Artist The Magnetic Fields
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The Magnetic Fields
Stephin Merritt doesn't practice mad science on the pop-song form so much as drolly dissect it. As a result, his band, The Magnetic Fields, boasts a 20-year catalog that embraces both cliché and ridiculous wit. From the tacky yet beautifully orchestrated synths of 1990's Distant Plastic Trees to the sparkling feedback of 2008's Distortion to the purely acoustic arrangements of 2010's Realism, the Fields have a way of doing practically the same thing over and over again in the service of new ideas. Realism best matches the Fields' touring setup: Because Merritt has a hearing disorder, the live sound is grounded in piano, cello, acoustic guitar, and no drums. Merritt also hates playing live, but his grumpy stage demeanor only adds to the oddball charm.
Updated 02/22/2010

Favorite falling-out-of-love stories
Austin:
"Profuckinfessionals" and other proudly desperate souls
Superchunk
Milwaukee:
The Magnetic Fields at The Pabst Theater
Peter Gabriel: Scratch My Back
Stephin Merritt: Obscurities
The Magnetic Fields: Realism
Spike Jonze, Benicio Del Toro, Neil Hamburger, Elliott Gould, and Michael Cera take part in 24-hour telethon for repertory cinema
Today in music videos: Magnetic Fields go gender-bending in "Andrew In Drag"
Washington D.C.:
Bruce Springsteen at Verizon Center
Madison:
The Magnetic Fields at Capitol Theater
Milwaukee:
The Magnetic Fields at Pabst Theater
Austin:
The A.V. Club at SXSW Film '10: Day 4
“Hard Day’s Pete”