Favorite They Might Be Giants Song?

Mr.KISS · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2005 10:21 pm

Ok, I have a question, if I'm going to buy any TMBG music just to start out, is there anything I shouldn't get? Because I always seem to pick the worst one at the start.

(If this has already been asked, sorry. I skimmed through but I didn't read everything word for word).

Shippinator Mandy · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2005 10:27 pm

Mr. KISS 66 wrote:

Ok, I have a question, if I'm going to buy any TMBG music just to start out, is there anything I shouldn't get? Because I always seem to pick the worst one at the start.

(If this has already been asked, sorry. I skimmed through but I didn't read everything word for word).

Well, "Experimental Film" you've probably already heard. "Birdhouse In Your Soul" and "Ana Ng" would be good places to start--they're more easily accessible than some of their stuff, but they're still quintessentially TMBG.

Mr.KISS · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2005 10:31 pm

Ok, thanks.

One last thing I forgot to ask before, what genre should I look under? They really like to categorize music at the CD place I like, considering I've only ever heard TEF... I'm thinking Punk but I just want to be sure.

Shippinator Mandy · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2005 10:36 pm

Mr. KISS 66 wrote:

One last thing I forgot to ask before, what genre should I look under? They really like to categorize music at the CD place I like, considering I've only ever heard TEF... I'm thinking Punk but I just want to be sure.

Well, iTunes (or at least, my iPod) has them categorized under Alternative, which seems right to me.

If you plan on buying a whole CD, I'd recommend Flood--it has "Birdhouse In Your Soul", and it's much more accessible than some of their stuff (such as Apollo 18, which is a great album, but not really a good one to start with). Another relatively accessible one is Mink Car...though some of the songs on there (such as "Hovering Sombrero" and "Mink Car") are pretty dang weird.

InterruptorJones · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2005 10:45 pm

Mr. KISS 66 wrote:

One last thing I forgot to ask before, what genre should I look under? They really like to categorize music at the CD place I like, considering I've only ever heard TEF... I'm thinking Punk but I just want to be sure.

Punk??! Wow, someone really needs a lil music education.

In most CD stores you'll find TMBG filed under Pop, Rock, or Alternative. If you manage to find a store with more granularity than that you might try New Wave just in case.

Mr.KISS · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2005 10:50 pm

Well, punk is what the CD store mentioned Categorizes Ska, Alternative and Punk. So, I was just making the same generalization.

Homeschool Winner · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 1:08 am

Packages, Boxes, or Bags wrote:

]No, actually, I heard "Particle Man" on Tiny Toons or something about ten years ago, and I liked it, but I didn't know who sang it.

So did I! And, as a matter of fact, here it is.
Plus, here's the Istanbul video

Anyway, my favorite TMBG song has been Experimental Film for a while, but, like Jitka, I have the Dial-A-Song collection, and now that I've listened to it a lot, I think my favorite might be Birdhouse In Your Soul, or Particle Man. Other one's I like are Ana Ng, Istanbul (Not Constantinople), Doctor Worm, Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas), and Your Racist Friend.

Einoo T. Spork · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:02 am

Shippinator Mandy wrote:

Mr. KISS 66 wrote:

One last thing I forgot to ask before, what genre should I look under? They really like to categorize music at the CD place I like, considering I've only ever heard TEF... I'm thinking Punk but I just want to be sure.

Well, iTunes (or at least, my iPod) has them categorized under Alternative, which seems right to me.

If you plan on buying a whole CD, I'd recommend Flood--it has "Birdhouse In Your Soul", and it's much more accessible than some of their stuff (such as Apollo 18, which is a great album, but not really a good one to start with). Another relatively accessible one is Mink Car...though some of the songs on there (such as "Hovering Sombrero" and "Mink Car") are pretty dang weird.

Or, if you're one of those people who hates accessible and loves obtuse and weird (I prefer to call them "Far Side fans"

) I reccommend "They Might Be Giants", their debut album, or "John Henry", which is considered the greatest TMBG album ever.

The Abominable Redhead · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:40 am

Every single song from the 1990 ablum Flood. Every single one. All of 'em. Really.

SwissCakeRolls · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:40 pm

Mr.KISS wrote:

Ok, I have a question, if I'm going to buy any TMBG music just to start out, is there anything I shouldn't get? Because I always seem to pick the worst one at the start.

(If this has already been asked, sorry. I skimmed through but I didn't read everything word for word).

I'd say either their debut album or Flood; both are great. But if you want something less....uh..dorky?..sounding, then Mink Car is a great album.

Cybernetic Teenybopper · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 10:23 pm

My best friend and I have officially classified TMBG as "Nerd rock." Not like that means anything to the record stores, but...

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembers those Tiny Toons music videos! I knew those songs for ages before I knew anything about the band that sang 'em. They also referenced "Why Does The Sun Shine?" once or twice.

Speaking of which. Anyone caught that new Get Animated commercial on Cartoon Network? Now I can torment the rest of my family and friends with that song, and they can know what I'm singing about! "The SUN is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace...!"

Mr.KISS · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:17 am

Ok, so I went out today and looked around for those CDs. All I could find was "No" and that dident look all the great. So, I didn't get it (25$!?). I'll keep looking though.

The Experimental Film · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:02 am

So, from a selection of about five TMBG albums (and a few songs I just picked up off of iTunes), here are my favorites:

"Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head" - They Might Be Giants
"Ana Ng" - Lincoln
"CowTown" - Lincoln
"Purple Toupee" - Lincoln
"They'll Need a Crane" Lincoln
"Sleeping in the Flowers" - John Henry
"O, Do Not Forsake Me" - John Henry
"Destination Moon" - John Henry
"Meet James Ensor" - John Henry
"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" - Flood
"Your Racist Friend" - Flood
"Particle Man" - Flood
"We Want a Rock" - Flood
"They Might Be Giants" - Flood
"I Palindrome I" -Apollo 18
"Mammal" - Apollo 18
"Another First Kiss" - Mink Car
"I've Got a Fang" - Mink Car
"Yeh Yeh" - Mink Car
"Wicked Little Critta" - Mink Car
"Experimental Film" - The Spine
"Wearing a Raincoat" - The Spine
"Prevenge" - The Spine
"Damn Good Times" - The Spine

And also, "Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)" and "Am I Awake?" have made it into my Library.

...

What?

Cybernetic Teenybopper · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2006 4:25 am

SNAP! Now that's stuck in my head.

"I'm not much of a natural dancer
But I know a girl who's a natural dancer
Well you can call her Jumping Bean..."

Marshmallow Roast · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2006 5:07 am

I bought Ana Ng today and I must say I like it.

SwissCakeRolls · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 6:42 pm

Cybernetic Teenybopper wrote:

SNAP! Now that's stuck in my head.

"I'm not much of a natural dancer
But I know a girl who's a natural dancer
Well you can call her Jumping Bean..."

No! Now it's stuck in my head too. Not that that's a bad thing...
"She's got ants in her pants.."

I've been listening to John Henry alot lately, and I gotta say I really love Subliminal, AKA Driver, and Destination Moon. And Stomp Box. And No One Knows My Plan.

Encountering Gremlins · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:13 pm

No love for "Don't Let's Start" or "Everything Right Is Wrong Again" in this thread? Bah!

The first 5 song run on the debut alone is SOOOOO good. That album has definitely inspired me to check out a whole lot more of their stuff.

The Noid · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:17 pm

Homeschool Winner wrote:

Packages, Boxes, or Bags wrote:

]No, actually, I heard "Particle Man" on Tiny Toons or something about ten years ago, and I liked it, but I didn't know who sang it.

So did I! And, as a matter of fact, here it is.
Plus, here's the Istanbul video

HAY THE NOID's ON THAT BANNER.

Uhh...Experimental Film, or Particle Man.

Dark Grapefruit · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:57 pm

Encountering Gremlins wrote:

No love for "Don't Let's Start" or "Everything Right Is Wrong Again" in this thread? Bah!

The first 5 song run on the debut alone is SOOOOO good. That album has definitely inspired me to check out a whole lot more of their stuff.

I came in here to post Don't Let's Start. It's got an extremely catchy melody and some of their best lyrics imo. "No one in the world ever gets what they want and that is beautiful."

I frequently rock out to Birdhouse in Your Soul, Experimental Film, and The Guitar too.

SwissCakeRolls · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:54 pm

Encountering Gremlins wrote:

No love for "Don't Let's Start" or "Everything Right Is Wrong Again" in this thread? Bah!

The first 5 song run on the debut alone is SOOOOO good. That album has definitely inspired me to check out a whole lot more of their stuff.

*raises hand* I did! Don't Let's Start is in my top five favorite TMBG songs overall. And I agree. The beginning of their debut album is awesome. 'Tis cool that you're wanting to look at more of their stuff.

Everything right is wrong again
Just like in the long, long trailer
All the dishes got broken and the car kept drivin'
And nobody would stop to save her

Wake me when it's over; touch my face
Tell me every word has been erased
Don't you want to know the reason
Why the cupboard's not appealing
Don't you get the feeling that.

Cybernetic Teenybopper · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:13 am

I like Don't Let's Start, but it's not my favorite TMBG song, so I didn't post it. However, since you asked, I will give it love. *hugs it* It kinda reminds me of a character of mine, so I give it props.

Quote:

When you are alone,
You are the cat, you are the phone,
You are an animal!
The words I'm singin' now
Mean nothing more than "meow"
To an animal.
Wake up! And smell the catfood,
In your bank account,
Don't try to stop it till it
Wags the hound...

SwissCakeRolls · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:56 pm

Cybernetic Teenybopper wrote:

Quote:

Don't try to stop it till it
Wags the hound...

Tail, Lee, I think you mean costume tail. Yeah. I dunno what that...thing..was. Ok nevermind.

Don't try to stop the tail
That wags the hound.

I also love A Self Called Nowhere.

Cleverdan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:34 pm

"Istanbul," and, "We Want a Rock."

Cybernetic Teenybopper · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:49 pm

Ah. My bad. Please excuse me while I kiss this guy in the bathroom on the right.

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