Q&A With Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields)

"Quickies" (Nonesuch)—out now digitally and on vinyl, with a CD release June 19—is the 12th album from the Magnetic Fields. As you might guess from the title, the often-theme-driven Stephin Merritt made a record consisting of very short songs—28 of them, in fact, ranging from 13 seconds to two-and-a-half minutes. The Magnetic Fields will play residencies at City Winery in seven U.S. cities starting in January.