The 6ths are really The Magnetic Fields with guest vocalists. Of course, they don’t approach the majesty of The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs (the best album in the world… ever) but their albums are still essential, at least to me.
The two albums are Hyacinths and Thistles and Wasps’ Nests. Note how the band and album names are specifically chosen to be awkward to pronounce. Perverse? Yes. H & S has more brilliant, tuneful, hearfelt songs than most bands manage in a career. There’s also the fun final track, which slowly fades out over what seems like several hours.
Wasps’ Nests doesn’t quite have the sounds or the songs, but there are still many lovely moments. And bonus points for featuring Chris Knox, the Godfather of New Zealand alternative music.