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The Magnetic Fields
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Cambridge, Boston MA, 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. While synth-pop often forms the foundation of their music, The Magnetic Fields’ music borrows from many other styles, notably country, folk and indie pop.
The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist/vocalist) 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 band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist/vocalist) 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.
Top Albums
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69 Love Songs (disc 1)
The Magnetic Fields
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Distortion
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69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields Buy- Download Album
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- iTunes $29.99
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i
The Magnetic Fields Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
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Shoutbox
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quinns1337 wrote:
oh Stephin; I absolutely cannot wait to see you at city hall.
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Yunckzilla wrote:
also LOL@weaselmin
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Yunckzilla wrote:
finally found a decent download for 69 love songs. it was FLAC or bust, so here's hoping it's worth the gig of harddrive space.
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weaselmin wrote:
That's deep, man.
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theStarry wrote:
Its understood that 69 Love Songs is one of the best albums of recent times, personally i think its 3 of the best.
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joebz wrote:
so very excited! they are comming to D.C. first!
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bluebed wrote:
Now there's a reason to live.
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schoenburger wrote:
haha. That should be the main tag.
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iouaywe wrote:
Stephin Merritt: Making straight people wonder since 1989
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victorianrobot wrote:
Yeah! Tour dates announced, tickets went on presale, and album preorders opened up! Regular tickets on sale Nov. 20. Crossing my fingers for SF!
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dhd wrote:
didn't really like them until i saw them live and realized they could do it without the synth... that and steven+claudia are adorable and hilarious front-people
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aizsak wrote:
finding out there is going to be a new album made my day
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lindsatthedisco wrote:
♥
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vihreakuolema wrote:
Cannot wait for Realism!
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fjosjd wrote:
so according to the official magnetic fields website, the next album "explores the various genres under the umbrella of folk."
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neckermanncj wrote:
now... which album cover will be more "girly'? Distortion or Realism? ;)
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Brootiful wrote:
All My Little Words is my one guilty pleasure song from this type of music. :3
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indy-kid wrote:
NEW ALBUM FUCK YEAH
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fjosjd wrote:
awesome. . only two years between albums this time. i thought we would have to wait until 2012 for the next album
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conditionals wrote:
Yes! Realism! The final album in the "no-synth trilogy"... plus it totally validates the horrible cover of Distortion. Cannot wait. Can. Not.
Videos
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Events
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Feb
4
Magnetic Fields
Lisner Auditorium, Washington DC, United States
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| 13 attendees
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Feb
6
The Magnetic Fields
Corona Theatre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| 6 attendees
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Feb
8
The Magnetic Fields
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, Canada
1 shout
| 14 attendees
Listeners
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zonpantli
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littleblackcoat
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Recent Activity
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SeagullBeer tagged The Magnetic Fields with ‘melt’. 5 minutes ago
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JabuJabu tagged The Magnetic Fields with lo-fi, indie pop and indie. 3 hours ago
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igongyou, sureferal and ninah90 added The Magnetic Fields to their libraries. 4 hours ago
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kamikirimushi tagged The Magnetic Fields with male vocals, american and indie. 10 hours ago
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blair2100 added The Magnetic Fields to blair2100’s library. 10 hours ago
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exitplanetdust updated the Italian wiki page for The Magnetic Fields. (diff) 11 hours ago
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exitplanetdust updated the Italian wiki page for The Magnetic Fields. (diff) 11 hours ago
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umpilicious, mrevanjames, nprendergast and 7 other people added The Magnetic Fields to their libraries. 11 hours ago
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pedrovalenca wrote about The Magnetic Fields in if my life was a movie,what would be the soundtrack? (Very good,really). yesterday afternoon
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onebadassassin added The Magnetic Fields to onebadassassin’s library. yesterday afternoon
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Groups (204)
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Stephin Merritt Fans
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The Magnetic Fields
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Aging popkids unite!
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