Stephin Merrit Live
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Magnetic Fields' three-volume concept album "69 Love Songs" was widely considered an ambitious masterpiece when it came out in 1999. Two albums later the band is still creating pithy love songs but the melodic sound has gone fuzzy. Magnetic Fields songwriter, and frontman, Stephin Merrit joins us to preview "Distortion," and give an acoustic performance.
Comments [10]
if you've listened to interviews with him before, he always sounds pretty unenthusiastic but it's his charm...i don't think it's him being rude at all.
he's notoriously cranky and difficult, but yeah, this was too much even for me, a formerly rabid MF fan. it's getting a little tired.
wuz this alysia's booking?
that was boring
Congratulations John for the cool and witty way in which you handled this sluggishly rude guest. Question: Is it ever possible to play the music or a person or group
when it's interesting (as in this case it was) and omit trying to talk to an individual (as in this case he wasn't?)
I thought it was just me being an old crank, but apparently I'm not alone... Really, if you sound like you have absolutely no enthusiasm for what you do, why should anyone else be interested in it/you? I would think it quite an honor to be asked to appear on NPR and plug your new product, so sound happy about it. If you dont think it an appealing proposition, stay home and practice your harp.
man o man that nun song was great solo.
I was interested in Stephin Merrit's music before I heard this interview. This is a case where the artist's personality is such that his music has become entirely unappealing to me. (Kudos to John for being so polite and energetic regardless!)
What is the big deal with the lyrics sheet? It is very simple. On this album or any other, if they care about the lyrics they will produce the song in such a way that the listener can actually understand the lyrics. If they produce the song so that the lyrics cannot be understood they do not care about the lyrics.
Dan
I prefer the ukulele version. Please release it as a single. Please.
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