Taking Sides?: Mister T Experience vs Magnetic Fields

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Here's what this guy sez. Lets hear what ILM sez...

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 14:47 (twenty-three years ago)

tough one. i'd have to go with mr.t
the song "even hitler has a girlfriend" puts them ahead, slightly

― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 16:36 (twenty-three years ago)

The 'fields. Purely for "Pretend we're bunny rabbits"

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 17:09 (twenty-three years ago)

I see Mr T experience as being somewhat more tied to novelty than the Magnetic Fields. Granted there are novelty tracks that the Magnetic Fiedls have done (especially on 69 love songs vol.3) but for the most part, Stephin Merrit rises above for desplaying an obvious eclecticism of pop music genres/sub genres and styles whereas the Dr. Frank guy has his feet pretty much nailed to the floor of the punk pop world.
My problem is that the guy who wrote this seems only aware of "69 love songs." Merrit made a few really great short pop records prior to the three disc set, this is why "69" was the most anticipated record of 1999 for me. It seems like many people discuss the Magnetic Fields without being aware of the work leading up to the last record, which means, I suppose, they're only partially aware of Merrit's achievement. "Charm of the Highway Strip" , "The Wayward Bus" , and "Get Lost" (among others) are all beautiful, sad, yet relentlessly catchy pop records. Not to mention the soncially original production style refined by Merrit on these albums, that is unfortunately lacking in the intentionally minimal "69 Love Songs."

― theodore fogelsanger, Wednesday, 19 February 2003 20:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Magnetic Fields, no question. The Wayward Bus/Distant Plastic Trees combo is clever, original, and impeccably tasteful.

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 22:57 (twenty-three years ago)

nevah heard a note of Mr T, so'd be not fair on my part to pick magnetic fields in this case, bah...
b-bah-but wouln't magnetic fields vs his name is alive be a bettah, hm, 'indie pop derby'?

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, man, MTX by a country mile. I still maintain that Dr Frank is the greatest lyricist in music history.

"I feel down when I'm not feeling you up"
"My new girlfriend's better than you/ She has bigger breasts and a higher IQ"
All of "Alternative Is Here To Stay".

And so on and so forth.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes, but Dr. Frank would always rather be clever than say something nuanced. This has never been the case with Merritt. Dr. Frank has made me marvel and chuckle but he has never made me swoon or ache or ponder. I don't think he's ever even bothered trying.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:15 (twenty-three years ago)

also, he is plodding pop-punk with a mainstream envy complex

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:16 (twenty-three years ago)

also, he is...pop-punk with a mainstream envy complex

Dude, you make it sound like this is a major discovery. He sang "Dumb Little Band" about this very idea ("The guy at the bar says he thinks we're OK/ We kind of remind him of Green Day").

To be honest, I don't want my pop-punk to make me swoon or ache or ponder, in the same way I don't want (insert metaphor). It'd just seem wrong.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:21 (twenty-three years ago)

dom, cutting out the all important "plodding" doesn't refute my argument. and promoting your own complexes doesn't make them a plus! (and yes, i know the song, that's why i mentioned it.)

i also don't want my pop punk to swoon or ache or ponder (for bad examples of this see mid-period screeching weasle) which is why i think this is a rub comparison.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:24 (twenty-three years ago)

for bad examples of this see mid-period screeching weasle

For even worse, every Blink 182 track apart from the first single from each album.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

CUSTOS: "Taking sides -- poop versus asparagus."
NABISCO: "I prefer asparagus because it tastes great."
DOM: "But I don't want my poop to taste great!"

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah.... your mother.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:43 (twenty-three years ago)

poop versus asparagus

Yeesh. I'll pick tangerines.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 23:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah....but it you pick poop, you can fertilize a garden and grow your own tangerines and asparagus (and possibly even a small herb garden.)

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 20 February 2003 13:29 (twenty-three years ago)

i don't want my pop punk to swoon or ache or ponder

Maybe it's not exactly "swoon" material - and maybe it's not really punk pop either - but Yo La Tengo and the Replacements were both great at writing lyrics that make you shiver, much like Merrit's do.

..and if by "punk pop" you mean that MTV crap that's light on clever in every respect, then sorry but who needs it..?.. (don't answer that.)

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 20 February 2003 13:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Why does anybody like the Magnetic Fields? I don't get it. All their stuff is horrible.

― dinkums, Friday, 21 February 2003 09:11 (twenty-three years ago)

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