Review of "They Might Be Giants"

They Might Be Giants

Rock

Brooklyn, NY

http://www.tmbg.com

New Wave "Geek" Rock

Quirky intellectual music, Fruvous is often compared to them.

This is the one band all Fruvous fans need to at least check out. I'd say a very large portion of Fruvous fans were originally TMBG fans, and got sucked over here to the Dark Side. They're still a lot of fun. Check out Flood for a first record.. it has their most popular songs like "Birdhouse In Your Soul", "Istanbul (not Constantinople)", "Particle Man", etc.

geek rock. engaging, catchy, and quirky, quirky, quirky.

a TMBG fan first, but a fruvous fan forever, i would have to agree with josh here. lots of fru-tmbg crossover among fans. and they have an accordion! all the best bands have accordions, natch.

All the best...

TMBG has created their own cult following. They are featured in Fox's series Malcom in the Middle with the opening song "You're Not The Boss Of Me Now". Always funny, always witty, They Might Be Giants is a great mix of music.

we certainly are elves

Oy gevalt, nerd music at its finest. The first "now" music I ever liked. I felt doomed to forever hide in the '60's until my sister brought home flood one day around 1994. Changed my life. Now I'm here. I say again, oy gevalt!

I wish people called me Dr. Worm

Great band, I found them because of paritcle man. I haven't gotten enough since!

we're certainly dwarfs...

not only are they intelligent, quirky and feature accordion, they're also one of the bast bands at writing sad lyrics to happy tunes...

i admit to having my feet in both fields.

good thing i have big feet. i never really compared the two, but i was a tmbg fan first, mostly due to chronologics (i first heard tmbg @ 1986 with "don't let's start, off their self-titled; fruvous didn't make the life-splash entry until 1994). i love the way they take the sappy edge off love songs with their quirky lyrics and instrumentation. dial-a- song is great. i recommend "now and then" for a good tmbg survey, with a number of great rarities as well.

brooklyn's ambassadors of love (and mine too. sigh.)

i really don't see the fr�connection, besides the fact that they both have accordions. but anyway. john & john are gods of quirk-rock. and their current band is fabulous as well. they're quality people making quality music. all hail!

Funny, intelligent, quirky geek rock.

Fabulous in the studio. I apparently don't *get* their live show. No matter! Run right out and buy their CDs.

Two of my favorite Johns in the whole wide world!! 11 concerts and counting...

Clever, catchy, odd band

I owe TMBG a lot. They got me into Fruvous, and as a result of THAT I've gotten into a great deal of wonderful music. TMBG is the first band to show me what a great live show could be. I'd seen concerts before, but never before was there so much talking, laughter, variance from the albums, etc. Getting into a live show like THAT spoiled me forever, and I can no longer see most mainstream/large act shows without feeling something's missing. TMBG prepped me for sweet Fruvous addiction by teaching me to expect more out of a live experience. I can't imagine there being a day where I don't love this band, and break into hyperkinetic activity when their songs come on.

Enjoy the music, but never seen them live :(

Doesn't everyone feel sad for me now? :) I got into TMBG from an ex gf. She's gone, but I still like the music. Hrmm, come to think of it, she's the one that has some of my first bought Fruvous CD's :) Nice to see that they're (hopefully) getting some mainstream type money by doing the music for the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (which is great btw, kind of like a live action Simpsons) :)

Music gods

I think what makes TMBG so great isn't just they're fantastic songs, but the instruments they play. I mean, you'd never know two guys could be so multi talented. They even use a giant stick to pound on stuff and make noise, that in itself is so friggin cool! If you haven't already, check out their solos albulms. Flansburgh's band Monopuff is just as good, if not better than TMBG, and Linnell's "State Songs" cd is truly a must have for any collection.

Catchy. Very Catchy.

Their lyrics kinda force you to sing along, they're so basic, and cute... I'm not quite seeing the Moxy Fruvous comparison though. I think Fruvous has the ability to be more serious with some of their music, TMBG is mainly silly stuff to listen to when you're in one of those crazy moods. I still love them though. :)

an object of my obsession

How can I say it? TMBG is, has, and does everything. I've listened to them since Flood came out, a good 10 years. Relation to Fruvous? CATCHY. They make you want to sing, dance, and just be happy. That's what I like about this type of music. I can just listen and be happy. YAY TMBG AND FRUVOUS!

*hangs head in shame* Yes, I was one of those people who discovered them thru "Tiny Toon Adventures" and annoyed everybody by running around and singing "Istanbul" and "Particle Man." *But* I did end up getting really into them, and their first 4 albums made up a good portion of the soundtrack to my high school, er, glory days. From pure silliness to just plain great pop songs, TMBG are lots of fun. You can't escape it, so just give into the Fruvous-TMBG connection. :)

everyone's my friend...

hooray for they! these things happen to other people...

Can be played with everything

TMBG can be played everywhere and can still somehow fit in. I've heard them on Tiny Toons, and I've given my teachers a tape with their songs on it. A very original, and interesting band.

TMBG rules!!!!

These guys were my favorite band for 3.5 years... until I saw fruvous live last november... :) I disagree that all their stuff is just quirk pop... they really tackle some serious issues... just with boppity musuc attached! I love to go to their shows and Pogo!!! They are great live but are getting OLD and farty sometimes. I *heart* Apollo 18 the most, and I hate Flood, go figure!

Life's just a mood ring we're not allowed to see.

While Their lyrics have become a bit less twisted and wonderful in recent years, I still buy each new album as it emerges. I guess that's because TMBG are better than most bands, even with one John tied behind Their back. ;)

Musical Poineers, they make sounds and have fun making them

TMBG has to be one of the Best/strangest band out there, I disciovered them by watching Tiny Tune Adventures...So I bought Apollo 18 (there best album) Dispite it's greatness, I was dissapointed not to find find Istanbul. After day of questing I found Flood! And A TMBG fan was Born.

caution: slippery when wet

while fruvous may be the best, TMBG is definitely up there. and i have to agree with kat, nothing says "we rock" like an accordian.

Intelligent, fun, thought provoking, and Rocking!

I have been a TMBG fan for the longest time. I am, indeed, one of those people who travel great distances to see them and the many TMBG fans that I have met from the TMBG chat. It was one of those fans that first introduced me to Fruvous. Check them out!

I found'em thanks to Fruvous

I had never heard any TMBG, but everyone said that I'd like them if I liked Fruvous. Well, I like Fruvous, so I listened to TMBG. Now I like TMBG. Yep.

Genius!

I've loved them every day of my life since 6th grade. I can't say I love them or fruvous more...they're equals to me. TMBG and Fruvous are my musical gods.

I found Fruvous while looking for TMBG on Napster... Fruvous are fans of TMBG, that should tell you something. TMBG was my first "favorite" band, and they are still the fond favorites of my youth, although Fruvous has replaced them as the music for my more mature years. DONT LISTEN TO FLOOD FIRST. It is too goofy to really speak for the body of TMBG's work. They are NOT a joke band!

They make my brain hurt

yaaay for head 'splody!

Fun, but also thoughtful

Vastly eclectic music, with intriguing lyrics. Their singing doesn't provide much in the way of harmonies, but that's not to say the music is lacking. Sometimes, I actually manage to figure out the songs' meanings. I've never had the pleasure of seeing them live, but suspect I would enjoy it.

Whoo hoo for TMBG!!

I remember first hearing their songs on "Tiny Toons" when I was .... like ....... 10 or some age around there ..... and I thought they were pretty cool!! The theme song they did for Malcom in the Middle is also pretty kick-booty! The video's funny as well!

New Wave "Geek" Rock

How can you not love TMBG?! I've been a fan for 7 years now, ever since I heard "Ana Ng" on the way back from a colorguard competition my freshman year of high school. Their live act and Their music never disapoints. I've seen Them live 4 times, but never with the horn section. :(

Been a fan for years...

Clever geek rock

Sophisticated, "head bobbing" music....

I was introduced to the ol' Fruvous by our freind Emy and her incorrigible umbrella, but I thankfully foundered They Might Be Giants all by myself, and have been a fan since their humble beginnings in the land a' Brooklyn. I bleeve if I wasn't such a Giants man, then I would have probably passed Fruvous up... Yep, I like lickin' stamps.

So let's toast the sad cold fact, our love's never coming back....

Wow, I can't believe I haven't recommended TMBG yet! Some of the goofiest, funny, and oddly intelligent lyrics my generation has seen! Someone recommended Flood to me and I ended up picking up every other album I could get my hands on! My old radio show in high school always started with "Don't Let's Start." I've seen them live three or four times too and doing a polka with all of your friends on the lawn of an ampitheatre or dancing in a very crowded smaller venue re both incredible experiences!

The best bands have banjos, but TMBG wins anyway!

Even without a banjo, TMBG manages to make music that's entertaining, fun, and intelligent. My best album nods have to go to Lincoln and Apollo 18, but to become one with the TMBG phenomenon... Flood is a must.

I loved them, but i'm holding Mink Car against them. maybe they should spend more time on studio albums and less on Malcolm music.

I can't believe that I haven't recommended TMBG yet. I'm not as devoted a fan as some of the other here but I have seen them six times, or is it seven. They are clever, they have lots of energy and they are freaks. A great combination. How can I not love a band that covers my favorite PSA song from when I was a kid, "don't cross the street in the middle, in the middle, in the middle of the block." I need to buy No

Fun, funny, and witty with some of the best fans in the world

TMBG has created a community, much like Fruvous, of fans who also travel great distances just to see them. TMBG also goes the extra mile to deliver special shows for their NYC fans. The whole atmosphere surrounding them is simply a party!

My first favorite band. Even today they are only second to Fr�vous.

Blows my total mind!

I love Moxy Fr�vous, but They kicked their ass. Sorry.

Great music. Superb use of "stream of consciousness" writing.

Although they are prolific, I wish there was more TMBG music on the planet. I came around when "Factory Showroom" came out and worked my way back. "Apollo 18" is my fave, followed by "John Henry" then "Flood." TMBG was my gateway to Fruvous. See them in concert!

Any band that can make and entire concert crowd willingly form a conga line is a band to be reconned with. (or "with which to be reconned.")

songs about lesser-known presidents and painters, mammals, robots, car crashes, world capitals, haircuts, and everything in between

John & John, and now their band of Dans, are geniuses. I never tire of their revolutionary contribution to the world of geeky nerd rock.

What am I going to say that hasn't already been said? I'm sure everyone here knows about TMBG, but they're my favorite band, so I figure I might as well show my support.

I'm with the other Nathan... what can I say that hasn't already been said? A great band... lots of fun. They come off goofy, but when you listen deeper, there is a lot more substance to their material.

I've been a fan for ten years (eeep!) and they're still awesome. TMBG holds a special place in my heart as they're the first band I really got into.

Witty but not always girlie enough.

Ever since I saw the video for Don't Let's Start on MTV (way back when I still watched MTV), I knew I was hearing something special and different and right up my alley. I bought their first two albums, the self-titled debut and Lincoln shortly thereafter, and never looked back. The aforementioned albums remain their best work to date. Factory Showroom is their weakest. Dig 'em up and shake their hands, appreciate this band!

"I turned off the intellectuals, I put on There May Be Giants."

the band that started it all for me. from my TMBG obsession came my Fr�vous obsession. From there, pretty much everything else. covering a great range of styles... everything from a capella to folk to rock to jazz. a once good live show featuring occasional improvisation and often very amusing stories...