Wasps' Nests
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Wasps' Nests
| type = Album
| artist = the 6ths
| cover = Wasps_large.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1995
| recorded = Let's Rain Studios
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
- Alternative rock{{cite book |last1= Unterberger|first1= Richie|editor1-last=Buckley |editor1-first=Peter |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |location=London |isbn=978-1-84353-105-0 |pages= 630–631|edition=3rd|chapter= The Magnetic Fields}}
- pop
| length = 45:17
| label = Factory Too
FACD-2.06
| producer = Stephin Merritt
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Hyacinths and Thistles
| next_year = 2000
}}
Wasps' Nests is the 1995 debut album by the 6ths, a side-project created by Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields.{{cite magazine |last1=Vincentelli |first1=Elisabeth |title=Sixth heaven |magazine=The Advocate |date=Apr 18, 1995 |issue=679 |page=62}} Merritt wrote and recorded the album, inviting different vocalists to sing lead. Like the band's name, the album title is a tongue-twister.
"Yet Another Girl" originally only appeared on the vinyl release of the album, but was later included on Merritt's 2011 compilation Obscurities.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wasps-nests-mw0000126249|title=Wasps' Nests – The 6ths|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=May 15, 2017|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|author-link=Richie Unterberger}}
| rev2 = Chicago Tribune
| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/05/11/precious-pain/|title=Precious Pain|work=Chicago Tribune|date=May 11, 1995|accessdate=September 7, 2024|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = A{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/1995/04/07/wasps-nests/|title=Wasps' Nests|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 7, 1995|accessdate=May 15, 2017|last=Huston|first=Johnny|page=92}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news|title=The 6ths: Wasps' Nests (Factory Too)|work=The Guardian|date=July 14, 1995|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline}}
| rev5 = NME
| rev5score = 6/10{{cite magazine|title=The 6ths: Wasps' Nests|magazine=NME|date=September 16, 1995|page=50}}
| rev6 = Pitchfork
| rev6score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-6ths-wasps-nests/|title=The 6ths: Wasps' Nests|work=Pitchfork|date=November 18, 2017|accessdate=November 18, 2017|last=Ham|first=Robert}}
| rev7 = Rolling Stone
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/156694/review/5945423/waspsnests|title=Wasps' Nests: The 6ths|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 15, 1995|accessdate=May 15, 2017|last=Manning|first=Kara|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121171021/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/156694/review/5945423/waspsnests|archive-date=November 21, 2008|url-status=dead}}
| rev8 = (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book|chapter=The Magnetic Fields|last=Randall|first=Mac|title=(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/509 509–10]}}
| rev9 = Spin
| rev9score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bkSKIhZnTyEC&pg=PA98|title=The 6ths: Wasps' Nests|magazine=Spin|volume=11|issue=2|date=May 1995|accessdate=May 15, 2017|last=Kreilkamp|first=Ivan|page=98}}
| rev10 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev10score = 8/10{{cite book|chapter=Magnetic Fields|last=Hunter|first=James|title=Spin Alternative Record Guide|title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|publisher=Vintage Books|year=1995|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=237–38}}
}}
The Record wrote that Merritt "is well-suited to the Phil Spector-esque role of songwriter and producer, and his singleminded songwriting is well-served by the album's eclectic personnel; on the whole, Wasps' Nests is a delight."{{cite news |last1=Weiler |first1=Derek |title=Collaborative effort works well for Merritt |work=The Record |date=4 May 1995 |page=D15}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_writing = Stephin Merritt
| extra_column = Singer
| title1 = San Diego Zoo
| length1 = 3:22
| extra1 = Barbara Manning
| title2 = Aging Spinsters
| length2 = 2:20
| extra2 = Stephin Merritt
| title3 = All Dressed Up in Dreams
| length3 = 2:55
| extra3 = Mary Timony
| title4 = Falling Out of Love (With You)
| length4 = 2:55
| extra4 = Dean Wareham
| title5 = Winter in July
| length5 = 2:32
| extra5 = Ayako Akashiba
| title6 = Pillow Fight
| length6 = 2:34
| extra6 = Mitch Easter
| title7 = Dream Hat
| length7 = 2:27
| extra7 = Mac McCaughan
| title8 = Movies in My Head
| length8 = 4:19
| extra8 = Georgia Hubley
| title9 = In the City in the Rain
| length9 = 3:43
| extra9 = Lou Barlow
| title10 = Looking for Love (In the Hall of Mirrors)
| length10 = 2:43
| extra10 = Amelia Fletcher
| title11 = Heaven in a Black Leather Jacket
| length11 = 2:46
| extra11 = Robert Scott
| title12 = Here in My Heart
| length12 = 3:30
| extra12 = Anna Domino
| title13 = Puerto Rico Way
| length13 = 3:28
| extra13 = Mark Robinson
| title14 = You Can't Break a Broken Heart
| length14 = 3:16
| extra14 = Jeffrey Underhill
| title15 = When I'm Out of Town
| length15 = 2:34
| extra15 = Chris Knox
| title16 = Yet Another Girl
| length16 = 3:30
| extra16 = Stuart Moxham
}}
Notes
{{Reflist |refs=
|url=http://houseoftomorrow.com/sixths_cd_wasps.php
|title=Wasps' Nests
|work=houseoftomorrow.com
|publisher=The Magnetic Fields
|accessdate=July 8, 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718153228/http://houseoftomorrow.com/sixths_cd_wasps.php
|archive-date=July 18, 2011
|url-status=dead
}}
}}
{{Stephin Merritt}}
{{Authority control}}