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.
Night Falls Like A Grand Piano
The 6ths Lyrics
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Trees do there striptease, summer is ending.
The lyrics to The 6ths' song "Night Falls Like A Grand Piano" depict the arrival of autumn as the season of change. The first line "Quiet please, there are leaves falling" could be interpreted as a call for silence and introspection, as the leaves fall from the trees and the world prepares for the cold season. It could be seen as a metaphor for the ending of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. The second line "Trees do their striptease, summer is ending" emphasizes the transformative process of change that is happening in nature. The reference to the trees' striptease is a clever analogy for the way trees shed their leaves like clothes, and in turn, reveal their bare selves.
The metaphor of the leaves falling and the trees stripping is also reflected in the title of the song "Night Falls Like A Grand Piano", as the falling of leaves and the transformation of the trees echoes the gradual descent of the nightfall like the closing of a grand piano. The song could be interpreted as a reflection on the inevitability of change, the passing of time, and the cyclical nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Quiet please, there are leaves falling
Please be silent and listen carefully, for there are leaves falling from the trees
Trees do their striptease, summer is ending
As the trees shed their leaves, it is like a sensual striptease, marking the end of summer
Contributed by Joshua Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.