My recommendations 2006:The Tragic Treasury: Songs From a Series of Unfortunate Events by The Gothic Archies

The Gothic Archies: The Tragic Treasury: Songs From a Series of Unfortunate Events
Nonesuch 10/10/2006

I believe that fifty years from now, music historians will look upon Stephin Merritt with the same affection that they do Cole Porter now. Like Porter, Merritt is extremely prolific, having released hundreds of songs under his various guises: The Magnetic Fields, The 6ths, Future Bible Heroes and The Gothic Archies. Also like Porter, Merritt can write a flawless pop song seemingly without effort. The Tragic Treasury is full of such songs, all overflowing with the dark, twisted wit of their creator. This gallows humor, which is used only sparingly on other Merritt endeavors, comes out in full force here, as over-the-top and tongue-in-cheek as he can get away with. Listening to The Tragic Treasury is like eating a birthday cake with your hands in the dark by yourself when it's not your birthday; you enjoy it though you get a sense that you shouldn't. This is, after all, a song cycle inspired by a series of children's books written by Merritt's former bandmate (Lemony Snicket was once a member of The Magnetic Fields). However, this is not children's music. This is a mature highbrow lowbrow kind of album - not inappropriate for a child, per se, but it was obviously intended for an adult intellect.