Today's Batch:
- Apollo 18
- Factory Showroom
- Mink Car
- The Else
- Nanobots
- Phone Power
I chose these randomly, still no John Henry :(
Anyways!
Apollo 18 (1992)
Let’s address the elephant in the room. This might be one of the only albums meant to be listened to on shuffle. Unfortunately, the gimmick is absent on the streaming versions. I kinda get why, but it’s unfortunate nonetheless. “Fingertips” is a collection of 21 songs and the album was meant to be played on shuffle and have these play in between the full songs. It’s a very cool concept, and they try something like this again on a later album but not as cool.
The album itself is great! I love songs like “The Statue Got Me High” and “I Palindrome I” among many, many others. I think the low points are “Hypnotist of Ladies” and as funny as it is, “Spider” as well. Sorry.
10/10
Favorite Tracks: Dig My Grave, I Palindrome I, The Statue Got Me High, The Guitar, Dinner Bell, See the Constellation, Space Suit
Least Favorite Tracks: Spider, Hypnotist of Ladies
Factory Showroom (1996)
The shortest album yet from the Johns. Also their last with Elektra. There’s still some bangers on here for sure. “Pet Name” is a personal favorite of mine. “S-E-X-X-Y” gets a lot of hate, but I love it.
There’s still a bit of fluff on here, for sure. “Exquisite Dead Guy” kinda exists. I also like “I Can Hear You” and “The Bells Are Ringing” but they could’ve done more with these.
Like I could’ve done more with this review >:3
i love pet name so much dude omfg
9/10
Favorite Tracks: S-E-X-X-Y, Till My Head Falls Off, How Can I Sing Like a Girl?, Spiraling Shape, Pet Name
Least Favorite Tracks: Exquisite Dead Guy
Mink Car (2001)
You’re all wrong about this album and I’m not afraid to say it. This album is not bad, in fact the only bad song on here is “I’ve Got a Fang.” Yep. “Mr. Xcitement” is good. I’m not familiar with Soul Coughing and I didn’t know Mike Doughty was the guy from Soul Coughing for five years until my friend Liz told me today. Maybe I’ll check out Soul Coughing once I’m done with these albums.
Also yes this album released on 9/11 I feel like if I don’t mention it some of y’all might yell at me.
Other favorites of mine from this album include “Wicked Little Critta” “Another First Kiss” “Man It’s So Loud In Here” “Yeh Yeh” “My Man” “Cyclops Rock” “Bangs” and “Drink”
I have a lot of favorites as you can see, I feel very strongly about this album.
I do want to bring up “My Man” in particular because holy shit it might be the darkest and most depressing song They Might Be Giants have ever written.
I don’t really have much else to say. How can you hate an album that has the Malcolm in the Middle theme song as a bonus track? Had to mention that too lest I get yelled at for that.
10/10
Favorite Tracks: Bangs, Cyclops Rock, Man It's So Loud In Here, Mr. Xcitement, Another First Kiss, Yeh Yeh, Drink!, My Man, Wicked Little Critta
Least Favorite Tracks: I've Got a Fang
The Else (2007)
For a while this was my favorite They Might Be Giants album, and honestly for good reason.
It’s definitely the most concise album I feel. Unfortunately it’s also their first to not have any accordion. They did a very good job without it, though.
I have a lot of favorites from this album. The three that take the cake however have to be “Bee of the Bird of the Moth” “With the Dark” and “Careful What You Pack.” I’m not sure what it is about these three, I just absolutely adore them.
I don’t think there’s a song below an 8/10 on this thing, but the 8/10 songs imo are “The Cap’m” “The Mesopotamians” “Upside Down Frown” and “Feign Amnesia”
I’m not sure if calling them my least favorite would be right because I still think they’re pretty damn good. By definition they technically are but idk man.
10/10
Favorite Tracks: I'm Impressed, Climbing the Walls, Careful What You Pack, With the Dark, Bee of the Bird of the Moth, Withered Hope
Least Favorite Tracks: Upside Down Frown, The Cap'm, Feign Amnesia, The Mesopotamians
Nanobots (2013)
There’s a lot going on with this one. I adore “Stuff is Way” “Call You Mom” “You’re On Fire” “Icky” and “Stone Cold Coup D'état.” However, this album is also a bit of a mess. Many short songs that play throughout the longer ones. It feels like they tried to do Fingertips again but it doesn’t hit the same in my opinion.
It’s not a bad album by any means, though. Much of the actual material on here is pretty enjoyable. At least I think so. “Sleep” however actually makes me uncomfortable for reasons I can’t quite put into words.
8/10
Favorite Tracks: You're On Fire, Call You Mom, Stone Cold Coup D'état, Stuff is Way, Icky
Least Favorite Tracks: Sleep, Destroy the Past, Hive Mind, Decision Makers, Nouns, There, Tick
Phone Power (2016)
All of these songs originate from the 2015 incarnation of “Dial-A-Song.” Hence the name. It’s the same with their previous album Glean. Unfortunately for Phone Power, Glean got most of the better songs while Phone Power got the leftovers. That’s not to say there aren’t some bangers on here. “I Am Alone” was one of the first 2010s era TMBG songs I ever heard and I instantly fell in love. “Apophenia” is also pretty damn good. Of course, I have to mention “ECNALUBMA” and “I Love You For Psychological Reasons” those two are also pretty damn great.
That being said, there’s a lot of stuff on here that doesn’t hit in my opinion. “Shape Shifter” and “What Did I Do To You?” were originally some of my favorites but looking back I’m not sure what I heard in them that made me like them that much. “Got Getting Up So Down” and “I Wasn’t Listening” are very whatever. “I’ll Be Haunting You” is easily my least favorite on here, though. Sorry.
It’s not a bad album by any means, but it’s definitely one of TMBG’s weaker projects in my humble opinion.
7/10
Favorite Tracks: Apophenia, I Am Alone
Least Favorite Tracks: I'll Be Haunting You, Got Getting Up So Down, I Wasn't Listening
Song of the Day: They Might Be Giants - The Statue Got Me High
I love this one so much, easily my favorite from Apollo.
The World is to Dig in 3 days!
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