While attending high school in Boston, singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt (ukulele/keyboard/vocals) — often referred to as one of the best working songwriters around — met Claudia Gonson (percussion/piano/vocals). Soon after, the two put together their first band, The Zinnias. Years later in 1989, they formed The Magnetic Fields along with Susan Anway (original lead vocalist who left the band in 1991), Sam Davol (cello/flute) and John Woo (banjo/guitar).

The band’s name comes from André Breton's novel, Les Champs Magnétiques. The multi-tasking Stephin also performs in side projects that include the Gothic Archies, Future Bible Heroes, and The 6ths.

The band has no particular musical style, but at times, have been lumped into the synthpop, indie pop, noise pop, and folk-pop genres.

This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.