Holiday

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  1994

  James

  Holiday captures Stephin Merritt before his breakthrough years while already displaying many of the qualities that would make him unique. The songs are witty, melancholic, and filled with beautifully crafted melodies. Merritt approaches love, loneliness, and desire with a combination of intelligence and emotional distance that feels distinctly his own. The arrangements are modest but consistently inventive, allowing the songwriting to remain front and center. There is a gentle charm running throughout the album that becomes more apparent with each listen. While later releases would earn greater acclaim, Holiday remains one of the hidden gems in the Magnetic Fields catalog.