Merritt explains his thinking behind the Quickies concept: "I've been reading a lot of very short fiction, and I enjoyed writing 101 Two-Letter Words, the poetry book about the shortest words you can use in Scrabble. And I've been listening to a lot of French baroque harpsichord music. Harpsichord doesn't lend itself to languor. So I've been thinking about one instrument at a time, playing for about a minute or so and then stopping, and I've been thinking of narratives that are only a few lines long. To date, Stephin Merritt has written and recorded 12 Magnetic Fields albums, including the popular and critically acclaimed 69 Love Songs. A song from that record, "The Book of Love," has been covered by Peter Gabriel and has appeared in numerous TV shows and films; notably, the Nairobi Chamber Orchestra performed the song at an official state dinner in Kenya, before Presidents Barack Obama and Uhuru Kenyatta delivered their toasts. Merritt has also composed original music and lyrics for several music theater pieces, including an off-Broadway stage musical of Neil Gaiman's novel Coraline, for which he received an Obie Award. In 2014, Merritt composed songs and background music for the first musical episode of public radio's This American Life. Stephin Merritt also releases albums under the band names the 6ths, the Gothic Archies, and Future Bible Heroes. Band Members: Stephin Merritt, Sam Davol, Claudia Gonson, Shirley Simms, John Woo, Chris Ewen, Daniel Handler, Pinky Weitzman.Track List Castles of America The Biggest Tits in History The Day the Politicians Died Castle Down a Dirt Road Bathroom Quickie My Stupid Boyfriend Love Gone Wrong Favorite Bar Kill a Man a Week Kraftwerk in a Blackout When She Plays the Toy Piano Death Pact (Let's Make A) I've Got a Date With Jesus Come Life Shaker Life! (I Want to Join A) Biker Gang Rock 'n' Roll Guy 8=You've Got a Friend in Beelzebub Let's Get Drunk Again (And Get Divorced) The Best Cup of Coffee in Tennessee When the Brat Upstairs Got a Drum Kit The Price You Pay The Boy in the Corner Song of the Ant I Wish I Had Fangs and a Tail Evil Rhythm She Says Hello The Little Robot Girl I Wish I Were a Prostitute Again
