The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist/vocalist) Claudia Gonson. While 1991's Distant Plastic Trees and 1992's The Wayward Bus (now most easily available together as a compilation, The Wayward Bus / Distant Plastic Trees) are sung by Susan Anway (b. 1951 - d. 2021), all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself.
Longtime members include: Gonson, (cellist) Sam Davol, and (banjo player/guitarist) John Woo. Contributors include (but are not limited to) the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, and the accordionist/writer Daniel Handler (famous for writing the childrens' books A Series of Unfortunate Events under the alias Lemony Snicket).
Their most popular and best-selling album to date is 69 Love Songs issued on Merge Records as a triple album filled with many fairly short songs that are reminiscent of early Beatles productions.
The album is notable for its employment of many unorthodox musical arrangements and downright impressive quantity of material presented. Instruments used on this album include the ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, piano, flute, xylophone guitars, various percussion instruments, and a standard setup of synths and effects. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks. The album is a three CD set, released in the US as three separate albums (also available as a boxed set) and in the UK as a triple album.
The album i (2004, Nonesuch Records) continues Merritt's fixation on the concept album, with each of the 14 songs beginning with the letter (and often the pronoun) "I".
The album Distortion, was released through Nonesuch on the 15th January 2008 and introduced noise pop to the array of styles utilized in their music. The album's release was followed by a sold-out U.S. tour starting in February. Additional albums followed in 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2020.
Stephin Merritt is involved in several other musical projects: The 6ths (featuring different guest performers on every track), The Gothic Archies (songs dealing humorously with dark themes) and Future Bible Heroes (with music written by Chris Ewen)
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Rats in the Garbage of the Western World
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I like what little of you I've seen
You stepped out of the TV screen
And into my most personal dreams
I don't want to go home with you
But the TV tells me what to do
I don't want to fall in love with you
But I've been conditioned to
We are the rats in the garbage of the western world
So let's dance!
I wouldn't look twice if I were sober enough
But I can tell you're a diamond in the rough
The way you don't talk and the way you don't walk
Just like a model
I know this is gonna be love
In a place like this with a boy like you
Anything could happen if you want it to
I want to shoot you and hang you on my wall
But there's no film in my polaroid...
In this song, The Magnetic Fields delve into the concept of modern love and the role that media plays in shaping our perceptions of it. The singer expresses their willingness to embrace the darkest parts of themselves in their attraction to someone who has stepped out of their TV screen and into their dreams. They admit that they don't want to go home with this person, but feel as though they are being told what to do by the TV. The lyrics express the idea that modern culture and media have conditioned us to accept and even embrace ideas that we may not necessarily want to.
The chorus shifts the focus to a larger societal issue, comparing people to rats in the garbage of the western world. Despite the seeming hopelessness of this image, they encourage people to dance and let loose, suggesting that even when life is at its darkest, there is still something to be celebrated.
The final verse takes a dark turn as the singer admits to wanting to possess their love interest in a violent way, but they are unable to do so due to the limitations of technology.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the way that modern life can lead us to dark places and push us towards experiences that we may not necessarily want, but that we feel compelled to pursue due to cultural conditioning.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the darkest place I've ever been
The singer feels like they are in a very negative and depressed state.
But I like what little of you I've seen
The singer is attracted to someone despite only having seen a small portion of their personality.
You stepped out of the TV screen
The singer is imagining their crush as if they were a television character come to life.
And into my most personal dreams
The artist is fantasizing about their crush in their subconscious mind.
I don't want to go home with you
Despite the attraction, the artist is not interested in pursuing a physical relationship with their crush.
But the TV tells me what to do
The singer is influenced by societal expectations and norms portrayed in media.
I don't want to fall in love with you
The singer is hesitant to develop romantic feelings for their crush.
But I've been conditioned to
The artist realizes that societal expectations have influenced their feelings towards their crush.
We are the rats in the garbage of the western world
The artist feels that they and society as a whole are insignificant and undervalued.
So let's dance!
In light of their negative feelings, the artist suggests dancing and enjoying the moment despite everything else.
I wouldn't look twice if I were sober enough
The singer acknowledges that their attraction to their crush might be influenced by substances or a lack thereof.
But I can tell you're a diamond in the rough
Despite appearances, the artist believes their crush has hidden qualities that make them special.
The way you don't talk and the way you don't walk
The singer finds their crush's lack of conversation and unique mannerisms intriguing.
Just like a model
The singer compares their crush to a model, in terms of their unique and interesting qualities.
I know this is gonna be love
Despite their initial hesitations, the singer believes that their feelings towards their crush will develop into romantic love.
In a place like this with a boy like you
The artist believes that the environment and their crush's personality are catalysts for romantic feelings.
Anything could happen if you want it to
The artist is open to the possibility of their crush reciprocating their feelings and starting a romantic relationship.
I want to shoot you and hang you on my wall
The singer wants to capture their crush's essence and keep it close to them, even if it is not possible in the literal sense.
But there's no film in my polaroid...
Despite their desires, the singer realizes that it might not be possible to capture what they want, whether it be through a physical photograph or otherwise.
Contributed by Hailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.