|
| |||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Editorial Reviews
Album Raises New and Troubling Questions by They Might Be Giants
This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
I'm a fan of a lot of different bands, so any time one of my favorite bands comes out with a B-Sides and Rarities album, I tend to buy it. I got the special bundle on this one that included an instant download on launch day while the CD was mailed snail mail. I didn't listen to the download, but when the CD came in the mail, I went ahead and put it in the car.
OH MY GOODNESS! This CD could be a whole TMBG album, never mind "just" a rarities album. These songs are actually GOOD. "O We" sounded like it was ready to be turned into an Internet meme. I loved the remix of "You Probably Get That A Lot". "Marty Beller Mask" is an awesome story. "Doom Doom" is one of the best songs I've heard all year. The new "Electronic" version of "Istanbul" is totally fresh, the version of "Cloisonne" is probably better than the "Join Us" version and the four old songs featuring the "Other Thing Brass Band" is refreshing and is reminiscent of the TMBG John Henry days, when they toured with a horn section.
Old TMBG fan or new, this album is TRULY enjoyable.
OH MY GOODNESS! This CD could be a whole TMBG album, never mind "just" a rarities album. These songs are actually GOOD. "O We" sounded like it was ready to be turned into an Internet meme. I loved the remix of "You Probably Get That A Lot". "Marty Beller Mask" is an awesome story. "Doom Doom" is one of the best songs I've heard all year. The new "Electronic" version of "Istanbul" is totally fresh, the version of "Cloisonne" is probably better than the "Join Us" version and the four old songs featuring the "Other Thing Brass Band" is refreshing and is reminiscent of the TMBG John Henry days, when they toured with a horn section.
Old TMBG fan or new, this album is TRULY enjoyable.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
This is mostly written to counterbalance the (what *was* that? Jilted ex? Why so bitter?) one star review which practically no one has found helpful. Since that was essentially an attack on Join Us, I'll feel no shame whatsoever defending it here.
First up, IMHO, TMBG have *never* released an uneven album. Unless it was their explicit intention to do something creatively lop-sided. These guys, who started out "arty" were called out on their second release for its being "less artier" than the first (if the tales be true), and have reinvented themselves a number of times along the way. With reference to this process and the effect it might have on fans, the inner photos from "John Henry" include one in which kids are secretly adding a "We Hate" banner to post above "They Might Be Giants". JH marked a rather large divergence from the experimental to more traditional sounding rock (ironically a big experiment for them), with a full band of real human beings, and they knew this might jar some of their fan base. For me, coming to this band rather late in their career, John Henry was the most difficult to get into, exactly for this reason -- but after giving it repeated chances, it's now among my favorite things to listen to.
Specifically to address the notion that Join Us and this companion album are a real let down or that TMBG have lost some steam or some other random nonsensical jab, I'd have to say that it is their most artistically cohesive album, with a theme that pervades nearly every song, the title, and the history of the band. A Representationalistic Rock Trifecta. It first struck me when I was trying to put together (heh) the meaning of the lyrics in You Probably Get That A Lot, but the theme comes out in various different ways. Note the disparate voices on Spoiler Alert, the singularity of Johnnie, the choice described and the use of voice in Lady and the Tiger and various other phenomena. AND IT'S ALL GOOD. For the love of all that is holy (or unholy for that matter), this is the best work they've done since The Else! ...since Apollo 18!! ...since...EVER!!!
Regarding ARNATQ, sir, if you're not into the B-side sort of stuff, that's exactly why it's not promoted as their next studio album. If you're a fan of The Johns, The Dans, and Marty (how could you not like Marty Beller Mask?), this is worth it. In these hard times, this is exactly the sort of thing that's worth your hard earned dollars. So there! XP/XD
First up, IMHO, TMBG have *never* released an uneven album. Unless it was their explicit intention to do something creatively lop-sided. These guys, who started out "arty" were called out on their second release for its being "less artier" than the first (if the tales be true), and have reinvented themselves a number of times along the way. With reference to this process and the effect it might have on fans, the inner photos from "John Henry" include one in which kids are secretly adding a "We Hate" banner to post above "They Might Be Giants". JH marked a rather large divergence from the experimental to more traditional sounding rock (ironically a big experiment for them), with a full band of real human beings, and they knew this might jar some of their fan base. For me, coming to this band rather late in their career, John Henry was the most difficult to get into, exactly for this reason -- but after giving it repeated chances, it's now among my favorite things to listen to.
Specifically to address the notion that Join Us and this companion album are a real let down or that TMBG have lost some steam or some other random nonsensical jab, I'd have to say that it is their most artistically cohesive album, with a theme that pervades nearly every song, the title, and the history of the band. A Representationalistic Rock Trifecta. It first struck me when I was trying to put together (heh) the meaning of the lyrics in You Probably Get That A Lot, but the theme comes out in various different ways. Note the disparate voices on Spoiler Alert, the singularity of Johnnie, the choice described and the use of voice in Lady and the Tiger and various other phenomena. AND IT'S ALL GOOD. For the love of all that is holy (or unholy for that matter), this is the best work they've done since The Else! ...since Apollo 18!! ...since...EVER!!!
Regarding ARNATQ, sir, if you're not into the B-side sort of stuff, that's exactly why it's not promoted as their next studio album. If you're a fan of The Johns, The Dans, and Marty (how could you not like Marty Beller Mask?), this is worth it. In these hard times, this is exactly the sort of thing that's worth your hard earned dollars. So there! XP/XD
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Like Miscellaneous T, Long Tall Weekend, and They Got Lost, this is a TMBG rarities "album" that features stuff that didn't get onto the "regular" albums. Like Miscellaneous T and They Got Lost (I don't have Long Tall Weekend), it has some tracks on it that I really like, but it also has its share of ones that I don't care so much for. It seems to me that TMBG's "B-sides" (and other rarities) tend to be VERY inconsistent --- more so than the tracks that go onto the albums. Many of them are really good if not great, but just as many, if not more, are merely O.K. While I don't just absolutely "hate" any of them (at least not the ones I've heard so far), I think that most of the BEST tracks get onto the albums. To my ears, this CD is "half-and-half" --- I really like 10 of the tracks, but don't like the other 10 of them as much. Interestingly, there are several remakes of earlier TMBG songs here. "Electronic Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is a pretty fun track. I was surprised that they did this. I also find the remakes of "Dirt Bike" and "Particle Man," and even the remake of "Mr. Me" (all of which also feature The Other Thing Brass Band) to be very enjoyable. I don't care so much for TMBG's and The OTBB's remake of "Boat Of Car," though. As surprised as I was that TMBG did "Electronic Istanbul," I was even more surprised --- but not so pleasantly --- that they and The OTBB revived this! (Couldn't they have chosen a better song to remake?) The other tracks here that I think are among the best are "Authenticity Trip," the remix of "You Probably Get That A Lot," "Marty Beller Mask" (although, since the tragic death of Whitney Houston, I suppose that song isn't as good as it used to be), "How Now Dark Cloud?," "Money For Dope," and the live studio version of "Cloisonne." I think this is an overall good collection, but it's not nearly as good as the albums. I have to say though, that it's certainly better than the one-star review that one unhappy reviewer gave it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pleasantly surprised
The songs on this album sound like a continuation of work from Join Us, to some degree, a throwback to their older sound from the Then years. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Tom Servo
TMBG... has run out of gas.
I recently bought "Join Us"... thinking that FINALLY TMBG released an adult album. I thought it would be great but I was bitterly disappointed. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JetPak
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
