Stephin Merritt - Obscurities (Merge Records)

Compilations are often frustrating for long-time fans of a band or an artist. Some fans want completeness. Some want chronological order. Some want variety. Obscurities is the first-ever singles and rarities compilation from Stephin Merritt, and covers most of his projects over the past twenty years, up to the release of his magnum opus, 69 Love Songs.

For the hardcore collector, Obscurities is slightly frustrating. Yes, there are a number of songs in the vast Stephin Merritt discography that have languished in collector’s obscurity for a long time, and no, they do not appear here. Also missing is any sort of representation of his band Future Bible Heroes, his new-wave project. This collection, then, does not satiate the need for a full-blown rarities collection, though the rarities that do appear here are quite welcome.

Still, the positive is that there are some great songs to be found here. Most notable is “Yet Another Girl,” featuring vocals of Stuart Moxham, a holdout from The 6ths, and listening closely, it seems to be either an early version or an embryonic take on “The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side.” Another high spot is album closer, “You Are Not My Mother And I Want To Go Home,” a track by his children’s book sound-tracking bubblegum goth band, The Gothic Archies, taken from the audiobook for Coraline. “Plant White Roses” is a version credited to Buffalo Rome, and sung by Shirley Simms, it loses the cynicism that Merritt’s voice adds to it. “Scream (Til You Make the Scene)” is Merritt being “metal,” and being hilarious in the process.And what of the opening song, the unreleased “Forever and a Day?” Just about the most perfect song Merritt’s ever written—at least for this album. It’s a gem, and that’s for damn sure.

Okay, so there are a few major gaps on Obscurities, but isn’t part of the fun of Stephin Merritt being confounded and frustrated by him? Ah, well, that just leaves the hope of another awesome, frustrating compilation!