TMBG Discography Re-Dive In Preparation For TWITD 04/04

April 13th 2026

Today's batch:

1. Here Come the ABCs
2. Here Come the 123s
3. Here Comes Science
4. Glean
5. Why?
6. The Escape Team

Here Come the ABCs (2005)

This is the first of 3 albums released under Walt Disney Records. Like the other kids’ albums, this one also has non-John vocals. “Letter / Not a Letter” features John Linnell’s son Henry and a friend doing voice-overs, reminiscent of Sesame Street. “Alphabet Lost and Found” is sung by Marty Beller, with John Flansburgh doing the spoken parts. “Who Put the Alphabet in Alphabetical Order?” is sung by Robin Goldwasser. 

All three Here Come albums have accompanying DVDs. I didn’t watch them, and they might’ve enhanced my experience. Sorry about that.

Again, it’s a decent kids’ album, but obviously not really my thing. I loved “Alphabet of Nations” of course, it appeals to the geography nerd in me. 

Maybe I’ll watch the DVD though. Sorry.

6/10

Favorite Tracks: Alphabet of Nations

Least Favorite Tracks: The Vowel Family, Goodnight My Friends

Here Come the 123s (2008)

I love “I Never Go To Work” so much. I love how they managed to put a song about hating work on a kids’ album too. They just couldn’t resist lol. Anyways, uhh this has the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song as well as “Hot Dog” lol. So that’s cool.

“Triops Has Three Eyes” features vocals from Robin Goldwasser along with the Johns. She’s also on “The Secret Life of Six” and “Ten Mississippi.” “High Five” is sung by Marty Beller along with Hannah Levine. Hannah appears on many other songs on this album. Mainly “One Dozen Monkeys” but she’s also in “Zeroes” “I Can Add” and “Ooh La! Ooh La!” She is the niece of Dan Levine, who occasionally plays trombone for TMBG. 

Henry Linnell and Desi Tomaselli come back to voice the sevens in “Seven.” “Infinity” is sung by Dan Miller, but it’s the only song that does not have a music video. 

Also need to mention the music video for “Figure Eight” was made by The Brothers Chaps. It’s not Homestar Runner related like “Experimental Film” but it’s cool. 

6/10

Favorite Tracks: I Never Go To Work, Nonagon

Least Favorite Tracks: Nine Bowls of Soup, Even Numbers

Here Comes Science (2009)

This album was my introduction to They Might Be Giants. I believe I would’ve been about seven years old and I found their songs on YouTube and I was intrigued by the band name. Little did I know many years later they would end up becoming my favorite band. The only songs I remember sticking out to me when I was a kid were “Roy G. Biv” and “Meet The Elements.” I would listen to those two a lot. 

Of course, “I Am A Paleontologist” has Danny Weinkauf singing, and according to a Mini Page blurb, “is used in museum exhibits around the world.” “The Bloodmobile” has Robin Goldwasser on guest vocals, and was written for Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute Science Museum. “Electric Car” also has Robin singing. “Speed and Velocity” has Marty Beller.

This is probably my favorite of the kids’ albums. Maybe because it was a significant part of my childhood. It’s nice!!! Also the way the Johns are drawn in the music videos is iconic in tmbg fanart. 

7/10

Favorite Tracks: Meet The Elements, I Am A Paleontologist, Why Does the Sun Shine?, Why Does the Sun Really Shine?

Least Favorite Tracks: Solid Liquid Gas

Glean (2015)

I ended up liking this album on this listen more than I thought I would. “Let Me Tell You About My Operation” “Unpronounceable” and “Erase” are obviously my favorites, but “Music Jail” is an underrated fav of mine too.

“Aaa” and “Answer” are of course great. I have the latter stuck in my head right now, actually. 

“Underwater Woman” and “Good To Be Alive” are a lot better than I remember too. "Hate The Villanelle" is a bit of a lowlight though in my opinion. "All The Lazy Boyfriends" and "End of the Rope" are also kinda whatever to me. 

The album cover is kinda weird though, not a fan of that.

9/10

Favorite Tracks: Erase, Music Jail, Unpronounceable, Let Me Tell You About My Operation

Least Favorite Tracks: Hate The Villanelle

Why? (2015)

Yeah I just genuinely don’t like this one very much. Sorry.

“Walking My Cat Named Dog” and “Hello Mrs. Wheelyke” are good though. 

“Oh You Did” and “Long White Beard” have Robin Goldwasser singing. “Elephants” is a Danny Weinkauf song. I like the album cover at least.

5/10

Favorite Tracks: Walking My Cat Named Dog, Hello Mrs. Wheelyke

Least Favorite Tracks: I Made A Mess, I Just Want To Dance

The Escape Team (2018)

I don’t really like this album. “Dunkin of Course of Course” might honestly be my least favorite TMBG song. I’m not a big fan of “John Postal” “Burnice” and “Chip the CHiP” either. The highlights in my opinion are “Mr. Mischief Night” “Dr. Sy Fly” and “The Poisonousness”

4/10

Favorite Tracks: Mr. Mischief Night

Least Favorite Tracks: Chip the CHiP, Burnice, Dunkin of Course of Course, John Postal

FINAL RANKING:

1. John Henry
2. Flood
3. Lincoln
4. They Might Be Giants
5. Apollo 18
6. The Else
7. Mink Car
8. I Like Fun
9. Factory Showroom
10. Join Us
11. Glean
12. The Spine
13. Nanobots
14. Book
15. Here Comes Science
16. No!
17. Phone Power
18. My Murdered Remains
19. Long Tall Weekend
20. Here Come the ABCs
21. Here Come the 123s
22. Why?
23. The Escape Team

Song of the Day: They Might Be Giants - Let Me Tell You About My Operation

This goes absolutely insane John Flansburgh ily. 

THE WORLD IS TO DIG TOMORROW!