Photo: Nonesuch Records
On the back of the ambitious five-disc new release from The Magnetic Fields, 50 Song Memoir, there's a handwritten message on 100% recycled notepaper:
I'm Stephin Merrit and this is my autobiography in 50 songs, one for each year of my life. It's mostly love and music, so don't dig for much of a storyline. And if things get mellower as 50 looms, that's life.
William Dart says that it's the craft that's always drawn him into Stephin Merritt's world. And that craft is individual, idiosyncratic, and often subtle.
He gives this new set a keen listen.
Music Details
'Song title' (Composer) – Performers
Album title
(Label)
'Roses' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
69 Love Songs, Vol 2
(Merge)
'Reno Dakota' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
69 Love Songs, Vol 1
(Merge)
'My Sentimental Melody' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
69 Love Songs, Vol 1
(Merge)
'It’s Hard to be the Emperor' (Merritt) – Stephin Merritt
Showtunes
(Nonesuch)
'Goin’ Back to the Country' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
Love at the Bottom of the Sea
(Merge)
'’66: Wonder Where I’m From' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’69: Judy Garland' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’74: No' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’82: Happy Beeping' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’86: How I failed Ethics' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’91: The Day I Finally…' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’03: The Ex and I' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’00: Ghosts of the Marathon Dancers' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
'’14: I Wish I had Pictures' (Merritt) – The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir
(Nonesuch)
