They Might Be Giants - Flood

TMBG has always been a great reason for math and computer science majors to add a real rock album to their collection of John Williams and Weird Al records--and Flood is a bacchanalian celebration of dorkiness. Lifting off from their previous album, Lincoln, which was a sort of transitional hit-or-miss, Flood is a soaring, catchy sing-along album destined for people who love quoting Monty Python sketches. Try not singing the words to "Particle Man," "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," or "Birdhouse in your Soul." (Apparently, "Particle Man" was so catchy that the song was later used as a sing-along in a cartoon show for children.) Combining a book-smart, funny love of history, junk culture, and film noir, this is the album to own. Put it on loud, sing along, and dance very, very badly. --Todd Levin Amazon.com essential recording

Brings Generations Together

This album is one of the best ever produced! I originally heard it because my brother played it in my parents' car, but now it is one of the main CDs my kids and I listen to.. My kids all ask for this CD. They are 16, 12, and 6. All of them sing along. I enjoy it because it is so upbeat and it makes you think :-) I also enjoy this album when I drive on long trips. You cannot fall asleep while listening to these fun songs on the car radio.. August 2, 2008

"Why'd they change it I can't say..."

"...People just liked it better that way!"

Regardless if you've ever heard a TMBG album or not, you know these songs can get into your head. Just give a listen to the theme song for Malcolm In The Middle and see if you can get it out of your head. It's dork rock that every certified dork and inner dork will enjoy.

They Might Be Giants is for anybody who loves singing along to the monk chant or the Knights of the Round Table song in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. If you remember Tiny Toons in the 90's, you probably remember Particle Man and Istanbul. It's the celebrated dorkiness, sing-along fun for anybody who loved Raffi as a kid (heck, these guys make songs about the sun! Yes, the sun in the sky, with some science stuff as well), with a blend of stupid, dork, and half serious, half fun topics on songs like Lucky Ball and Chain. Since the album has a variety of styles, here's a short description of what to expect.

*1.Theme From Flood-A short chorus of voices, about nothing. Great open.
*2.Birdhouse in Your Soul-A song about a nightlight, it's catchy beyond belief. Trust me on that one. Great music video as well.
*3.Lucky Ball and Chain-A song about being left. What else?
*4.Istanbul-A bit of a world sound. This one is CATCHY. Sing it loud!
*5.Dead-A vocal based song, totally random. Lyrics about being a bag of grocerys?
*7.Particle Man-See 4. Only without a world sound.
*8.Twisting-Easily could be for kindergardeners. That rules, of course.
*9.We Want A rock-Non serious song number 9, the title says it all.
*10.Someone Keep Moving My Chair-see 9.
*14.Whistling in The Dark-Monty Python indeed.
*17.Sapphire Bullets of Love-This one could go in a cartoon, thanks to that Vibraphone (or at least I think it's one). Good one.

Well, I could go on and on, but the whole album is for those people who know how to have fun and live their life! I'm in! Oh, and for parents who are sick of hearing The Wiggles and Dora the Explorer, you can't make them listen to the Nutcracker forever. They need some pop sensibility!

There's Flood, basically. It's nothing to deep anyway. You only live once.

7.5/10 February 19, 2008

Flood is a placebo masquerading as a simile

Some people are complaining that they don't like it -- and I definitely think Flood is not for everyone -- at least on first hearing. "Flood" was my first TMBG experience, back in 1990, and it oozed into my head as I dozed off in my friend's station wagon, and I don't think I would have had the patience to choose to listen to it if I was fully conscious and had other immediate options. That being said, I think anyone with the slightest bit of quirkyness in their soul will enjoy this delightful pair of musical misfits make one of the best albums to come out that year and possibly the entire decade.


Now excuse me while I groove to "Santa's Beard"...
February 5, 2008

geniuses?

So weird that people keep calling the Johns geniuses. They're certainly smart, and nothing out there could be more clever - for it's level. But it's just silly fun, it's not Shakespeare, it's not even Oscar Wilde. But super fun, it is, indeed! January 22, 2008

Modern classic

Flood was definitely one of the best albums of the early '90s. At a time when a lot of groups were starting to make music that sounded an awful lot a like, They Might Be Giants pioneered a completely unique sound of their own that no one has ever successfully emulated. It's creative, whimsical, and downright fun to listen to. Nearly two decades later, Flood is still one of my favorite albums. June 5, 2007

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