Image via houseoftomorrow.com. Photos by Mike Yesenosky, Michael Fusco, and Emma Straub.

The Magnetic Fields
Tuesday, October 14
Paramount Theater (713 Congress Avenue)
$33.50-$36.50, 8pm
[info] | [tickets]

Stephin Merritt leads The Magnetic Fields, but it hardly defines him. The prolific and genre-hopping songwriter and arranger also leads the groups The 6ths, The Gothic Archies, and Future Bible Heroes...when he feels like it. In addition, he's writing the music to a Broadway adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novella "Coraline" that is due in 2009.

As for The Magnetic Fields, the band's first album was released in 1990, but Merritt's music found a wide audience with the 1999 epic 69 Love Songs. The ridiculously ambitious and consistently brilliant triple album was lauded by The Onion as "alternately recalling the best work of Blondie, Leonard Cohen, [and] Depeche Mode." It has even earned an entry in the 33 1/3 book series on classic albums. The band's latest effort, this year's Distortion, combines Merritt's distinct songwriting with a big wall of feedback.

The Magnetic Fields will perform a rare Austin show at The Paramount Theatre tonight. Austinist spoke to Stephin Merritt last week about the new album, his disdain for live performance, and his upcoming work.

You're not a big fan of touring. Why decide to tour now?

I don't know - I hate touring. And as I recall, the last time we were in Austin, we said 'that's it, enough, that's the end of our touring days.'

What is it specifically that frustrates you about performance - is it the lack of control over the dynamics and the sound, or something entirely different?

I've decided to no longer tell people why I hate playing live, and maybe that way I won't talk people out of coming to the show.

Fair enough. Switching gears, we don't think of you as a rocker, but Distortion is a really new sound for The Magnetic Fields. What spawned this concept for the album?

I was imitating The Jesus and Mary Chain's album Psychocandy, because it's the last major leap forward in production, and I wanted to do something a little new. As a good post-modernist, I just seized on the latest new thing. So - it's new for me.

Have you admired any other artists (let's say Dean Wareham, for example) that have used similar production techniques in their work over the years?

I put Dean Wareham on my first 6th record, so obviously I'm familiar with his work. But it's really more about being a fan of The Jesus and Mary Chain than about admiring their offspring, and I personally think of Dean Wareham as being influenced a lot more by The Velvet Underground.

I'd like to ask about sequencing on Distortion - the record starts with two very upbeat and surprising tracks, then returns to a more mid-tempo territory and the more traditional Magnetic Fields sound. Were you trying to convey a lighter message with the punchy opening?

I certainly think a lot about sequencing. I don't think of the first two tracks as being more upbeat than the rest of the record, particularly - I would regard that as an error in sequencing.

Maybe we misinterpreted that. On the record, there are themes of relationships ending, regrets, and looking back - is that an intentional thematic focus?

Hmm. I think people tend to hear what they're listening for. A Swedish journalist told me that Distortion was definitely a concept album, and that if it wasn't deliberately a concept album, he would be amazed. He went on to say that the concept was solitude...

So it's really all in the eye of the beholder.

I think so.

The Distortion track "Too Drunk To Dream" made us wonder about your tipple of choice. What are you drinking these days?

I like brandy, but it gives me heartburn, so I'm really sticking with beer recently - well, beer and wine.

We've read that you're splitting time these days between New York and California - where do you work most, and does the location effect the type of work or music that you're doing?

Well, I do theatre work in New York and recording in California, so I can't say that one of them influences the work I'm doing so much as that I've just decided to do different kinds of work in different places. And therefore have no idea how it's influencing me at all!

How are the finishing touches going on your musical that's opening next spring?

I have four songs left to write, so there's still work to do.

Are there any Magnetic Fields or Future Bible Heroes records planned for 2009 or beyond?

I am working on a Magnetic Fields record right now, but I have no particular end date.

To wrap up, I know you said that your last Austin concert was traumatic - have you had some other, more positive experiences with our city?

Great brisket!

It's always about the BBQ.

Yes - there's that wonderful little Scandinavian village in the suburbs with good BBQ, but I've forgotten what it's called. There's also some great musical instrument stores in Austin, and I've seen some nifty folk art as well.

Thanks for talking with Austinist.