Man, it has been a while. I guess I’m back, for the time being anyway. We’ll see if I can keep up with this again.

So, I don’t know what possessed me to start listening to this album again recently, but something clicked in my head and it had been years since I’d heard anything by the Magnetic Fields so while retrieving some ice cream treats I decided to throw this on in the car.

I always loved this album, but admit I don’t generally have the patience to listen to more than a few songs at a time. It’s kind of a project in and of itself to get through, but it does such a good job at navigating all the different aspects of love, relationships, and love songs in turn, and this is a perfect starting place to set the tone for the album. The album is at times funny and charming, then alternately heartbreaking and melancholy, while always maintaining this spirit of wit and presenting some nuance in its delivery. The way it bounces through themes and genres, and switches points of view between different band members taking lead on vocals can feel erratic, almost like a chicken with its head cut off.

This song is one of the more straightforward, funny and charming songs, but also carries it’s own subtleties, like him mentioning his wife doesn’t understand him, so he’s either a philanderer that got married and is going behind his wife’s back, or is in some kind of open/poly relationship, but it’s a little open for interpretation there.

Overall, this is a great song and it does a great job of setting the tone of the rest of the album.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last time I Heard It: Two nights ago while driving to Andy’s Frozen Custard (which I also give 4 stars). Then again this morning because I wanted to try and sing along with Stephen Merritt while my voice was all sleepy and deep.