The way you say good-night – The Magnetic Fields
I can’t tell to what extent the Magnetic Fields are an influential band. Sure, there’s a million indie synthpop bands and a million ukulele baroque pop bands out there claiming influence, but there’s always seems to be something ugly, something lazy, something short. Maybe it’s not a matter of influence i can’t see, but rather the matter of bands not measuring up. Of the many bands out there who write expressly good songs, no one (well maybe some) does it as well, as concentratedly, as ingeniously, as perfectly avoiding sophistry, as sensibly, as immaculately as Stephin Merritt. A single cello playing eighth notes, perfect lyrics – a song.
Cello aside, this song sounds like it could definitely have found place on Distant Plastic Trees or The Wayward Bus. I like this band a lot.
