The 6ths

Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields launched The 6ths as an ancillary project. On the 1995 album Wasps' Nest he wrote every song, served as producer, and handled the majority of the instrumental performances. His own lead vocals appeared on just one selection, while the remaining tracks featured alternative rock singers such as Barbara Manning, Dean Wareham of Luna, Georgia Hubley of Yo La Tengo, Chris Knox, Lou Barlow, Robert Scott of the Bats, and Mary Timony of Helium. Lighter and more overtly pop-oriented than the Magnetic Fields recordings made around the same time, the album underscored that Merritt’s core strengths lay in composition and production rather than performance. Shortly after the favorable response to the Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs, he issued the second 6ths album, Hyacinths and Thistles, drawing vocal contributions from Marc Almond, Bob Mould, Gary Numan, Sarah Cracknell, and additional guests.