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Binding: Audio CDEAN: 0081227954024 Format: Original recording remastered Label: Elektra / Wea Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea MPN: 79540 Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Elektra / Wea Release Date: May 03, 2005 Studio: Elektra / Wea Editorial Review: 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 Album 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! Average Rating:
 Rating:  - A must-have for TMBG fansIt's fab, it's quirky and really a must-have for anyone interested in one of the silliest, talented bands of all time! Rating: - 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. Here you have 29 songs recorded over 20+ years by a mere two piece consisting of two guys named John. If you're searching for depthful, poetic and meaningful lyrics, pick up a Dylan cd. They Might Be Giants are built around simple pop songs with clever lyrics that often border on novelty as well as odd but inventive musical techniques. Among the ... Read More Rating:  - 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. Worm" (the story of a would-be rock drummer who's "not a real doctor" but is "an actual worm") and a cover of the classic "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"; and informative for songs like the almost-historically accurate "James K. Polk" and maybe-not-so "Meet James Ensor" (Belgium's famous painter). TMBG offers a science ... Read More Rating:  - 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. I picked this CD up last night having not ever sen or heard anything about it before and thought "Oh yay! New versions of some of my favorite songs". Boy was I wrong. These aren't new versions of old songs, these are old versions of old songs. They are the exact same recordings I already own scattered across several CDs, there is absolutely nothing new here. ... Read More Rating: - Jittery, high-energy power pop; 80s irony, edgy absurdityCore 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. Some great, witty words, too, and often floods of them pouring out. Lots of novelty songs, but not only novelties. Delicious satire. A little can go a long way, though. That said, the more I listen to this one, the more I like the ones new to me.... S: tr 3-Particle man (3-minute description of the universe). tr 5-She's an ... Read More |
