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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Young and Insane
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But a brown school and a dead shopping mall
The record store is execrable
We sit around blowing bubbles
'Cause we're young and insane
And we're running away for the summer
We're deprived and depraved
Young and insane
When you're free in an antique car
For a week you will know who you are
In uninhabitable we go out to jump in puddles
The opening lines of The Magnetic Fields’ “Young and Insane” present a rather bleak portrait of a town with nothing to offer but a school, a mall that has seen better days, and a poor excuse for a record store. But for the young and restless protagonists of the song, these meager offerings are not enough. Instead, they opt to escape their humdrum surroundings, characterizing themselves as “young and insane” as they run away for the summer. Their actions are motivated by a sense of boredom and desperation, as they feel deprived and depraved within the confines of their hometown.
As the song unfolds, we learn that the singers have borrowed an antique car, which they use to explore the world beyond their town. This newfound freedom provides an opportunity for self-discovery, as the car becomes a symbol of their independence and individuality. In one particularly striking line, the song describes the mud puddles that they jump in as “uninhabitable”, suggesting that their sense of adventure takes them to places that others might avoid. The general tone of the song is one of youthful abandon, as the singers revel in their ability to pursue their desires without fear or regret.
Line by Line Meaning
In this town there is nothing at all
This town is barren, devoid of any activity or entertainment.
But a brown school and a dead shopping mall
The only significant landmarks of this town are a boring school and an abandoned mall.
The record store is execrable
The local record store is terrible and unpleasant.
We sit around blowing bubbles
We have nothing else to do, so we waste our time blowing bubbles.
'Cause we're young and insane
We are reckless and impulsive because of our youth and inexperience.
And we're running away for the summer
We are escaping this mundane town for the whole summer.
We're deprived and depraved
We lack necessities and moral standards.
And we won't get away with it
Our misbehavior will eventually catch up with us.
Young and insane
We are young and wild, acting impulsively and without thinking of the consequences.
When you're free in an antique car
When you feel liberated in an old, classic car.
For a week you will know who you are
Driving this antique car for a week will give you a sense of self-discovery and self-awareness.
In uninhabitable we go out to jump in puddles
In this desolate wasteland, we find joy in something as simple as jumping in puddles.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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