The 6ths are a side project of the
Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt, who produced and wrote all of the material on 1995's
Wasps' Nest, as well as playing much of the music. He only sang one of the tracks, however, giving all of the remaining lead vocal slots to alternative rock faves like
Barbara Manning,
Dean Wareham (
Luna),
Georgia Hubley (
Yo La Tengo),
Chris Knox,
Lou Barlow,
Robert Scott (
the Bats),
Chris Knox, and
Mary Timony (
Helium). Brighter and poppier than his contemporaneous efforts with
Magnetic Fields, it demonstrated (intentionally or inadvertently) that his principal talents are as a producer and composer, rather than a performer. Hot on the heels of the well-received
Magnetic Fields project
69 Love Songs,
Merritt released his second
6ths album,
Hyacinths and Thistles, with vocal help from
Marc Almond,
Bob Mould,
Gary Numan, and
Sarah Cracknell, among others. ~ Richie Unterberger