaeriksson, maddiebulit and 3 other people added The Magnetic Fields to their libraries. yesterday evening
- CartoonMusic tagged The Magnetic Fields with ‘new york’. yesterday evening
Related Journals
-
the magnetic fields in dallas
by bignewprinz |
14 Oct 2008 | Add comment
-
Playlist for Things that Are Square on KUCI 10/9/08
by Wormwood37 |
13 Oct 2008 | Add comment
-
My 2008 Albums, and growing (so far with 200+)
by shoebox54th |
12 Oct 2008 | Add comment
Groups (168)
-
Stephin Merritt Fans
377 members
-
The Magnetic Fields
273 members
-
magnetic fields
109 members
-
Offbeat Sheffield
79 members
-
Aging popkids unite!
241 members
More Information
- Links
- Band Members
- Labels
