Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants - Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants

Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants
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Music CD Cover

Artist: They Might Be Giants
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2002-09-17
Music Label: Elektra
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. Birdhouse in Your Soul
  2. Ana Ng
  3. Don't Let's Start
  4. Boss of Me (Theme From Malcom in the Middle)
  5. Older
  6. Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
  7. Doctor Worm
  8. The Guitar
  9. Dr. Evil [From Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]
  10. New York City
  11. Particle Man
  12. Cyclops Rock
  13. Minimum Wage
  14. Man, It's So Loud in Here
  15. We're the Replacements
  16. Why Does the Sun Shine (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas) [Live]
  17. Your Racist Friend
  18. Bangs
  19. Snail Shell
  20. Twisting
  21. Another First Kiss
  22. They'll Need a Crane
  23. The Statue Got Me High
  24. (She Was A) Hotel Detective
  25. Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head
  26. I Palindrome I
Music CD 2
  1. She's an Angel
  2. How Can I Sing Like a Girl?
  3. James K. Polk
  4. Meet James Ensor
  5. Mammal
  6. Pet Name
  7. No!
  8. I Can Hear You
  9. Spider
  10. I Should Be Allowed to Think
  11. Fingertips
  12. She's Actual Size [New Live Version][#]
  13. Spy [New Live Version][#]
  14. Stormy Pinkness [Live in Berlin 1989][#]
  15. Exquisite Dead Guy
  16. Robot Parade [Adult Version]
  17. Boat of Car
  18. S-E-X-X-Y
  19. Number Three
  20. The End of the Tour
  21. They Might Be Giants
  22. Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal
  23. Nightgown of the Sullen Moon
  24. Snowball in Hell
  25. Purple Toupee
  26. Cowtown

Free Music Notes for Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants

Free Music Review: The good folks at Rhino have done it again...
Hit: 5 Stars

This is the They Might Be Giants compilation I've been waiting at least three years for, ever since a local (and short-lived) free-form radio station exposed me to a number of their best songs ("Birdhouse in Your Soul," "Don't Let's Start," "The Guitar," "Istanbul," "Particle Man"). All of these songs are here on the lavish, 2-CD anthology Dial-A-Song: 20 Years Of..., as well as "Boss of Me" (the Grammy-winning theme from Malcolm in the Middle, one of my favorite shows) and "Dr. Evil" (the best thing about 1999's unfunny Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me), and 45 other highlights from the long and prolific career of these Massechusetts-born, New York-based geek rockers.

Anchored by the energetic playing and nasal, deadpan vocals of John Linnell and John Flansburgh (the subtle differences in their voices make for terrific harmonies -- think XTC or Barenaked Ladies), the exquisite pop tunes in this collection take off in all directions, musically and lyrically. My (new) favorites include "We're the Replacements" (in which the Johns portray the raging 1980's punkers as a fun-loving party band), the New Wave-y "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head," the techno satire/homage "Man, it's so Loud in Here," the sweet love songs "Bangs" and "Another First Kiss," the upbeat odes to painter James Ensor ("Dig him up and shake his hand, appreciate the man") and president James K. Polk ("Austere, severe, he held few people dear"), the dark odes to love unrequited ("Ana Ng") and love gone sour ("They'll Need a Crane"), the exuberant "Doctor Worm," and the inspired covers of "New York City" and "Why Does the Sun Shine (the Sun is a Mass of Incandescant Gas"), as well as the wry social commentary of "Your Racist Friend," "I Can Hear You" (recorded without electricity!), the "Howl"-quoting "I Should Be Allowed to Think," the payola ode "Hey Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We had a Deal," "Snowball in Hell" (best line: "If it wasn't for disappointment, I wouldn't have any appointments"), and the overlong-but-gorgeous "How Can I Sing Like a Girl" ("...and not be objectified as if I were a girl?"). With their musical adventurousness, quirky turns of phrase, unusual subject matter, and unique takes on familiar subject matter, Flansburgh and Linnell are sort of like Elvis Costello-meets-Jonathan Richman. (No wonder I like these guys already!)

Midway through disc two, however, Dial-A-Song threatens to become an embarrassment of riches -- well, for TMBG newcomers like myself, anyway -- as John and John dispense with the bright pop hooks and engage in plain weirdness ("Spider," "Exquisite Dead Guy," the metallish "Robot Parade" [no pun intended], "Boat of Car," "S-E-X-X-Y," "Stormy Pinkness," the 7-minute live version of "She's Actual Size"). The real love-it-or-hate-it moment would have to be the remarkable, audacious "Fingertips," in which the two Johns string together 21 song fragments of varying styles and moods. Such experimental moments don't always make for easy listening, but they are generally admirable.

In recent years, the good people at Rhino have done right by Marshall Crenshaw (2000's This Is Easy: The Best Of...), Randy Newman (2001's The Best Of...), and Warren Zevon (2002's Genius: The Best Of...). Once again, they've called attention to a lesser-known but worthy act by pulling together some of their best work into a single package (although the Johns had a hand in compiling this one) -- a perfect starting point for intrigued and inquisitive music lovers. (I must also mention the essay by NPR's Sarah Vowell -- a funny and affectionate assessment of the band's charms -- as well as TMBG's own fascinating explanation of the "dial-a-song" service.)

Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants Poster

The ultimate anthology curated by the band, 52 songs including 'Don't Let's Start', 'Birdhouse In Your Soul' and the Grammy-winning 'Boss Of Me' plus a full color book with lyrics, discography and essays by the band and NPR's Sarah Vowell. Digipaks housed in a slipcase. 2002.

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