The Magnetic Fields In Profile

Songwriter Stephin Merritt formed indie pop band The Magnetic Fields in Boston, MA in 1990. Initially a home recording project, Merritt recruited Susan Anway to sing on the band's first two albums of pastoral tunes, from 1991 and '92. By '94, Merritt took over lead vocal duties and increased the Synth Pop quotient in his music. The band issued three albums throughout '94 and '95. Merritt devoted the next few years to side projects, but The Magnetic Fields returned in 1999 with the 3-CD release 69 Love Songs, a huge Indie hit with a more organic feel. They followed with the mostly acoustic i in 2004.

Stephin Merritt began recording under the name The Magnetic Fields in 1990. Merritt composed the lyrics and recorded most of the instruments himself. During these early years, Susan Anway was the band's sole vocalist, her soprano matching well the pastoral Indie Pop Merritt was recording at this time. Also aiding in recordings and live performances were Claudia Gonson on percussion, Sam Davol on cello, and Johnny Blood on horns. The band's first LP, 1991's Distant Plastic Trees, met with lukewarm reviews. Its follow-up, '92's The Wayward Bus, earned the band critical accolades.

After Anway moved away to Arizona, Merritt took over on vocals, with occasional help from Gonson. Merritt also turned toward a sound more heavily indebted to Synth Pop. All three of the albums from this era feature burbling keyboard programs and drum machine rhythms. The Magnetic Fields were signed to Merge Records at this time, as well. 1994's Holiday received strong reviews. That same year, the band issued the Country-sounding The Charm Of The Highway Strip. Permanent member John Woo (guitar and banjo) joined at this time, and Blood departed. 1995 saw Get Lost and more good press.

After a hiatus devoted to Merritt's side projects (see below), The Magnetic Fields returned in 1999 with the triple-CD 69 Love Songs. Although musical styles varied from song to song, they leaned toward a more organic sound (aided by Gonson switching to piano). Utilizing a few guest vocalists and Daniel Handler on accordion, the band recorded their masterpiece, earning many new fans and rave reviews from critics. Merritt became widely recognized for his songwriting abilities at this time, as well. 2004's i was a more acoustically based, low-key follow-up. It received mostly good press.

In 1995, Merritt released Wasps' Nests by The 6ths, a set of Synth Pop backing tracks with guest Indie vocalists. Its '99 follow-up, Hyacinths And Thistles, was tepidly received. In '96 and '97, Merritt's The Gothic Archies released two EPs. This project resurfaced in the '00s, contributing songs to Lemony Snicket's (aka, Daniel Handler's) Series Of Unfortunate Events. These tracks were compiled on '06's The Tragic Treasury. From '97 to '02, Merritt and Gonson collaborated with keyboardist Chris Ewen on a pair of LPs as Future Bible Heroes. Merritt also released Showtunes in '06.