| ||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Track Listings
| 1. Experimental Film |
| 2. Spine |
| 3. Memo to Human Resources |
| 4. Wearing a Raincoat |
| 5. Prevenge |
| 6. Thunderbird |
| 7. Bastard Wants to Hit Me |
| 8. The World Before Later On |
| 9. Museum of Idiots |
| 10. It's Kickin' In |
| 11. Spines |
| 12. Au Contraire |
| 13. Damn Good Times |
| 14. Broke in Two |
| 15. Stalk of Wheat |
| 16. I Can't Hide from My Mind |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If ever they gave out Grammys for mule-minded consistency, then Sting would have a lot more awards in his villa. But coming in a close second would be They Might Be Giants. Keyboard player John Linnell and guitarist John Flansburgh have a sense of focus that would put even the Ramones to shame. From the Brooklyn duo's first demo tape in 1985 up to its frenzied latest, The Spine, the same ingredients remain at the fore: effortlessly catchy choruses, songs that smear the line between novelty and being novel (new ones include ""Memo to Human Resources" and "Museum of Idiots"), and musical backing that sounds like a cross between a polka party and someone throwing silverware down the stairs. It's a quirky approach that's not going to easily win over any new converts but the will certainly drive the dedicated legion of old ones to smile with familiar-yet-fresh material like "Experimental Film" and "Au Contraire." --Aidin Vaziri
Product Description
With their unique blend of catchy melodies and inscrutable lyrics, They Might Be Giants have lived a twenty-year frenzy of creative output, selling over three million albums and winning a Grammy in the process. The Spine is TMBG's new release, and has been heralded as their most rocking album ever.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
115 of 124 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There used to be two types of reviews for a They Might Be Giants album. One would aim for newcomers, curious about the band. The other would speak to established fans who long-knew they were going to buy the album and were seeking validation, while sitting at their computers in their TMBG caps and shirts, while sipping coffee from their Tony Millionaire mugs, while either nodding or poising their cursors over the "Not Helpful" vote button. Now there's a disturbing third type, those who have lost the faith and want to know if it's worth the cash, giving the Giants a second or third chance.
THE SPINE is They Might Be Giants's tenth album. I've been with the band since a little before JOHN HENRY hit the sales racks. Gotta admit: I'm a fan-addict. With shaky hands I would unwrap each new release, drop it in the player, and start grinning even before the first track began. Halfway through the album I'd be nodding, half-smiling, and wondering what in the world was going on here. By the last track, I'd still be nodding, vaguely pleased. The CD would go back into its protective case, and I'd listen to an old favorite: Apollo 18, Flood, Lincoln. Because THOSE were the Giants I fell in love with.
They Might Be Giants is a progressive band--gods of music, in my opinion. They are always producing, always writing, always playing. They love what they do and it shows. They're always pushing the limits, trying new sounds, bending old sounds, crossing genres, and perfecting their art. Call me "fan-addict-al," but TMBG become the music for me. Of course, with such proliferation, they're bound to generate a different sound than the last album. Every album is a hearty step up for these guys.
THE SPINE is no different. No different, although some of you have reasonable complaints that our heroes have "jumped the shark." I believe that you have to give each new Giants release a real chance--3 to 5 listens. Those first couple of times, you--like me--are bound to think, "Hm. A little weak." But each listen builds on the last. The songs grow on you. You will learn to hear the same subtleties of harmony and cleverness that won you over in the 80s and 90s. But don't expect to hear another FLOOD. And APOLLO 18 is still there for you to adore. Why expect this band to rehash the same-ol'-same-ol'? They won't. They shouldn't.
I've probably listened to the album twenty times this week. I can't get tired of it. While some of you (no offense intended) are busy writing emails about how this album sucks, I'm busy learning the lyrics. I'm singing them poorly, wondering how Linnell does that stuff with his voice, wishing I could muster Flansburgh's energy. I tend to think that it's the fans who have faced the shark and turned away, fearful of taking steps into a brave new future.
Believe me when I say that I understand your trepidation. But THE SPINE is a strong project--a great project when you consider that my original impression had been, "Hm. Weak." My only complaint is its shortness. It's approximately a half-hour experience. I'll take it. A half-hour of the Giants is far preferable to an hour of [INSERT ANNOYING BAND NAME HERE]. And it's not like the Johns are sitting on their butts. They've given us a children's album, a children's storybook CD, a free online radio, and much more in the meantime. Add up all those hours. THE SPINE is worth the two-year wait for a "studio release."
I guess there's a fourth type of They Might Be Giants review, for those fans who hated THE SPINE (as compared to the last album you listened to). You've made up your minds. I can't change your VALUABLE opinion. It just makes me sad that you're not going to be tagging along for the ride.
For you newcomers, I don't know if I'd suggest this album right off the bat. I WANT TO, but I won't. In your shoes, I'd first buy DIAL-A-SONG: 20 YEARS OF THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. It's a little more crowd-pleasing, which means it's got the theme from MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE and "Birdhouse in Your Soul." You'll have to work your way up to understand (in an emotional sense) why THE SPINE is the best album yet.
Did I say the "best album yet"? I did. I always end up liking each album better than the previous. I feel as though I'm taking each musical step WITH the Johns (and the Dans), as sad and fan-addict-al as that sounds. I can't imagine a world without these alternative pop-rockers.
I'm not going to bother giving you a play list; you'll get that elsewhere. Nor will I attempt to describe the songs. Most of They Might Be Giants's stuff is up in the air for interpretation. The images inspired before your very ears are your own to tell. The lyrics and accompanying musical feats are how the Giants speak to you--versus speaking to the masses.
If I may add a quick note (hopefully not to be edited by the discerning AMAZON staff), I welcome anyone's emails regarding this album. I want to know what you think, even if you wildly disagree with me. Interpretations of songs are welcome.
Thanks for reading. Every TMBG album begins as a "weak" 2- or 3- star project. I give this one 5 stars. Is it because I've listened to it all week? Am I brainwashed? Maybe. But I've listened to [INSERT THE BAND I'M THINKING OF] almost as much, hoping for a shadow of the Giants, and coming up 3 stars or less. THE SPINE will grow on you. You may as well hit the REPEAT ALL button on your CD player and enjoy the spiraling boost to the stars.
THE SPINE is They Might Be Giants's tenth album. I've been with the band since a little before JOHN HENRY hit the sales racks. Gotta admit: I'm a fan-addict. With shaky hands I would unwrap each new release, drop it in the player, and start grinning even before the first track began. Halfway through the album I'd be nodding, half-smiling, and wondering what in the world was going on here. By the last track, I'd still be nodding, vaguely pleased. The CD would go back into its protective case, and I'd listen to an old favorite: Apollo 18, Flood, Lincoln. Because THOSE were the Giants I fell in love with.
They Might Be Giants is a progressive band--gods of music, in my opinion. They are always producing, always writing, always playing. They love what they do and it shows. They're always pushing the limits, trying new sounds, bending old sounds, crossing genres, and perfecting their art. Call me "fan-addict-al," but TMBG become the music for me. Of course, with such proliferation, they're bound to generate a different sound than the last album. Every album is a hearty step up for these guys.
THE SPINE is no different. No different, although some of you have reasonable complaints that our heroes have "jumped the shark." I believe that you have to give each new Giants release a real chance--3 to 5 listens. Those first couple of times, you--like me--are bound to think, "Hm. A little weak." But each listen builds on the last. The songs grow on you. You will learn to hear the same subtleties of harmony and cleverness that won you over in the 80s and 90s. But don't expect to hear another FLOOD. And APOLLO 18 is still there for you to adore. Why expect this band to rehash the same-ol'-same-ol'? They won't. They shouldn't.
I've probably listened to the album twenty times this week. I can't get tired of it. While some of you (no offense intended) are busy writing emails about how this album sucks, I'm busy learning the lyrics. I'm singing them poorly, wondering how Linnell does that stuff with his voice, wishing I could muster Flansburgh's energy. I tend to think that it's the fans who have faced the shark and turned away, fearful of taking steps into a brave new future.
Believe me when I say that I understand your trepidation. But THE SPINE is a strong project--a great project when you consider that my original impression had been, "Hm. Weak." My only complaint is its shortness. It's approximately a half-hour experience. I'll take it. A half-hour of the Giants is far preferable to an hour of [INSERT ANNOYING BAND NAME HERE]. And it's not like the Johns are sitting on their butts. They've given us a children's album, a children's storybook CD, a free online radio, and much more in the meantime. Add up all those hours. THE SPINE is worth the two-year wait for a "studio release."
I guess there's a fourth type of They Might Be Giants review, for those fans who hated THE SPINE (as compared to the last album you listened to). You've made up your minds. I can't change your VALUABLE opinion. It just makes me sad that you're not going to be tagging along for the ride.
For you newcomers, I don't know if I'd suggest this album right off the bat. I WANT TO, but I won't. In your shoes, I'd first buy DIAL-A-SONG: 20 YEARS OF THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. It's a little more crowd-pleasing, which means it's got the theme from MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE and "Birdhouse in Your Soul." You'll have to work your way up to understand (in an emotional sense) why THE SPINE is the best album yet.
Did I say the "best album yet"? I did. I always end up liking each album better than the previous. I feel as though I'm taking each musical step WITH the Johns (and the Dans), as sad and fan-addict-al as that sounds. I can't imagine a world without these alternative pop-rockers.
I'm not going to bother giving you a play list; you'll get that elsewhere. Nor will I attempt to describe the songs. Most of They Might Be Giants's stuff is up in the air for interpretation. The images inspired before your very ears are your own to tell. The lyrics and accompanying musical feats are how the Giants speak to you--versus speaking to the masses.
If I may add a quick note (hopefully not to be edited by the discerning AMAZON staff), I welcome anyone's emails regarding this album. I want to know what you think, even if you wildly disagree with me. Interpretations of songs are welcome.
Thanks for reading. Every TMBG album begins as a "weak" 2- or 3- star project. I give this one 5 stars. Is it because I've listened to it all week? Am I brainwashed? Maybe. But I've listened to [INSERT THE BAND I'M THINKING OF] almost as much, hoping for a shadow of the Giants, and coming up 3 stars or less. THE SPINE will grow on you. You may as well hit the REPEAT ALL button on your CD player and enjoy the spiraling boost to the stars.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
They Might Be Giants' last rock album, 2001's Mink Car, was a decent but rather disjointed collection of tunes. The Spine, billed as the Brooklyn-based alternative-pop duo's 10th studio album, is their most cohesive to date, and among their best (though not quite as endearing as their self-titled 1986 debut, nor as consistently strong as their 1988 follow-up Lincoln, still my 2 favorite TMBG albums). With 16 songs crammed into 36 minutes, there's scarcely a wasted word or note -- though it kinda makes you *wish* there were more! The disc's overall sound is a fresh, invigorating mix of retro New Wave, power-pop, and psychedelic rock with traces of funk, electronica, jazz, cabaret, and vaudeville. For the most part, the usual playful absurdism and dark humor of TMBG's lyrics are reconciled with a newfound middle-aged gravity; after all, sweet-voiced singer-guitarist John Flansburgh turned 44 and twangy-voiced singer-keyboardist John Linnell turned 45 earlier this year.
A few of these tracks can actually stand among the Johns' very best: Linnell's rollicking ode to alcoholism, "Thunderbird" (a staple in the band's live shows since the late 1990's, finally making its way to CD); his unusually emotional ballad "Museum of Idiots"; Flansy's vulnerable, melancholy closing track, "I Can't Hide From My Mind" (the first verse and chorus of which he originally performed in the 2003 rockumentary Gigantic); and "Memo to Human Resources," Flans' affecting ode to white-collar depression and alienation, originally featured on this spring's Indestructible Object EP. But the remaining tracks are generally worthy additions to the TMBG songbook. Among Flansburgh's other contributions: "The World Before Later On," a mournful little ballad about how the future ain't what it used to be (think a Randy Newman tune with lyrics by Jonathan Richman); "Prevenge," an insanely catchy mid-tempo power-pop number; the punkish "It's Kickin' In," which sounds strikingly like Elvis Costello's late-'70s work with the Attractions; and the Prince-y 30-second interlude "Spines," on which Flans gets to show off his funky side *and* sing like a girl. (Linnell's own 30-second interlude, "Spine," is short and sweet, his goofy vocals recalling Morrissey and XTC.)
Linnell begins the album with "Experimental Film," a witty, power-poppish opener on the order of 1986's "Everything Right Is Wrong Again," 1988's "Ana Ng," and 2001's "Bangs." On the '80s-style New Wave love-gone-wrong song "Broke In Two," he ditches the detached observation of 1988's similarly-themed "They'll Need a Crane," and instead goes the 1st-person, unreliable-narrator route, with amusing results. He also contributes a pair of bouncy, humorous ditties -- "Au Contraire" (featuring virtually the same arrangement as on Indestructible Object, except that squealing guitars now replace the mid-song flute solo) and "Stalk of Wheat" (featuring himself on accordion and Flans on backing vocals). Linnell's lyrics on the swirling psychedelic-pop number "Wearing a Raincoat," a wallow in futility and depression, could be related to Flansburgh's "Memo": Linny's song gets inside the narrator's head ("When you think of that, you hurt your mind, and you'll need a friend to talk you down"), while Flansy's addresses the external situation ("Then the people came to talk me down, and I got some advice...").
Okay, some of these tunes smack of desperation to get away from TMBG's kid-oriented work of the past 2 years, especially "Thunderbird," "Memo", Linnell's "Bastard Wants to Hit Me" (a hilarious, demented little techno ditty in which he may well be poking fun at his fear of dealing with his own fans), and Flansburgh's "Damn Good Times" (a silly, fun '60s-style garage-rock number). But even so, who can blame the Johns for wanting more grown-up fare to counterbalance the NO! songs they've still been playing in concert?
Bottom line: Some songs on this disc are stronger than others, but there's not a skippable track here. Excellent work, boys!
A few of these tracks can actually stand among the Johns' very best: Linnell's rollicking ode to alcoholism, "Thunderbird" (a staple in the band's live shows since the late 1990's, finally making its way to CD); his unusually emotional ballad "Museum of Idiots"; Flansy's vulnerable, melancholy closing track, "I Can't Hide From My Mind" (the first verse and chorus of which he originally performed in the 2003 rockumentary Gigantic); and "Memo to Human Resources," Flans' affecting ode to white-collar depression and alienation, originally featured on this spring's Indestructible Object EP. But the remaining tracks are generally worthy additions to the TMBG songbook. Among Flansburgh's other contributions: "The World Before Later On," a mournful little ballad about how the future ain't what it used to be (think a Randy Newman tune with lyrics by Jonathan Richman); "Prevenge," an insanely catchy mid-tempo power-pop number; the punkish "It's Kickin' In," which sounds strikingly like Elvis Costello's late-'70s work with the Attractions; and the Prince-y 30-second interlude "Spines," on which Flans gets to show off his funky side *and* sing like a girl. (Linnell's own 30-second interlude, "Spine," is short and sweet, his goofy vocals recalling Morrissey and XTC.)
Linnell begins the album with "Experimental Film," a witty, power-poppish opener on the order of 1986's "Everything Right Is Wrong Again," 1988's "Ana Ng," and 2001's "Bangs." On the '80s-style New Wave love-gone-wrong song "Broke In Two," he ditches the detached observation of 1988's similarly-themed "They'll Need a Crane," and instead goes the 1st-person, unreliable-narrator route, with amusing results. He also contributes a pair of bouncy, humorous ditties -- "Au Contraire" (featuring virtually the same arrangement as on Indestructible Object, except that squealing guitars now replace the mid-song flute solo) and "Stalk of Wheat" (featuring himself on accordion and Flans on backing vocals). Linnell's lyrics on the swirling psychedelic-pop number "Wearing a Raincoat," a wallow in futility and depression, could be related to Flansburgh's "Memo": Linny's song gets inside the narrator's head ("When you think of that, you hurt your mind, and you'll need a friend to talk you down"), while Flansy's addresses the external situation ("Then the people came to talk me down, and I got some advice...").
Okay, some of these tunes smack of desperation to get away from TMBG's kid-oriented work of the past 2 years, especially "Thunderbird," "Memo", Linnell's "Bastard Wants to Hit Me" (a hilarious, demented little techno ditty in which he may well be poking fun at his fear of dealing with his own fans), and Flansburgh's "Damn Good Times" (a silly, fun '60s-style garage-rock number). But even so, who can blame the Johns for wanting more grown-up fare to counterbalance the NO! songs they've still been playing in concert?
Bottom line: Some songs on this disc are stronger than others, but there's not a skippable track here. Excellent work, boys!
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Lovely little album.
Experimental Film-- A superb song that just feels *so* much like Them.
Spine-- Short, sweet and cute.
Memo To Human Resources-- Decent song from Indestructible Object EP
Wearing a Raincoat-- strange, wonderful song. Of the class of songs that I feel TMBG wants you to have fun singing (like Hovering Sombrero, House at the Top of the Tree, etc)
Prevenge-- Good, but much more a Mono Puff song than TMBG.
Thunderbird-- Delightful Linnell song. Probably will be one of your favorites.
Bastard Wants To Hit Me-- AMAZING. The first brilliant experimental song by TMBG in years. The other reviewers can't stand it, but I think they're just crazy. Give it a chance, it's so crisp, fun and paranoid. It's not dance music, but it is genius.
The World Before Later On-- Slow, short, solid track.
Museum Of Idiots-- You have to love this rendition. Crisp, beautiful, with horns playing accompaniment. They even seem to use horns for percussion. They've played MoI so many times Live that it must have been easy to perfect it on CD.
It's Kickin' In-- Another Mono Puff sort of song, but is experimental enough to stay in the TMBG realm. Quick, hopping, somewhat psychadelic.
Spines-- Half-minute of odd 'pop' music.
Au Contraire-- One of the best TMBG songs in years. Also on Indestructible Object.
Damm Good Times-- Flansburgh having fun, neat song.
Broke In Two-- Music reminds me a little of custom Weird Al riffs. Not overly impressive, but not bad.
Stalk of Wheat-- They're completely having fun with this one. So cute and playful.
I Can't Hide From My Mind-- Old school Dial-A-Song track, back with a completely different tune and a bit extended. Pleasant, slow and a bit tropical.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
TMBG Rocks Again!
They Might be Giants release a fantastic CD with tons of excellent songs. If you're a TMBG fan and dont own this CD, you should be ashamed. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Bobby Chapman
Hoodoo these guise think they R?
I borrowed this CD from the library out of curiosity and becuase I liked the "cartoon" artwork. I'd heard OF They Might Be Shrimps, but never heard any of their music (AFAIK). Read more
Published on November 11, 2009 by Blackbird Crow Raven
A spine that grows on you
I have been a longtime fan of TMBG, since the "Flood" days, and I've seen the Johns in concert more than any other band. A curmudgeonly older fan, as another reviewer put it. Read more
Published on November 9, 2007 by Brian A. Schar
Another Rich Tapestry
`The Spine' is another wonderfully eclectic offering from TMBG, with rich musical arrangements and extraordinary lyrics. Many tracks seem simultaneously familiar and new. Read more
Published on October 10, 2007 by Grimnebulin
Meta-music
TMBG keep getting better--and even way better. The Spine exceeds my expectations. I fell in love with spines.
I hadn`t listened to any TMBG since "Factory Showroom". Read more
I hadn`t listened to any TMBG since "Factory Showroom". Read more
Published on July 23, 2007 by Ivan Yager
Gonna make you fall in love again.
This was TMBG's 2004 release. It's pretty much what you expect from a TMBG album. Short songs with catchy melodies and absurd lyrics. Read more
Published on March 16, 2006 by Johnny Heering
So much better than these reviews would suggest.
I've been a TMBG fan for a lot of years - about 16 actually, as I was introduced to pieces of their debut and "Lincoln" shortly before buying "Flood" in '89. Listen... Read more
Published on February 24, 2006 by moviejonny
Their lyrics aren't what they used to be
I guess I'm a completist when it comes to a band that I used to love to death. I jumped on board with Flood and caught up on their terrific back catalog. Read more
Published on November 11, 2005 by Lyle Kopnicky
They might be washed up
By just looking at most of the ratings here, it's pretty easy to tell that most of these reviews are from diehard They Might Be Giants fans. Read more
Published on August 12, 2005 by Anthony Rupert
A Decent TMBG album
"The Spine" is just as loveable as any other They Might Be Giants cd. Some are more playful than others, like this one. "Stalk of Wheat" is a particularly fun song to listen to. Read more
Published on June 28, 2005 by Robin Goodfellow
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Music > Alternative Rock
- Music > Children's Music
- Music > Pop
- Music > Rock
Look for Similar Items by Subject
|
