The Tragic Treasury: Songs from a Series of Unfortunate Events

Gothic Archies

Title: The Tragic Treasury
Band: The Gothic Archies (see Stephin Merritt, The Magnetic Fields, the 6ths, Future Bible Heroes)

The story: Daniel Handler, who plays for the Magnetic Fields, is the author of the Series of Unfortunate Events books. Stephin Merritt recorded a bunch of original songs under the Gothic Archies brand for the audiobook versions, and this is the compilation.

My take: I haven't read the books, so I have no comment to make on how appropriate the songs are for the story, but i will say this: this is probably the best Magnetic Fields record in years. The arrangements sound much more like the main project than the earlier New Despair EP, so if you like the synthpop MF more than the I MF, you will probably like this. The lyrics are silly, but honestly, it doesn't detract much.

Last thoughts: It is weird to me to think that a Stephin Merritt record might be some little kid's favorite car CD. That kid has a strange life in store. Wait till he finds Holiday or Charm of the Highway Strip.