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Track Listings
| 1. Minimum Wage | |||
| 2. Meet James Ensor | |||
| 3. Particle Man | |||
| 4. Don't Let's Start | |||
| 5. She's An Angel | |||
| 6. Cyclops Rock | |||
| 7. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) | |||
| 8. Purple Toupee | |||
| 9. James K. Polk | |||
| 10. Birdhouse In Your Soul | |||
| 11. Ana Ng | |||
| 12. Guitar | |||
| 13. Bangs | |||
| 14. Statue Got Me High | |||
| 15. New York City | |||
| 16. Doctor Worm | |||
| 17. Boss of Me | |||
| 18. Your Racist Friend | |||
| 19. Why Does the Sun Shine? | |||
| 20. They'll Need A Crane | |||
See all 29 tracks on this disc
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
At first glance, it's hard to figure out for whom "A User's Guide to They Might Be Giants" was made. Yes, for longtime fans it's a stroll down memory lane that draws in early favorites ("She's An Angel," "Don't Let's Start," "Ana Ng"), the best from the breakthrough Flood, and songs released closer to the present day. But Giant fanatics already own these songs and more. Moreover, much of their catalog was released less than three years ago on Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants. Yes, the package includes some fun facts about the band (a completeish list of concert dates played, etc.) and features clever UPC code-themed cover art, but it would take a pretty high level of devotion to open one's wallet for that alone. To repeat: who, at this point, needs a users guide to TMBG?
The answer: the kids. It may turn out that the Johns aren't just musical talents, but diabolical marketing geniuses as well. Most bands try to stay in touch with today's youth through wardrobe and behavior, but TMBG has been winning new devotees at an early age via their children's albums, No! and Here Come the ABCs. By now their first wave of child fans should be ready for something a little more grown-up, and A User's Guide stands ready to provide a quick musical sampler of TMBG’s best. Only time will tell if kiddie music is a gateway to ‘90s alterna-pop, but if the gambit is successful we'll surely see Pearl Jam's (Going On) Ten and Liz Phair's Exile In Playdatesville in stores soon. --Leah Weathersby
Product Description
Led by John Flansburgh and John Linnell, They Might Be Giants rose to fame out of NYC's avant-garde performance scene in the 80's. Best known to the masses for "Boss of Me," their high-voltage theme song for the hit sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, TMBG has built a loyal and widespread following with their literate, humor-laced, and irresistibly catchy alt-skewed pop rock. Rhino's new single disc retrospective compilation pulls hits and favorites from throughout their long and prolific career!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The biggest complaint here seems to be that this offers less than the "Dial-A-Song" collection does. Well that's true, but alot of fans don't want or need 52 tracks on 2 discs of They Might Be Giants. So, for the casual fan this is perfect, not to mention that this disc itself includes 29 songs. There's so much here it's insane, most of which is terribly catchy. Songs from movies and TV, songs for kids, alternative and pop songs, and all done very well. I would like another track or two from "Flood", but who can complain when this has "Don't Let's Start", "Ana Ng", "Particle Man", "Birdhouse In Your Soul", and 25 more. If you're looking for your first or only TMBG album, this is obviously it.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This has no new tracks, it is not designed for existing fans of the band, it is for you to make new fans with!!
As that, I think it will do pretty well, considering it has some of everything.
A good introduction to the band, 4/5.
As that, I think it will do pretty well, considering it has some of everything.
A good introduction to the band, 4/5.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I agree with what most of the other reviewers said. It's perfect for a TMBG-newcomer who doesn't want to spend twice the money on Dial-a-Song.
I would like to mention a couple of things about this CD that no one else has said yet, though. If it matters at all, track 19 "Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)" on this album is the original glockenspiel version from the EP of the same name, not the "live" version that's included on the two-disc Dial-a-Song set.
Secondly, it may or may not be worth mentioning that the liner notes are pretty cool. They list "A Fairly Complete List of They Might Be Giants Gigs Since 1985," the date and city of every performance up to October 2004. There's also a "track related timeline" (for example: 1938 - U.S. minimum wage established) a list of every song recorded, and some other neat stuff (No lyrics , though). I realize most people won't buy this just for those ten pages if they already have the songs, but I thought someone should mention it for the sake of...mentioning it.
I would like to mention a couple of things about this CD that no one else has said yet, though. If it matters at all, track 19 "Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)" on this album is the original glockenspiel version from the EP of the same name, not the "live" version that's included on the two-disc Dial-a-Song set.
Secondly, it may or may not be worth mentioning that the liner notes are pretty cool. They list "A Fairly Complete List of They Might Be Giants Gigs Since 1985," the date and city of every performance up to October 2004. There's also a "track related timeline" (for example: 1938 - U.S. minimum wage established) a list of every song recorded, and some other neat stuff (No lyrics , though). I realize most people won't buy this just for those ten pages if they already have the songs, but I thought someone should mention it for the sake of...mentioning it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
I have purchased and received 2 defective copies!
I love the music on this CD! Unfortunately, I cannot enjoy it! I have purchased 2 copies through Amazon, one used, one new. Both copies were defective. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Michael Waterman
too many questionable tracks; could have been so much better
There are not any other comprehensive single-disc TMBG best-of's out there, at least not that I'm aware of (as far as I know, the only single-CD TMBG best-of that has ever existed... Read more
Published 13 months ago by S.W.
Great for an old fan who hasn't listend in years
I used to listen to these guys alot when I was in high school and stopped shortly after John Henry came out. Read more
Published on May 6, 2010 by Lawrence Whittemore
A must-have for TMBG fans
It's fab, it's quirky and really a must-have for anyone interested in one of the silliest, talented bands of all time!
Published on September 19, 2007 by R. Adams
An Excellent Starting Point For Beginning Fans.
As I myself am just getting into They Might Be Giants, a collection such as "A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants" is greatly appreciated. Read more
Published on April 22, 2007 by Anthony Nasti
A Come Lately Fan's Intro to They Might Be Giants
"A User's Guide" is an entertaining and reasonably-priced intro to the fun and sometimes informative music of the Brooklyn-based band They Might Be Giants. Fun for songs like "Dr. Read more
Published on December 27, 2006 by David Zimmerman
What is this?!
I've been a fan of They Might Be Giants since the early 1990's, and I own all of their major releases, plus a couple not so major releases. Read more
Published on July 30, 2006 by William J. Fox
Jittery, high-energy power pop; 80s irony, edgy absurdity
Core TMBG is jittery, very-high-energy power pop, with a healthy dose of innocent 60s British Invasion pop and bubblegum, balanced with lots of 80s irony and edgy absurdity. Read more
Published on March 22, 2006 by Frank Camm
You can get all of theese songs off of "Dial A Aong: 20 Years Of They...
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Published on February 14, 2006 by TMBG Fan
Good for a beginner TMBG fan
Let me start off by saying that I have always known about TMBG, but had never really had any experience with their music. Yes I am an adult... sad, I know. Read more
Published on January 11, 2006 by Sara Mohney
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