| Magnetic Fields | |
|---|---|
 Magnetic Fields. From left to right: John Woo, Claudia Gonson, Stephin Merritt and Sam Davol.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Genre(s) | Indie pop |
| Years active | 1990 – present |
| Label(s) | Feel Good All Over Merge Records Nonesuch Records |
| Associated acts |
The 6ths, The Gothic Archies, Future Bible Heroes |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Stephin Merritt Claudia Gonson Sam Davol John Woo |
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| Former members | |
| Susan Anway | |
Magnetic Fields is a band led by New York City singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt. Albums released by Merritt under the name "Magnetic Fields" usually consist of synth-pop music in a 1980s style underlying clever lyrics, often about love, that are by turns ironic, bitter, and humorous. While The Wayward Bus and Distant Plastic Trees (now available together as a compilation) are sung by Susan Anway, all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself. The band began as Merritt's studio project, with him playing all instruments. With the help of friend Claudia Gonson, who had played in Merritt's band The Zinnias during high school, a live band was assembled in Boston, where Merritt and Gonson lived, to play Merritt's compositions. The band's first live performance was at TT the Bear's Place in Cambridge, MA in 1991 where they played to a sparse audience expecting to see Galaxie 500 spinoff Magnetophone. The live performance sounded nothing like the recordings. One of the group's most significant albums to date is the 1999 triple album 69 Love Songs. It showcased Merritt's songwriting abilities and the group's musicianship, demonstrated by the use of unorthodox instruments (including ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, flute, xylophone, and Marxophone, in addition to their usual setup of synthesizers, guitars, and effects). The album features vocalists Shirley Simms, Dudley Klute, LD Beghtol and Gonson, each of whom sings lead on six songs as well as various backing vocals, plus Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) on accordion, and longtime collaborator Christopher Ewen (of Future Bible Heroes) as guest arranger/synthesist. Violinist Ida Pearle makes a brief cameo on "Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side". Their 2004 album i continues Merritt's love of themed albums, with each of the 14 songs beginning with the letter (or, in the case of half the songs' titles, the pronoun) "I". The liner notes claim the album was made without synthesizers. It was announced that the band is in the studio recording and that the new album, entitled Distortion, is to be released through Nonesuch[1] on the 15th January 2008.[2] The album's release will be followed by a limited US tour starting in February, though more dates could still be announced.
Contents |
Members
- Stephin Merritt
- Claudia Gonson – percussion/piano/vocals (and group manager)
- Sam Davol – cello
- John Woo – banjo/guitar
Past contributors include the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, as well as instrumentalists Daniel Handler and Chris Ewen.
Discography
Albums
- Distant Plastic Trees
1991 - The Wayward Bus
1992 - The House of Tomorrow (EP)
1992 - Holiday
1994 - The Charm of the Highway Strip
April 18, 1994 - Get Lost
October 24, 1995 - 69 Love Songs
September 7, 1999 - i
May 4, 2004
#152 (Billboard 200) - Distortion
January 15,2008
Singles
- "100,000 Fireflies" (7")
- "Long Vermont Roads" (7")
- "All The Umbrellas In London" (7")
- "Why I Cry" (7")
- "I Don't Believe You" (7")
References
- ^ Assorted Appearances + Magnetic Fields Update. The House of Tomorrow (official band site / blog) (2006-09). Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
- ^ Quick Update: Magnetic Fields + Stephin Merritt. The House of Tomorrow (official band site / blog) (2007-06). Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
