Magnetic Fields - Epitaph For My Heart

I never had a taste for love songs until I discovered Stephen Merritt's Magnetic Fields. Chances are, you haven't heard of Merritt or his music, but what you're missing, especially on 69 Love Songs (Three albums also available in the boxed set "Love"), is pure pop genius. Merrit creates completely original two and three minute songs that range in taste from gentle French pop (in the vein of Belle and Sebastian and the legendary Serge Gainsbourg) to urban beat tales, ala Lou Reed. Add to that the fact that Merritt plays over one hundred different instruments on his album (from the uke to banjo to musical saw), yet, everything sounds simple and coherent.

Undoubtedly, one of the top ten records of 1999 - an unknown masterpiece that gets more enchanting every time I play it.