Stephen Merritt is the creative force behind The Magnetic Fields, which brings you an opus of poetry and phonal emotion to cover the entire range of "Love." That's what pop music is all about right? You could call the first volume "soothing pop synth" bolstered by Merritts unique voice and some decent female vocals.

Lyrically, 69 Love Songs takes cliches and turns them on their heads, almost mocking traditional pop music. Irony and satire are among the witty tools Merrit brings to the board. The emotion and intellect conveyed on the theme of Love is worth at least one listen, and I expect most introspective people will find one or two tracks to add to their permanent playlist.

I first heard "All My Little Words" sitting in a 10-bucks pondering the disaffection of my wife at the time. It was perfect and timely, and provided solace for the season of love that was coming to an end. 10-bucks didn't have the mix-album available with that song on it so I tracked it down myself and found that other songs such as "I Think I Need A New Heart" became very useful in expressing the reality of human relationship.

Some of the excellent songs:

All My Little Words

You are a splendid butterfly
It is your wings that make you beautiful
And I could make you fly away
But I could never make you stay
You said you were in love with me
Both of us know that that's impossible
And I could make you rue the day
But I could never make you stay

Not for all the tea in China
Not if I could sing like a bird
Not for all North Carolina
Not for all my little words
Not if I could write for you
The sweetest song you ever heard
It doesn't matter what I'll do
Not for all my little words

Now that you've made me want to die
You tell me that you're unboyfriendable
And I could make you pay and pay
But I could never make you stay

Reno Dakota

Reno Dakota there's not an iota of kindness in you
You know you enthrall me and yet you don't call me
It's making me blue Pantone 292 Reno Dakota I'm
reaching my quota of tears for the year Alas and
alack you just don't call me back You have just
disappeared It makes me drink beer I know you're
a recluse You know that's no excuse Reno that's
just a ruse Do not play fast and loose with my heart
Reno Dakota I'm no Nino Rota I don't know the score
Have I annoyed you or is there a boy who
Well he's just a whore I've had him before
It makes me drink more