You might not know this, but when I'm not kicking ass in the morning and taking names in the evening, I like to stare out the window at noon. Preferably to the soundtrack of Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs.
[podcast]http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com.s3.amazonaws.com/Magnetic%20Fields%20-%20Book%20of%20Love.mp3[/podcast]
This classic double-hitter was released in 1999 and I have no idea how I found it. There was no promo, no hype. I just happened to listen to it and love it. For those of you who haven't heard it: it's sweet, sad, arty and poppy and a purrrrfect soundtrack to staring into the distance and wondering when your future is going to start. (I did a lot of that in 1999.)
Quote from the Magnetic Fields website:
"The story has it that Stephin Merritt came up with the idea for "69 Love Songs" while sitting in an elegant midtown Manhattan gay piano bar. He originally planned for it to be a live musical revue, performed with a rotating cast of singers in the plush hotel bars and cabarets of New York City."
69 Love Songs is loved by most of your favourite artists. If you listen to it, you'll love it, too.
It will now be re-released as 6 x 10" vinyl collectables and a booklet of new liner notes.
(via Pitchfork)
[youtube eo8vW_0H_Kg nolink]