50 Song Memoir
The Magnetic Fields · 2017
150 min · 50 tracks · indie rock
A whimsical journey blending synth-pop and indie rock, chronicling life through a kaleidoscope of personal anecdotes.
Top tracks — play these first
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’66 Wonder Where I’m From Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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'67 Come Back as a Cockroach — This track humorously explores themes of reincarnation and regret, utilizing clever wordplay that showcases Merritt's signature wit.
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'75 My Mama Ain’t — The song stands out for its poignant reflection on familial relationships, blending melancholy with catchy melodies that exemplify the album's duality.
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'86 How I Failed Ethics — Through its playful yet introspective lyrics, this track captures Merritt's ability to tackle complex themes with humor and charm.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's ambitious structure and whimsical storytelling create a unique listening experience within indie rock.
What we noticed
- The album consists of fifty short tracks, each averaging around two minutes, creating a rapid-fire narrative style.
- Each song is structured around a personal anecdote, often using whimsical and humorous lyrics that reflect on various life experiences.
- The sequencing of the tracks creates a sense of progression through different themes and moods, despite the brevity of each individual piece.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- whimsical storytelling through anecdotes
- steady pacing for reflective listening
- two-halves for focused engagement
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- life's moments in bite-sized pieces
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, immersive experiences
- seek high-energy instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Ambitious and acclaimed, it solidifies their status in indie music.
- Themes
- reincarnation humor· familial nostalgia· whimsical life anecdotes
- Career context
- Upon releasing '50 Song Memoir' in 2017, The Magnetic Fields had established themselves as a unique voice in indie music, following their acclaimed 2013 album 'Love at the Bottom of the Sea'. This album marked a significant artistic endeavor for singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt, as it comprises fifty songs reflecting on his life from 1966 to 2015, showcasing both his lyrical wit and musical evolution.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Decemberists· Sufjan Stevens· Belle and Sebastian
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 ’66 Wonder Where I’m From Start here 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
What to play next
Love at the Bottom of the Sea
2012
Continues whimsical storytelling with engaging melodies and a playful sound.
5 Selections From 50 Song Memoir
2016
A concise introduction to themes explored in 50 Song Memoir.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Carrie & Lowell
Sufjan Stevens
Explores personal memories and familial themes with a blend of folk and subtle synth textures.
Are You Serious
Andrew Bird
Shares whimsical storytelling and clever lyrics, merging indie rock with orchestral elements.
The Crane Wife
The Decemberists
Combines narrative-driven lyrics with a mix of folk and indie rock, echoing personal and mythical themes.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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