The Magnetic Fields is a band led by the New York singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt. Albums released by Merritt under the name "The Magnetic Fields" usually consist of synth-pop music in a 1980s style underlying sometimes ironic, sometimes bitter and sometimes celebratory lyrics, mostly about love. All but the first two albums, The Wayward Bus and Distant Plastic Trees (which are now most easily available together as a compilation) are principally sung by Merritt himself.

The most significant, popular and critically-acclaimed album to date is 69 Love Songs. This 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. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks.

The album "i" (2004) continues Merritt's love of the concept album, with each of the 14 songs beginning with the letter (and often the pronoun) "I".

Significant Magnetic Fields collaborators include (but are not limited to) cellist Sam Davol , banjo player/second guitarist John Woo , Daniel Handler, Susan Anway and percussionist/pianist Claudia Gonson.

See also: The 6ths, The Gothic Archies, Future Bible Heroes

Discography

• Distant Plastic Trees (1991)
• The Wayward Bus (1992)
• The House of Tomorrow EP (1993)
• Holiday (1994)
• The Charm of the Highway Strip (1994)
• Get Lost (1995)
• 69 Love Songs (1999)
• i (2004)