Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head - They Might Be Giants, Flansburgh, John
Number Three
Don't Let's Start
Hide Away Folk Family
32 Footsteps
Rabid Child
Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes - They Might Be Giants, Flansburgh, John
(She Was A) Hotel Detective
She's an Angel
Youth Culture Killed My Dog - They Might Be Giants, Flansburgh, John
Boat of Car
Absolutely Bill's Mood
Chess Piece Face
I Hope That I Get Old Before I Die
Alienation's for the Rich
The Day
Rhythm Section Want Ad - They Might Be Giants, Flansburgh, John
We're the Replacements
When It Rains It Snows
The Famous Polka
For Science
The Biggest One
Kiss Me, Son of God [Alternate Version]
Mr. Klaw
Critic Intro [*]
Now That I Have Everything [*]
Mainstream U.S.A. [*]
Fake Out in Buenos Aires [*]
Greek #3 [*]
I Hope That I Get Old Before I Die [Original Version][*]
I'm Def [*]
Don't Let's Start [*][Demo Version]
'85 Radio Special Thank You [*]
Track Listings (35) - Disc #2
Ana Ng
Cowtown
Lie Still, Little Bottle
Purple Toupee
Cage & Aquarium
Where Your Eyes Don't Go
Piece of Dirt
Mr. Me
Pencil Rain
The World's Address
I've Got a Match
Santa's Beard
You'll Miss Me
They'll Need a Crane
Shoehorn With Teeth
Stand on Your Own Head
Snowball in Hell
Kiss Me, Son of God
Hello Radio
It's Not My Birthday
I'll Sink Manhattan
Nightgown of the Sullen Moon
World's Address [Joshua Fried Remix]
Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal
The Lady Is a Tramp - They Might Be Giants, Hart, Lorenz
Birds Fly
Kitten Intro [*]
Weep Day [*]
The Big Big Whoredom [*]
I'm Getting Sentimental over You [Adaptation][*][Version] - They Might Be Giants, Bassman, George
Become a Robot [*]
Which Describes How You're Feeling [*]
Swing Is a Word [*]
Counterfeit Fake [*]
Schoolchildren Singing "Particle Man" [*]
Before they became a successful major-label act, New York smart-guy popsters John Flansburgh and John Linnell started out as a resourceful do-it-yourself duo, recording their wacky ditties at home and making them available... more » to the public via their Dial-A-Song hotline. That playful, resourceful spirit is the order of the day on this 2 CD, 72-song compilation, which incorporates the contents of the early TMBG albums They Might Be Giants, Lincoln, and Miscellaneous T, plus a passel of previously unreleased oddities and some droll liner notes written by the artists. The wildly eclectic yet consistently accessible material (including the early hits "Don't Let's Start" and "Ana Ng") still sounds fresh and inventive, embodying the pair's trademark blend of smarts and silliness. --Scott Schinder« less
Before they became a successful major-label act, New York smart-guy popsters John Flansburgh and John Linnell started out as a resourceful do-it-yourself duo, recording their wacky ditties at home and making them available to the public via their Dial-A-Song hotline. That playful, resourceful spirit is the order of the day on this 2 CD, 72-song compilation, which incorporates the contents of the early TMBG albums They Might Be Giants, Lincoln, and Miscellaneous T, plus a passel of previously unreleased oddities and some droll liner notes written by the artists. The wildly eclectic yet consistently accessible material (including the early hits "Don't Let's Start" and "Ana Ng") still sounds fresh and inventive, embodying the pair's trademark blend of smarts and silliness. --Scott Schinder
"This album contains all of They Might Be Giants' first two albums, the self-titled one (sometimes called "the pink album") and Lincoln, as well as every song on Miscellaneous T (except for the single mix of "Hotel Detective"), and several bonus tracks. While I like almost all TMBG, there is a charm to this early stuff, with its emphasis on synthesizers, drum machines, samples, unusual instruments, and odd lyrics, that the band has never really reproduced. The first album has a haunting sound to many of its songs, and includes such TMBG classics as "Don't Let's Start" and "She's An Angel." Lincoln is my favorite TMBG album, with quite possibly the best running order of any of their albums, and more great songs than you could shake a stick (that big one they use for live performances of "Lie Still, Little Bottle," perhaps?) at. As for the EP B-sides, some of them were obviously B-sides for a reason ("Mr. Klaw," for instance), while others meet and even surpass the quality of album tracks. "It's Not My Birthday," for example, is one of my favorite TMBG songs. As for the previously unreleased tracks that found a home on this collection, well, many of them have a "for completists" only kind of feel to them. That's not to say that they're bad; such tracks as "Weep Day," and "Now That I Have Everything" are good songs, despite their low production value. There's not that much to many of them, though, and, since they're the only things that a person who already owns the pink album, Lincoln, and Miscellaneous T would really get from buying this, that might be a reason not to get it if you already have those albums. If you DON'T have those albums, though, and you're a fan of the band, get this! You'll save money, and have all of it in one handy package."
Comprehensive review of early career is great
John M. Thompson | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 07/01/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you like They Might Be Giants at all, this is well worth the investment as a glance into their storied past before they achieved moderate video airplay with "Birdhouse in Your Soul" from 1990's _Flood_.It's not for everyone, necessarily - lyrics don't get more whimsical than wondering about whether angels congregate on the head of a pin to discuss you in pleasant terms, followed immediately by an aside about their space program. In addition, you can hear them learning about the recording process as the tracks progress; meaning, that if made-by-hand production values do not satisfy your expectations as a consumer, then leave this alone. Bob Clearmountain and Daniel Lanois need not fear for their reputations as engineers in the presence of Johns Linnell and Flansburgh.If you're reading a review for anything by They Might Be Giants, you are probably at peace enough with your inner geek to disregard the cautionary statements listed above. You certainly won't find the first two albums and the unreleased material anywhere else at this price. If you're a novitiate to the wonder of the Giants, start first with their best and most accessible record, _Flood_."
They ARE Giants!
C. S. Bloedorn | 03/27/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Possibly the best CD you have ever bought! While not everyone's cup of tea, TMBG is one of the funniest and smartest bands in existence, and recieve far less attention than they deserve. (of course, if they actually released a new album...) "Then" is a must have collection, even if you own the three albums included on it. I would have gladly handed over twenty dollars for 'Greek #3' and 'Become a robot' the inclusion of For Science, Absolutely Bill's Mood, and track #23 (a recording left on their Dial-A-Song service by a bewildered lady wondering how they make any money) along with all of the other songs (not a dud in this bunch!) make this the best Two CD set with pictures of whales on them that you will ever buy! Other reccomendations: Cake, The Muppets: Unpigged, and your Uncle Pat, all hopped up on happy juice."
Fun! Exciting! Silly silly silly!
C. S. Bloedorn | Catonsville, MD United States | 05/26/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was listening to one of these CDs today and was once again bowled over by how MUCH I love TMBG. This is the definitive early collection (when are they going to do "Now: The Later Years"?) and for those of us who used to listen to them on old copied tapes, this is a VAST improvement. Not to mention the extreme silliness of their lyrics and the amazing musical differences between the songs. The Giants always take musical risks--there's nothing I like better than a guitar and an accordian playing in concert."
Talk about bang for your buck!
J. Wesley Townsend | new york | 01/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This double-disc collection contains nearly everything the band recorded during the 80's, including 2 complete albums (Lincoln and the self-titled album), B-sides, and many more rare unreleased tracks and remixes. For almost any other band, this would be horrible, but for They Might Be Giants it's a different story. The 80's was undoubtedly the most prolific and creative time for the band, and for any fan this is a gold mine of hidden gems and curiousities. For starters, the 2 albums themselves are the 2 best of TMBG's career - and the other tracks are delightful as well. If you're not a fan, this is all you'll ever need by the band, and if you are a fan, you probably have it already. And plus, at 72 tracks, it's quite the bargain if you ask me. This is essential listening for any fan of obscure, quirky rock music."