The Magnetic Fields | |
|---|---|
 In concert in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Feel Good All Over, Merge, Nonesuch |
| Members |
|
| Website | www |
The Magnetic Fields (named after the André Breton/Philippe Soupault novel Les Champs Magnétiques)[1] are an American band founded and led by Stephin Merritt. Merritt is the group's primary songwriter, producer, and vocalist, as well as frequent multi-instrumentalist.
The band released their debut single "100,000 Fireflies" in 1991. The single was typical of the band's earlier career, characterized by synthesized instrumentation by Merritt, with lead vocals provided by Susan Anway (and then by Stephin Merritt himself, from the House of Tomorrow EP onwards). A more traditional band later materialized; it is now composed of Merritt, Claudia Gonson, Sam Davol, and John Woo, with occasional guest vocals by Shirley Simms. The band's best-known work is the 1999 three-volume concept album 69 Love Songs. It was followed in the succeeding years by a "no-synth" trilogy: i (2004), Distortion (2008),[2] and Realism (2010). The band's latest album, Quickies, was released on May 29, 2020.
- ^ Morse, Erik. "The Magnetic Fields Get Real", Interview Magazine, February 11, 2010.
- ^ Thiessen, Brock." Magnetic Fields Feeds Back ", and Exclaim!, February 2008.