69 Love Songs
by Magnetic Fields
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Sep 7, 1999
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 77 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 77
  3. Negative: 12 out of 77

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  1. All_ButTrU4
    Dec 12, 2021
    7
    He jumps styles of music effortlessly, all the while managing to pull things together with touching and inventive lyrics
  2. zacspearman
    Mar 29, 2017
    10
    A work of great scope, bookending a decade of brilliant music by Stephin Merritt. A case can certainly be made that The Magnetic Fields were the greatest band of the 90s.
  3. Ricko
    Aug 20, 2015
    9
    There aren't too many triple albums out there and that's probably for a good reason. Any album playing for longer than an hour is going to test most peoples levels of concentration. This is one of the rare cases where a triple album was a good idea. A sprawling 69 track album, almost 3 hours in length, its one of the best albums of the 90's. Without question this concept album in everyThere aren't too many triple albums out there and that's probably for a good reason. Any album playing for longer than an hour is going to test most peoples levels of concentration. This is one of the rare cases where a triple album was a good idea. A sprawling 69 track album, almost 3 hours in length, its one of the best albums of the 90's. Without question this concept album in every sense is an amazing achievement to have written, recorded and actually released. To have the ideas is one thing but to see them through to fruitition is quite another. How many bands have spoken about these projects but they rarely get completed. Billy Corgan has often hinted he was doing one but he always seems to lose patience halfway through and just release an album (MCIS aside). The sheer size of the album inevitably means it's not all truly great but for the most part the quality is consistently high. It's not a record for the casual music listener - you really need to be an enthusiast to appreciate the whole album. At times the lyrics are really funny, at times reminding you of the Smiths ability to put black comedy lyrics over jangle pop. At other times your just not sure if he's serious or not but throughout it's the lyrics that stand out. There are many different styles to be found on the record. Stephin Merrit and co have gone on to influence a whole genre with this record. 69 Love Songs will always be a cult classic and a lot of this is because of it's length and consistent quality. Having said that, if the best of the 69 tracks had been cut to say even a 20 or 30 track double album it could have been one of the universal great albums of all time.Approach with an open mind and a bit of patience but you'll be well rewarded.… Expand
  4. isaivarigal
    Feb 6, 2015
    3
    t takes a few listens to pull everything together, but given the immense scope, it's striking how few weak tracks there are. It's no wonder Stankonia consolidated OutKast's status as critics' darlings, and began attracting broad new audiences: its across-the-board appeal and ambition overshadowed nearly every other pop album released in 2000.
  5. drlowdon
    Aug 12, 2013
    10
    Although there are many more famous albums you could make a strong argument for Magnetic Fields '69 Love Songs' being the best of the 90's. Doing exactly what it says on the tin it contains 69 songs that are all at least in some way about love. Everyone will have their own favourites (mine are The Book of Love and All My Little Words) but, aside from the odd bit of filler, there is notAlthough there are many more famous albums you could make a strong argument for Magnetic Fields '69 Love Songs' being the best of the 90's. Doing exactly what it says on the tin it contains 69 songs that are all at least in some way about love. Everyone will have their own favourites (mine are The Book of Love and All My Little Words) but, aside from the odd bit of filler, there is not really a poor song on here.… Expand
  6. Smarticus
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    Amazing. Among my favourite albums of all time. Stephin Merritt is a prolific songwriter. There are so many gems on this album. It's a must haveâ
  7. JohnP.
    Apr 15, 2008
    10
    Lyrically brilliant and beautifully structured from start to finish. One of the most relevant and ambitious albums of the 90s, and a must-have for anybody who prides themselves as having good taste in music.
  8. Jim
    Feb 4, 2008
    10
    Rolling Stone is wrong again. A great album
  9. WayneW.
    Jan 17, 2008
    10
    This album is just a fun album to listen to. Stephin Merritt writes incredible lyrics!
  10. DavidC.
    Jan 16, 2008
    10
    Completely amazing album. Probably one of the best pop album in the 90's. Very clever lyrics.
  11. GaryO.
    Nov 17, 2007
    10
    Absolutely supreme.
  12. [Anonymous]
    Jul 27, 2007
    10
    I need a cigarette! That's how good this album is
  13. alexf
    Jul 25, 2007
    10
    A wonderful album.
  14. RajS.
    Jul 5, 2007
    10
    One of the top 5 albums of the 90's.
  15. GaryS.
    Mar 27, 2006
    10
    monumental
  16. JoseS
    Feb 2, 2006
    9
    Just Great!
  17. AliC
    Jul 14, 2005
    10
    Utterly extraordinary, a truly genre transcending, and enormous masterpiece. Surely the best value CD ever released?
  18. AnthonyS
    Jun 27, 2005
    10
    the last great album of the 20th century in my books!
  19. MarkN
    Apr 18, 2005
    10
    Absolutely breathtaking.
  20. DenisD
    Mar 25, 2005
    10
    Greatest album of the nineties
  21. KonstantinosA.
    Feb 21, 2002
    10
    If one album in the world deserves a 10 this is it!... Best album of 2000!

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 1999
3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 1999
3
#3 Most Shared Album of 1999

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. The A.V. Club
    100
    Alternately recalling the best work of Blondie, Leonard Cohen, Depeche Mode, and dozens more, 69 Songs About Love is a sprawling masterpiece of White Album-like proportions.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    60
    Merritt's compositions have a tossed-off, barely produced quality and are held together by sturdily constructed melodies that hark back to Eighties synth poppers like Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    90
    Stephin Merritt's most ambitious as well as fully realized work to date, a three-disc epic of classically chiseled pop songs that explore both the promise and pitfalls of modern romance through the jaundiced eye of an irredeemable misanthrope.
    Read full review
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