The 6ths

Biography

The 6ths is a project of songwriter Stephin Merritt of *The Magnetic Fields*, built on a simple conceit: Merritt writes the songs and a rotating cast of guest vocalists sings them, one singer per track. Its two albums are 'Wasps' Nests' from 1995, featuring *Barbara Manning*, *Dean Wareham*, *Lou Barlow* and *Georgia Hubley*, and 'Hyacinths and Thistles' from 2000, featuring *Bob Mould*, *Gary Numan*, *Melanie* and *Odetta*. Merritt sang only one song on the first album and none on the second. The project name and both album titles are tongue-twisters crammed with s and th sounds, which the project's own site calls every lisper's nightmare.