Remember Distant Plastic Trees? I think I discovered this album when I was about 18 -- it was after I first fell in love with 69 Love Songs and I suppose that makes me pretty late to be coming to The Magnetic Fields, but I've never claimed to be cutting edge. I've been listening to it today, and thinking about what a very boring girl I was when I was a teenager -- already steeped in the vintage, remade, DIY sort of scene that shapes the sort of person I am now, yes; but not nearly political or active enough before I discovered Stephin Merritt. It was, as far as it compared to what my friends were listening to, music all my own. It made me want to protect the world, to do great things, to affect people and their actions. Ironic, I know.
There is, or at least used to be, a record shop on Queen St W, just past Bathurst. I forget what it's called. I was lifeguarding at the pool at Dundas W and Bathurst and would cycle down in my break to see what was playing. There were a couple of guys who worked there, one of whom was lovely and really supportive of just getting people into awesome music. The other was a total up-his-own-arse proto-hipster jerk-off who had impeccable taste in everything and utter disdain for anyone who deviated from his path. But he did have impeccable taste.
It was the former who introduced me to 69 Love Songs, the latter who scoffed me over to the Magnetic Fields section and practically entered my PIN for me when I bought Distant Plastic Trees, such was his incredulity that I didn't own it already. (I wish I could remember his name. Mike? Steve? Something uninventive on the part of his parents, in any case.)
In spite of the jackassery of the sale, I did keep going back. He was always utterly dumbfounded by my ignorance and quick to thrust me in the direction of The 6ths, Belle and Sebastian, Neko Case, The Essex Green -- albums that would revolutionise my existence. He was also appalled by my wardrobe of remade t-shirts and upcycled scarf-skirts procured at Courage My Love and quite keen to have me running about exclusively in GENUINE vintage polyester and stop supporting those who dared tear such treasures apart to create new ones.
I must have been a frustrating disciple. But because of him I was able to ensure a generation of inner city brats will for ever remember that summer as the summer that was Absolutely Cuckoo.
i was just talking about distant plastic trees on friday. it's possibly my favorite mf album...except for maybe charm of the highway strip and holiday? i can't decide. :)
Posted by: melissa | August 31, 2009 at 05:46 PM
Heh, was it Rotate This?? I was just there this weekend, and yes.... Still just like that. If it weren't for the selection, I'd never go there.
(and really, who can be snobby about an album called Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys?)
Posted by: adrienne | August 31, 2009 at 01:54 PM
69 Love Songs is (are) the best ... I kind of loved those "High Fidelity" moments at the Princeton Record Exchange. Being also the opposite of cutting edge (um, dull edge?) getting complimented on buying a 6ths album was as good as it ever got for me. Funny how those things stick with you.
Posted by: katie m. | August 29, 2009 at 06:11 PM
It's amazing the many different types of people that shape your life..
Posted by: little_lj | August 29, 2009 at 04:27 PM
I'm the opposite of cutting edge. Positively blunt. I only discovered 69 Love Songs about 5 years ago (less?) and haven't (yet) got any other MF. Shame on me, shame!
Posted by: Robynn | August 29, 2009 at 02:48 PM