The 6ths
The 6ths is a band featuring various artists and notable guest singers crea… Read Full Bio ↴The 6ths is a band featuring various artists and notable guest singers created by Stephin Merritt, also the prime mover behind The Magnetic Fields, The Gothic Archies and Future Bible Heroes.
The two albums released to date are Wasps' Nests (1995) and Hyacinths and Thistles (1999). The names of both albums, and the name of the band, are deliberate tongue-twisters. The words are chosen for their abundance of s and th sounds. Sixths packs one th and three s sounds into one syllable.
One story has it that the band was conceived when Merritt, observing that there was no tribute album dedicated to him, decided to make one himself. The concept is that Merritt writes songs which are then played and sung by other artists, different ones on each track. It has so far produced two well-received albums and many bizarre collaborations.
The other story (and the more accurate one) is that Merritt wrote the songs, mailed the singers rough demos, their vocals and additional tracks were returned via mail back to Merritt who the results took to his studio and polished them up as finished items. This at least rings true on the debut record, with the singers and composers never meeting in person. A few years later, the Postal Service would use this same tactic and even use the method as their namesake.
The list of singers on Wasps' Nests reads like a veritable Who's Who of mid 90s indie rock starpower, including Miho Hatori, Barbara Manning, Mary Timony, Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna), Lou Barlow, Robert Scott (The Bats, The Clean), Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) and Mark Robinson.
Some of the more notable artists appearing on Hyacinths and Thistles are Bob Mould, Sally Timms (The Mekons), Sarah Cracknell (Saint Etienne), Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy), Gary Numan, Marc Almond, Momus, Clare Grogan (Altered Images), Melanie, Miss Lily Banquette (Combustible Edison) and the accomplished toy piano player Margaret Leng Tan.
The two albums released to date are Wasps' Nests (1995) and Hyacinths and Thistles (1999). The names of both albums, and the name of the band, are deliberate tongue-twisters. The words are chosen for their abundance of s and th sounds. Sixths packs one th and three s sounds into one syllable.
One story has it that the band was conceived when Merritt, observing that there was no tribute album dedicated to him, decided to make one himself. The concept is that Merritt writes songs which are then played and sung by other artists, different ones on each track. It has so far produced two well-received albums and many bizarre collaborations.
The other story (and the more accurate one) is that Merritt wrote the songs, mailed the singers rough demos, their vocals and additional tracks were returned via mail back to Merritt who the results took to his studio and polished them up as finished items. This at least rings true on the debut record, with the singers and composers never meeting in person. A few years later, the Postal Service would use this same tactic and even use the method as their namesake.
The list of singers on Wasps' Nests reads like a veritable Who's Who of mid 90s indie rock starpower, including Miho Hatori, Barbara Manning, Mary Timony, Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna), Lou Barlow, Robert Scott (The Bats, The Clean), Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) and Mark Robinson.
Some of the more notable artists appearing on Hyacinths and Thistles are Bob Mould, Sally Timms (The Mekons), Sarah Cracknell (Saint Etienne), Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy), Gary Numan, Marc Almond, Momus, Clare Grogan (Altered Images), Melanie, Miss Lily Banquette (Combustible Edison) and the accomplished toy piano player Margaret Leng Tan.
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The 6ths Lyrics
Aging Spinsters You can have a Fall And Winter of your own Staying warm…
All Dressed Up In Dreams I was happy, which is not like me at all For…
As You Turn To Go Let the camera linger on your perfect skin Your widows peak…
As You Turn to Go (feat. Momus) Let the camera linger on your perfect skin Your widows peak…
Dream Hat I've been working in these here fields It's like it's…
Falling Out Of Love In an old silver line I was yours, you were mine I…
Give Me Back My Dreams Give me back my dreams. I've been counting these sheep si…
He Didn't Will you dance with me Take my hands and lead…
Heaven In A Black Leather Jacket She'll be leaving on a Sunday morning train You'll be hangi…
Here In My Heart There's a beautiful song since you came along Here in my…
Human I'm only human, of flesh and blood I'm made. Ooh human,…
Human ft. Lloyd Cole I'm only human, of flesh and blood I'm made. Ooh human,…
In The City In The Rain In the city in the rain you've got a beautiful…
Just Like A Movie Star I spent all day dreaming of the Way I'd like to…
Kissing Things It was a shallow ocean It was a very low scar They're…
Looking For Love When you left them back on the farm For the city…
Movies In My Head While it may come as a shock, I wasn't born…
Night Falls Like A Grand Piano Quiet please, there are leaves falling Trees do there strip…
Oahu I was the restless kind With a heart inclined to play…
Pillow Fight How sad the castle with no foundation underground Sadder s…
Puerto Rico Way The sun pissing in the streets Of some hungover place Danc…
San Diego Zoo Met you on a traffic island We were there all day In…
The Dead Only Quickly Priests and fools say We are but animate clay, But rude ve…
The Sailor in Love With the Sea Sigh and grow every day paler Bowed by a mortal ennui I…
Volcana! Tahitian hashish and a vermilion moon Impure kiss of orchid…
Waltzing Me All The Way Home You were a soldier from Lahore, waltzing me all the…
When I'm Out Of Town Where do you go when I'm not around Who do you…
Winter In July All alone in Melbourne All I do is cry All as I…
You Can't Break A Broken Heart Sometimes you remind me of a doll Lifelike, but so frail…
You You You You You Even though I met you only recently I find myself falling…