The 6ths
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The 6ths – You You You You You
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Biography
The two albums released to date are Wasps’ Nests (1995) and Hyacinths and Thistles (1999). The names of both albums, and the name of the band, are deliberate tongue-twisters. The words are chosen for their abundance of s and th sounds. Sixths packs one th and three s sounds into one syllable.
One story has it that the band was conceived when Merritt, observing that there was no tribute album dedicated to him, decided to make one himself. The concept is that Merritt writes songs which are then played and sung by other artists, different ones on each track. It has so far produced two well-received albums and many bizarre collaborations.
The other story (and the more accurate one) is that Merritt wrote the songs, mailed the singers rough demos, their vocals and additional tracks were returned via mail back to Merritt who the results took to his studio and polished them up as finished items. This at least rings true on the debut record, with the singers and composers never meeting in person. A few years later, the Postal Service would use this same tactic and even use the method as their namesake.
The list of singers on Wasps’ Nests reads like a veritable Who’s Who of mid 90s indie rock starpower, including Miho Hatori, Barbara Manning, Mary Timony, Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna), Lou Barlow, Robert Scott (The Bats, The Clean), Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) and Mark Robinson.
Top Tracks
Top Albums
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Wasps' Nests
11,007 listeners15 tracks
Released:
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Hyacinths and Thistles
8,979 listeners14 tracks
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San Diego Zoo
4 listeners1 track
Released:
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ParadesGoBy23
It is a bit like that...
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LiteraryBum
made the mistake of thinking "oh, i'll just listen to one track off H&T" ten tracks later....
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ProfondoRosso17
YOU'VE TRIED SCIENCE, YOU'VE TRIED ART...
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alejamand
Sometimes I forget how much I love Hyacinths and Thistles.
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karmified
MARRY YOUNG, DIANAA
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clovisguerim
Pretty good!
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faignacia
(U)
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anabeldorothy
oahu
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picchionero
hyacinths and thistles is soo esoteric in some way, one of the best album ever
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xJake_Guitarx
Nice I like this band pretty good :D
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allisaaa
if someone chainsawed stephin merritt (god forbid) his insides would be gold and green
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chinneths
goodies
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_mute
I've listened to alot of Stephin Merritt records over the years.. The 6th's - Wasp's Nest is the only work of his that I have never been able to put down. Classic record with the perfect guest vocalists.
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aizsak
if you want to compare a stephin merritt song, you compare it to every other song ever made that wasn't a stephin merritt song.
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insomniacme
nowhere near his best work
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vmkqube
Hyacinths and Thistles has annoying tags on it when played in Media Player, each track is a different artists combination instead of just "the 6ths".
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evil_laugher
I love "When I"m Out of Town", bb.
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videowineparty
does anyone know where i can download wasps nests?
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indy-kid
Why does no one like When I'm Out Of Town, it was great when I saw Magnetic Fields live.
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magnilex
"He didn't" is kind of a dream come true. A swett piano ballad by Stephin sung by my all time hero Bob Mould.
All 52 shouts
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