Stephin Merritt - Pieces of April (Soundtrack)
(Nonesuch)
Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields, The 6ths, The Gothic Archies, and Future Bible Heroes) hasn't released any new material under the name The Magnetic Fields since the critically acclaimed 69 Love Songs. He has not, however, been idle. Merritt has recently released, under his own name, the soundtrack he provided for Peter Hedges' film, Pieces of April.
Unlike the score soundtrack he did for Eban & Charley , the Pieces of April soundtrack is all actual pop songs. Of the ten on the album, half of them are new or previously unreleased, while the other five are from 69 Love Songs and The 6ths' Hyacinths and Thistles. The new songs, true to Merritt's previous work, use a mix of various instrumentation, accordion, mandolin, guitar, synthesizers, electronic drumbeats, and Merritt's own lethargic, deadpan baritone to cover territory of love, loss, and insecurity.
With the combination of both old and new material, the album has the feel of a Merritt mix CD. For those unfamiliar with his music, Pieces of April works as an excellent introduction to his different projects and styles as a songwriter. For fans, the five new songs included are must-haves (excluding the annoyingly quirky "Stray with Me," one of the few Merritt songs that has ever disappointed me) and are a great addition to his cannon.
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