A funny interview in Guardian with Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt. He talks about bonus tracks - "The whole idea bugs me. Either it’s an album or it’s not an album. It gets my Asperger’s up to even think about it”; politicians - “It would be illegal for me to express my actual political opinions in probably any country in the world, and I definitely wouldn’t be allowed to travel”; about growing up in a Buddhist commune, loud music, playing live, etc.

The latest episode of Talkhouse Podcast with Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker is dedicated to “mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits”. The two songwriters talk about reunions with their showbiz fathers who had abandoned them; the bad omen that nearly caused Jarvis to quit music in the year 2000; why Stephin’s new sexual fetish might be a “one time only” experience...

Last week the mighty chamber indie collective Magnetic Fields announced that their new album, ‘Quickies’, will consist of 28 songs; the longest of which clocks in at 2.35 and the shortest runs to just 17 seconds. It’s a new paradigm I’d love to see alternative music embrace again" - Mark, My Words argues in favor of short songs in rock.