The Magnetic Fields’ 1999 triple LP 69 Love Songs remains their masterpiece, and it seems that Stephin Merritt and co. are working on another obscenely long album. They’ve just announced 50 Song Memoir, an autobiographical work featuring one song for each year of Merritt’s life, which will be released in early 2017 by Nonesuch Records. According to a press release, the subject matter covered ranges from “bedbugs and Buddhism to his conception by hippies on a houseboat in St. Thomas.” This December, a seven-member group of musicians playing 50 instruments from Merritt’s collection will premiere the album in a two-night performance at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music’s 2016 Next Wave Festival, and the band will also perform two more two-night shows in early 2017. Check out dates below.

12/02/16-12/03/16 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Academy Of Music
04/27/17-04/28/17 Los Angeles, CA @ Royce Hall, UCLA
05/06/17-05/07/17 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater

UPDATE 8/3/16: Before the two nights at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music, Stephin Merritt and the band will lead a two-week residency as MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts that will end with the world premiere performance of 50 Song Memoir. The entire album will play over two nights. More details here.