50 Song Memoir cover

50 Song Memoir

The Magnetic Fields · 2017

150 min · 50 tracks · indie rock · synth-pop

A whimsical journey through life’s moments, blending indie rock and synth-pop with clever storytelling.

Why this album works

'50 Song Memoir' received widespread acclaim for its concept and execution, appearing on numerous year-end lists and earning a spot in NPR's top albums of the year. Its innovative format, comprising fifty tracks that chronicle Merritt's life experiences, has sparked conversations about autobiographical songwriting in contemporary music.
Best for
whimsical storytelling through anecdotes steady pacing for reflective listening two-halves for focused engagement
Context
Released in 2017, '50 Song Memoir' is The Magnetic Fields' first album since 'Love at the Bottom of the Sea' (2012). This ambitious project highlights a return to form for frontman Stephin Merritt, showcasing his signature blend of humor and poignancy across fifty tracks—one for each year of his life. The album represents a continuation of Merritt's exploration of personal narratives through music.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 ’66 Wonder Where I’m From 2:44
  • 2 ’67 Come Back as a Cockroach 2:34
  • 3 ’68 A Cat Called Dionysus 2:46
  • 4 ’69 Judy Garland 3:17
  • 5 ’70 They’re Killing Children Over There 2:36
  • 6 ’71 I Think I’ll Make Another World 2:57
  • 7 ’72 Eye Contact 2:55
  • 8 ’73 It Could Have Been Paradise 3:07
  • 9 ’74 No 2:57
  • 10 ’75 My Mama Ain’t 3:01

Disc 2

  • 1 ’76 Hustle 76 3:16
  • 2 ’77 Life Ain’t All Bad 4:16
  • 3 ’78 The Blizzard of ’78 3:15
  • 4 ’79 Rock’n’Roll Will Ruin Your Life 2:58
  • 5 ’80 London by Jetpack 2:58
  • 6 ’81 How to Play the Synthesizer 3:06
  • 7 ’82 Happy Beeping 3:10
  • 8 ’83 Foxx and I 2:43
  • 9 ’84 Danceteria! 3:09
  • 10 ’85 Why I Am Not a Teenager 3:07

Disc 3

  • 1 ’86 How I Failed Ethics 2:58
  • 2 ’87 At the Pyramid 3:10
  • 3 ’88 Ethan Frome 2:24
  • 4 ’89 The 1989 Musical Marching Zoo 3:06
  • 5 ’90 Dreaming in Tetris 3:21
  • 6 ’91 The Day I Finally… 2:20
  • 7 ’92 Weird Diseases 3:10
  • 8 ’93 Me and Fred and Dave and Ted 3:08
  • 9 ’94 Haven’t Got a Penny 2:53
  • 10 ’95 A Serious Mistake 3:13

Disc 4

  • 1 ’96 I’m Sad! 2:12
  • 2 ’97 Eurodisco Trio 3:15
  • 3 ’98 Lovers’ Lies 3:06
  • 4 ’99 Fathers in the Clouds 2:52
  • 5 ’00 Ghosts of the Marathon Dancers 3:05
  • 6 ’01 Have You Seen It in the Snow? 2:51
  • 7 ’02 Be True to Your Bar 3:34
  • 8 ’03 The Ex and I 2:59
  • 9 ’04 Cold‐Blooded Man 3:06
  • 10 ’05 Never Again 3:19

Disc 5

  • 1 ’06 “Quotes” 2:17
  • 2 ’07 In the Snow White Cottages 2:52
  • 3 ’08 Surfin’ 2:47
  • 4 ’09 Till You Come Back to Me 2:29
  • 5 ’10 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 3:03
  • 6 ’11 Stupid Tears 2:45
  • 7 ’12 You Can Never Go Back to New York 3:12
  • 8 ’13 Big Enough for Both of Us 3:04
  • 9 ’14 I Wish I Had Pictures 3:07
  • 10 ’15 Somebody’s Fetish 3:45

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata