--- In magneticfields@yahoogroups.com, "Jenny Jo" <ansiblejane@h...>
wrote:
> I first heard of the Magnetic Fields through being a huge, dorky
fan
> of Neil Gaiman, who was reputed to like them. I didn't actually
buy
> any of their stuff, though, in part because I think "Neil Likes It"
> is a silly reason to buy music.

I'll take my cultural influences where I can get them. Gaiman's main
themes are very similar in spirit to MF, so I wasn't too surprised
when I found out Gaiman was a MF listener.

>I've decided, giving a tape like that to someone that
> you're not actually in love with. It can lead to a lot of
> misunderstandings and wrong assumptions and generally mess with
> one's emotional state. At any rate, that's what happened to me.

Don't infect others with Magnetic Fields music unless you are
prepared for the consequences. These albums should come with warning
stickers.

> But I did love the songs. And then I realized that actually I
> already had some Stephin Merritt music, because I had one of the
> Lemony Snicket audiobooks that I had gotten as a gift, and knowing
> that the genius behind the Magnetic Fields was the same genius
> behind "Scream and Run Away" only sold me more completely on the
> whole idea.

Strangely I came upon Gaiman, Snickets, and Merritt independently,
and then discovered the connections after reading the afterword to
American Gods and an article mentioning Snickets and 69 Love Songs.
It's a surprisingly small world of those with similar tastes, I
suppose.

> So I went and bought the 69 Love Songs CD's, and then began
> searching out the other Magnetc Fields albums, and then got into
the
> Future Bible Heroes, and found Hyacinths and Thistles, and I saw
FBH
> live in San Francisco, which was a huge kick and I loved it. The
> solo uke version of "I'm Lonely and I Love It" was one of the
finest
> things I have ever witnessed.

I'm in SF as well and saw the show at Bimbo's. Great show, was that
Snickets who ran out and sang part of "I'm a Vampire"? "Losing Your
Affection" was a highlight for me, but "I'm Lonely and I Love It" was
also bittersweet to watch.

> So...anybody want to say what their favorite song is, and why? I
> Okay, I've done my bit. Your turn.

"Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side" is one of my favorites at the
moment. "All my little words" is probably my all-time favorite,
but "Meaningless" is a close second. The line about fireflies makes
me grin every time I hear it. I still think "Hyacinths and Thistles"
is wonderful from start to finish, but "You X 5" is probably my
favorite on there.

Open Question to other listmembers: What other non-Merritt music are
you listening to? Most of the online recommendation systems don't
target "wordy, literate, bizarre pop songs" very well. I've been
listening to Mr. Bungle, Cornelius, Amon Tobin, Leonard Cohen, and
Pizzicato Five of late. Oh, and if anyone can track down
the "Knitting on the Roof" CD ("Fiddler on the Roof" covers released
by the Knitting Factory) with Merritt doing a deadpan version of "If
I was a Rich Man", it's a fantastic disc. "Matchmaker",
reinterpreted as a pyromaniac's wet dream by The Residents, is
another highlight.

Almost unsubscribed,

Dave S.

> --Jenny Jo