Errors-To: owner-tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Reply-To: tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Sender: owner-tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Precedence: bulk From: owner-tmbg-digest@tmbg.org To: tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Subject: tmbg-list Digest #2-281 tmbg-list Digest, Volume 2, Number 281 Monday, 14 October 1996 Today's Topics: They reference Sandman Re: Sandman Factory Showroom name interp... Don't Lets Start Photo... Re: Don't Lets Start Photo... Re: accordians help and stuff Re: Don't Lets Start Photo... Making yourself like TMBG Re: Making yourself like TMBG GuiterPick Anecdote. FS Review FS Review Re: FS Review My big Five....... Re: Sandman Dammit! I can't fight the urge.. must...give....opinion! Re: Making yourself like TMBG Five favorite songs Tour dates Re: How can I sing... FS reviews and Re: Various things... Re: End of the HCISLAG Re: ==Factory Showroom==> Re: FS reviews and Spiralling whistles FAQ Additions Request HOW TO FIND THE HIDDEN TRACK ON CD!!!!!!!!!!! FS and the answer to the SEXXY single RE: Tour dates Re: Spiralling whistles THE statue got me high sound..... The *other* mini-tour, and more on this JH/FS thing Administrivia: For all administrative issues, such as change of address, withdrawal from the list, etc., send a message to the following address: tmbg-digest-request@tmbg.org --------------------------------------------------------------------- The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Charles Box" Subject: They reference Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 00:31:25 -0700 I did a search on a music store online and it returned this CD in a search of TMBG, with them as "featured performer"... anyone know anything about this? I'm Gonna Love You 'Til I Don't Otis Ball Compact Disc $14.99 s o n g l i s t 1. Dianamal 2. Artists In Day Jobs 3. Walk On Water 4. Love You 'Til I Don't 5. Sweet Charity 6. Hey Buddha 7. Slow Boat To Hoboken 8. Amanda For All Seasons 9. Amy 10. Under A Rock 11. Honesty 12. Dancing In The Rubble 13. Charles Manson's Birthday 14. Abbie & Cynthia Theme 15. Go Barbara Go 16. Hooray For Flowers i n f o r m a t i o n Label: Bar/None Release Date: 1989 Running Time: 47:53 Available Formats: Compact Disc Cassette .......Charles Box ...babble@ix.netcom.com .....'hopelessly fighting the devil futility .........feeling the monster climb deeper inside of me ....feeling him gnawing my heart away hungrily...' ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 04:09:41 -0400 From: Will Nunn Subject: Sandman To any of you who have read Neil Gaiman's Sandman series: In "A Game of You" there is a scene where the radio station announcer says that the last song that was played was "Nightgown of the Sullen Moon" by They Might Be Giants, and that got me to wondering; did Neil choose the song merely because of its usefullness in the scene, or his he a fan? If he is a fan, does anyone know to what extent? If you haven't read the Sandman series, by all means do so. Many people make the assumption that it is just another "comic book", and hence apply a similar sort of stereotyping to those people who describe TMBG as a parody/tounge in cheek band. The Sandman series is one of the most insightful and intellectually stimulating works of literature that I have ever read, and most people who have read it would agree. So check it out some time and expand your horizons. Will ============================================================= Will nunn WPI Chem. Eng. Comp. Sci. "If it wasn't for dissapointment, I wouldn't have any appointments" -TMBG, Snowball in Hell www PAGE: http://www.wpi.edu/~tanis/ ftp: chesspieceface.res.wpi.edu/ ============================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 08:22:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Lawrence P Solomon Subject: Re: Sandman Excerpts from internet.music.tmbg: 13-Oct-96 Sandman by Will Nunn@WPI.EDU > In "A Game of You" there is a scene where the radio station > announcer says that the last song that was played was "Nightgown of the > Sullen Moon" by They Might Be Giants, and that got me to wondering; did Neil > choose the song merely because of its usefullness in the scene, or his he a > fan? If he is a fan, does anyone know to what extent? Although I'm not terribly familiar with this, my roommate does collect them, and was able to find that scene. And I have this to say about it... he must be a fan, because it is most probable that *only* fans even have heard of Nightgown of the Sullen Moon, and also that a non-fan would probably not include a reference to them, let alone one of their more obscure songs. That's my 3 cents. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 08:51:42 -0400 (EDT) From: Lawrence P Solomon Subject: Factory Showroom name interp... I think the theme of the album is commercialism... consider the lyrics of "I Can Hear You," for one. But then there's the more subtle stuff. S-E-X-X-Y seems to be someone putting him/herself on display. Exquisite Dead Guy, rotating in his display case. I don't want to think about what this implies, but I think he's for sale. Spiraling Shape is about something new that people get hooked on, whether it's drugs or just some random product. And The Bells are Ringing is about advertising. Everyone hears the advertising and, well, to paraphrase another song "they can't refuse to do the things it tells them to." And of course, the title implies some sort of display itself. Anything I missed that could fit with this theme? ------------------------------ From: colino@powerup.com.au Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 13:23:13 GMT Subject: Don't Lets Start Photo... Hi there everyone. Just dropping by to see if anyone knows who the man in the picture is in the video of Don't Lets Start is. If anyone could help with this it would be much appreciated. Thanks Colin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 10:08:27 -0400 From: jchaffer@tmbg.org (Jonathan Chaffer) Subject: Re: Don't Lets Start Photo... >Just dropping by to see if anyone knows who the man in the picture is in the >video of Don't Lets Start is. From www.tmbg.com: >Who is "that guy"? > >"That guy" probably has a family or an estate or something and we don't >want to alert them to the fact that we've been using his likeness in case >they'd want to sue us. And from the FAQ: *------------------------------ 15. Whose face is in the video for "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head"? William Allen White. His face was also used for props at TMBG concerts, appears on the CD single of "Don't Let's Start", appears in the "Don't Let's Start" video, and otherwise can be found associated with TMBG. WHITE, William Allen, American writer and journalist: b. Emporia, Kans., Feb. 10, 1868; d. there, Jan. 29, 1944. He grew up in El Dorado, Kans., 60 miles south of Emporia, studied at the University of Kansas (1886-1890) but did not graduate, quitting instead to become business manager of the El Dorado _Republican_; he was editorial manager on the Kansas City _Star_ from 1892 to 1895. In 1895 he bought the Emporia _Gazette_, which he edited and published during the rest of his life; through its columns he became famous throughout the United States as "the sage of Emporia," a genial and warmly human person who epitomized the middle-class Midwest; a Republican and a liberal who endeared himself to all, including those who differed with him, because of his integrity, tolerance, and understanding; a writer of great versatility and appeal. His editorial, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" (Aug. 15, 1896), attacking the People's Party (Populists), attracted nationwide attention and helped the Republicans elect William McKinley to the presidency. His essay, "Mary White," on the death of his daughter, aged 17, in 1921, in a riding accident is considered a classic. For his editorial, "To an Anxious Friend" (July 27, 1922) he received a 1923 Pulitzer Prize. His books include collected short stories and sketches, such as _The Real Issue and Other Stories_ (1896), _The Court of Boyville_ (1899), and _In Our Town_ (1906); novels -- _A Certain Rich Man_ (1909), _The Martial Adventures of Henry and Me_ (1918), and _In the Heart of a Fool_ (1918); a biography of Woodrow Wilson (1924) and two of Calvin Coolidge (1925, 1938); collected newspaper writings -- _The Editor and His People_, selected by Helen O. Mahin (1924) and _Forty Years on Main Street_, compiled by Russell H. Fitzgibbon (1937); and other works such as _Masks in a Pageant_, political sketches (1928), and _The Changing Midwest_ (1939). His autobiography was published in 1946 and reissued in 1951. [Consult Hinshaw, David, _The Man from Kansas_ (New York 1945); Johnson, Walter, ed., _Selected Letters, 1899-1943_ (New York 1947); id., _William Allen White's America_ (New York 1947).] Thanks to John Iacoletti . *------------------------------ -- Jonathan Chaffer Student, University of Michigan http://www.tmbg.org/~jchaffer/ ftp/finger (My Mac): tmbg.reshall.umich.edu "Nate, with my brains and your flexibility, we could rule the world!" --Me ------------------------------ From: "Ariel Shiloh" Subject: Re: accordians Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 10:16:46 -0400 ---------- > From: Dan Studnicky > To: tmbg-list@tmbg.org > Subject: accordians > Date: Saturday, October 12, 1996 8:07 PM > > I have always been interested in the accordian and I was just > wondering if anyone has an accordian, or knows how much accordians cost. > yes, I have an accordian and it cost me about $5000. It is an antique model from the 1950s. Pookie ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 01:25:13 +0000 From: Heather Tinkler Organization: The University of Oklahoma Subject: help and stuff Help! Is there a Mac user out there that can give me a copy of Stuffit Expander? I can't seem to download ANYTHING without this.... On a more TMBG note.. I have a theory on the HCISLAG song... Does anyone know of this guy from the time that Bonanza was on (my grandparents told me this story a long time ago..) but anyways, this guy looked kindof like a girl, and really sang like a girl. Because he was a good singer, he was popular, but at the same time he was often ridiculed because he was kind of feminine, even though it wasn't his fault. I know he was on a Bonanza episode a long time ago..(and no, I don't watch bonanza). I also saw a picture of him at a resteraunt that my grandparents took me to. Anyways, prob. WAY off.. but a theory none the less!!! ideas? Heather "Apostrophe T, need this torture.." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 10:06:18 -0400 From: jchaffer@tmbg.org (Jonathan Chaffer) Subject: Re: Don't Lets Start Photo... >Just dropping by to see if anyone knows who the man in the picture is in the >video of Don't Lets Start is. From the FAQ: *------------------------------ 15. Whose face is in the video for "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head"? William Allen White. His face was also used for props at TMBG concerts, appears on the CD single of "Don't Let's Start", appears in the "Don't Let's Start" video, and otherwise can be found associated with TMBG. WHITE, William Allen, American writer and journalist: b. Emporia, Kans., Feb. 10, 1868; d. there, Jan. 29, 1944. He grew up in El Dorado, Kans., 60 miles south of Emporia, studied at the University of Kansas (1886-1890) but did not graduate, quitting instead to become business manager of the El Dorado _Republican_; he was editorial manager on the Kansas City _Star_ from 1892 to 1895. In 1895 he bought the Emporia _Gazette_, which he edited and published during the rest of his life; through its columns he became famous throughout the United States as "the sage of Emporia," a genial and warmly human person who epitomized the middle-class Midwest; a Republican and a liberal who endeared himself to all, including those who differed with him, because of his integrity, tolerance, and understanding; a writer of great versatility and appeal. His editorial, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" (Aug. 15, 1896), attacking the People's Party (Populists), attracted nationwide attention and helped the Republicans elect William McKinley to the presidency. His essay, "Mary White," on the death of his daughter, aged 17, in 1921, in a riding accident is considered a classic. For his editorial, "To an Anxious Friend" (July 27, 1922) he received a 1923 Pulitzer Prize. His books include collected short stories and sketches, such as _The Real Issue and Other Stories_ (1896), _The Court of Boyville_ (1899), and _In Our Town_ (1906); novels -- _A Certain Rich Man_ (1909), _The Martial Adventures of Henry and Me_ (1918), and _In the Heart of a Fool_ (1918); a biography of Woodrow Wilson (1924) and two of Calvin Coolidge (1925, 1938); collected newspaper writings -- _The Editor and His People_, selected by Helen O. Mahin (1924) and _Forty Years on Main Street_, compiled by Russell H. Fitzgibbon (1937); and other works such as _Masks in a Pageant_, political sketches (1928), and _The Changing Midwest_ (1939). His autobiography was published in 1946 and reissued in 1951. [Consult Hinshaw, David, _The Man from Kansas_ (New York 1945); Johnson, Walter, ed., _Selected Letters, 1899-1943_ (New York 1947); id., _William Allen White's America_ (New York 1947).] Thanks to John Iacoletti . *------------------------------ -- Jonathan Chaffer Student, University of Michigan http://www.tmbg.org/~jchaffer/ ftp/finger (My Mac): tmbg.reshall.umich.edu "Nate, with my brains and your flexibility, we could rule the world!" --Me ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 11:35:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Joshua Hall-Bachner Subject: Making yourself like TMBG Brandon: >I have a feeling >most of you do but you don't want to say it because you feel like you need >to make yourself like TMBG or you feel like you couldn't discredit a band >you've liked for 9 years. This is the most obnoxious, stupid attitude I've seen in a while. Despite what your strange little fantasies speculate, most of the people on this group SAY WHAT THEY MEAN about TMBG. I'm a huge TMBG fan, and I *don't* think they're losing their talent, but I'm also not afraid to say that John Henry was a bad move for the band. I still like it; I just think it wasn't the best choice at the time. Insinuating that everyone really hates the albums but pretends to like them because they have to "support" TMBG is insulting, ridiculous, and it makes me furious. Contrary to your own narrow world view, other people have *different opinions*. I love A18, I think it's one of TMBG's best albums, and not because I want to "support" the band. I was converted to TMBG partially through A18. (And I also don't want any comments about how I'm not a real fan, because I wasn't there when TMBG started and I haven't followed then 9 years, because there's this little problem that I'm not *old enough* to have followed TMBG for that long, okay?) So, if you're unable to accept that, in general, when people state an opinion, they're not lying just to be better accepted, then go away. We don't need you. Evan Chakroff: >I would even go so far as to say that _all_ the songs Apollo 18 sounds >simmilar to all the other songs on Apollo 18. (Wait, weren't some people >complaining about when an album _doesn't_ have a general 'feel' to it?) Yeah. Look at how many people complained that John Henry was too long. What happens when Factory Showroom rolls around? Damned if you do... > One thing about this album, though, is Linnell's songs are way better >than Flansy's. It's not even close. I like Linnel's songs on Their other >albums better anyway(generally), but Linnell makes this album. Yeah, I noticed that. Going through the Linnell songs, I'd rate every one (except the new JKP, which is just average) as above-average. The only Flansburgh song that I'd rate that well is NYC, and he didn't write it. Flans must be channelling all his songwriting talent into Mono Puff, because he really didn't make out too well on this album. BlueDawg: >5. Lincoln (so flame me) > There are a lot of songs here that I don't listen to. Just wanted to say that I was (a) quite surprised, and (b) quite impressed not to see a "chronological style" rating here... /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "The few surviving samurai survey the battlefield. They count the arms, | \--the legs, the heads, and then divide by five." - They Might Be Giants--/ ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Making yourself like TMBG From: superuprecht@juno.com (Ike L. Ruprecht) Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 12:28:45 EDT On Sun, 13 Oct 1996 11:35:46 -0400 (EDT) Joshua Hall-Bachner writes: >Evan Chakroff: > >>I would even go so far as to say that _all_ the songs Apollo 18 sounds >>simmilar to all the other songs on Apollo 18. (Wait, weren't some people >>complaining about when an album _doesn't_ have a general 'feel' to it?) > >Yeah. Look at how many people complained that John Henry was too long. What >happens when Factory Showroom rolls around? Damned if you do... I think the problem with FS is it takes what's wrong with JH (the songs are too long for their own good) and then cuts half of the songs off to make the album too short as far as songs. So many songs on this album would be greatly improved if a minute was trimmed from them. Remember the days when the World's Address J. Fried remix was the longest TMBG song? I miss them. >> One thing about this album, though, is Linnell's songs are way better >>than Flansy's. It's not even close. I like Linnel's songs on Their other >>albums better anyway(generally), but Linnell makes this album. > >Yeah, I noticed that. Going through the Linnell songs, I'd rate every one >(except the new JKP, which is just average) as above-average. The only >Flansburgh song that I'd rate that well is NYC, and he didn't write it. >Flans must be channelling all his songwriting talent into Mono Puff, because >he really didn't make out too well on this album. > I don't think that could be the case since it appears that _all_ the original songs on Unsupervised were written way back when in the days of the Hello Club Demo... When was this, 93, 94? It also appears that NYC was a discarded Mono Puff song, which makes no sense. There's far too much wrong with that song. =========================a spooky man named Ike========================= The Web: http://www.inca.de/user/ruprecht/ The E-mail: Ruprecht@tmbg.org The Annoying Quote: "Madness is all in the mind" =================I wish that I could jump out of my .sig================ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 13:06:12 -0400 From: cyberguy@netheaven.com (Dan Studnicky) Subject: GuiterPick Anecdote. Okay, I've been holding out on you people. A long time ago (around the days of Flood) my dad did a show for They Might Be Giants. My dad is in the lighting buisness. Anyway, somehow, he received a guitar pick. However, I don't know how. Later, he gave me the pick since I listen to the Giants. Let me describe it. It is yellow and on it, it has the letters F-L-A-N-S. We can all safely assume that the meaning of this means Flansburgh. The letters are arranged in an order that resembles the flood logo. Does anyone else have a pick like this? *--------------------------------------------------------------------- Son I am able she said,"Though you scare me". "Watch." said I. "Beloved," I said "Watch me scare you." Though, said she able am I son. TMBG *--------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 13:35:05 -0500 (EST) From: "StatuE (Wayde)" Subject: FS Review The university of michigan paper gave FS 2 1/2 whatevers out of 4. ----->Later! "I've got to let you know ... You're one of my mind!" A little They can do soooo much!!! 5:) -Statue et al ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 13:38:29 -0500 (EST) From: "StatuE (Wayde)" Subject: FS Review The university of michigan paper gave FS 2 1/2 whatevers out of 4. ----->Later! "I've got to let you know ... You're one of my mind!" A little They can do soooo much!!! 5:) -Statue et al ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 12:56:21 +0000 From: Heather Tinkler Organization: The University of Oklahoma Subject: Re: FS Review My University paper gave FS 4 out of 5 stars. -heather ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 14:12:13 -0400 (EDT) From: Nette Subject: My big Five....... Well, since the whole rest of the world is doin' it..... ;) 5. New York City; it's a great "shower song". Easy to pick up on, cute wors & melody, and it's probably one of the few songs out there that will catch on with the rest of the world. 4. Don't Let's Start; nuff said! 3. She Was a Hotel Detective (the version off of Back to Skull); I swear, I can listen to this song for days on end and never get tired of it. Proof positive that dance music does not have to be bad. 2. Istanbul (not Constantinople); this is the song that started it all for me. I can still remember the dance that my friends and I came up with for it (hi Andromeda! hi Jenesta!) back in the eight grade. Just as a note, I'm going to try and get the twirlers at my college to use the Brownsville mix for an indoor routine. 1. She's An Angel; classic TMBG, in lyrics, music, and basic fun value. This is the _shit_. And it never seems to lose its appeal, either. Ok, that's it. But, just as an honorable mention....... Siftin' - great driving music. Until my Head Falls Off - it's just groovy Spiralling Shape - for some reason, I expect to hear "Terriers" after this one. Everything Right is Wrong again - Theme to Ed and his Dead Mother! I Palindrome I and The Sun..... but only the fast, rockin' version! Have fun, kiddies! Nette +++++++++++++++++++++++++A+n+i+m+a+n+i+a+c+s+++++++++++++++++++++++++ "I was unsupervised, I had a real good time. Until I - I hit my head" - John Flansburg "Unsupervised, I Hit My Head" Mono Puff - +++++++++++++++T+h+e+y+++M+i+g+h+t+++B+e+++G+i+a+n+t+s+++++++++++++++ Check out my Web Page!! http://www.trenton.edu/~frost/ Jeanette Frost | frost@tcnj.edu | nette@tmbg.org | frostburg@tmbg.org ++++++++++++++++++++++M+i+x+e+d+++S+i+g+n+a+l+s++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 15:06:35 -0400 (EDT) From: Christian A Wedge Subject: Re: Sandman Excerpts from internet.music.tmbg: 13-Oct-96 Sandman by Will Nunn@WPI.EDU > To any of you who have read Neil Gaiman's Sandman series: > In "A Game of You" there is a scene where the radio station > announcer says that the last song that was played was "Nightgown of the > Sullen Moon" by They Might Be Giants, and that got me to wondering; did Neil > choose the song merely because of its usefullness in the scene, or his he a > fan? If he is a fan, does anyone know to what extent? He is a fan, to the extent that he and Terry Pratchett were singing "Shoehorn With Teeth" while going around New York on their _Good_Omens_ tour. See, I kept the message. :) Excerpts from TMBG: 11-May-96 Re: *I*sh They Might Be Giants by Terry Pratchett@unseen.d >One of the highlights of the first Good Omens tour was Neil and I walking >through New York singing Shoehorn with Teeth. Well, we'd had a good >breakfast. > >And you don't get mugged, either. > >Terry Pratchett HTH -- :) Christian Wedge (Zathyr+@cmu.edu) http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~zathyr "Did I make me up, or make the face till it stuck? I do the best imitation of myself." -Ben Folds Five ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 15:08:47 -0400 (EDT) From: Paul Sebold Subject: Dammit! I can't fight the urge.. must...give....opinion! OK, if we're gonna rate albums and top 5 songs, I'n gonna have to pitch in. TOP5 (I really should update this on my homepage) ** They'll Need a Crane- Excellent, Their second best loveish song. ** The End of The Tour- The redeemer of John Henry. It took me a while to like it, but then I really liked it. ** Birdhouse- TMBG summed up in a song, or as close to possible. ** Spiraling Shape- the prize of FS, by far. I love the way JohnL just kind of spits out the long flowing, "fogging the view... make out a spiraling shape" line. It's just precious. *1* She's an Angel- Don't you dare argue, dammit. :) How anyone cannot love it is beyond me. It's so neat... the way it builds up to the quirky little climaxes, then does it again. notice who sings all of the above. As far as albums: 7.John Henry. I don't need to explain. It's good by other group's standards. That's all. 6.Flood. Ween your friends onto TMBG with this one, then put it away. Break out the good stuff. 5.The Pink One. Contains the single greastest song. Also contains the highest quantity of bad (beign a relative term) TMBG songs. 4.Miscellaneous T. The most clever one by far. A fun ride. 3.Apollo18. Song by song, it doesn't hold up. As a whole, it's as good as any. They just seem to all go great together. 2.Factory Showroom. If it only had more songs. I'll see what I think of it when the newness wears off. 1.Lincoln. It just has the highest average quality of any of their albums. Many good songs, but none are able to stand out because they are surrounded by so many other good songs. Of course, I could change my mind about all of this tomorrow. ********************* ---------------------- ******************************** -This could lead to excellence, or serious injury *They Might Be Giants* Paul Sebold Duke University pjs2@acpub.duke.edu http://husky.northern-hs.ga.k12.md.us/~psebold/extra.html ***************************** -------------------- ************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 15:08:00 -0400 (EDT) From: "Jeff Scanlon, Jr." Subject: Re: Making yourself like TMBG Josh H-B: > was converted to TMBG partially through A18. (And I also don't > want any comments about how I'm not a real fan, because I wasn't > there when TMBG started and I haven't followed then 9 years, > because there's this little What is a real fan? I don't think its the type of thing anyone can define (nor do I wish to start a thread here, or maybe I missed a "define real fan thread" already) but there should not be any pre-requisites for being termed a "real fan". Just anyone who likes the band, no matter when born, no matter when hooked.... I do see fans of TMBG to different degress, like the real die-hard ones have all the bootleg and all the albums and singles and are on the list.. but they are no less a real fan than one who only has Flood and one other album (as long as they listen to them occasionally) > Yeah. Look at how many people complained that John Henry was too > long. What happens when Factory Showroom rolls around? Damned if > you do... Its this nasty little thing called "expectation". Everyone wants something from the band, and when they don't get it, they're disappointed. Before I joined this list, I had all the albums (except FS of course) but had never given thought to how many tracks they have. Maybe its because I listen to tapes extensively, or because its just not the thing that matters to me. Someone mentioned that FS had 13 tracks, which was fewer than the other albums... THEN I looked at the older albums and agreed. My point is, we shouldn't be overly critical of the band. Can't they do what they want? (Though I also agree that it sucks if the _record label_ enforced the 13 track thing, instead of it being a Giants' decision) Its also a given that one cannot satisfy all the people all of the time. Some people are just a little more willing to let TMBG do what they want, and then judge them based not on comparison. And one more thing: Its OKAY to follow the mainstream, as long as you believe in it, and aren't doing so because everyone else is doing it. The non-mainstream is becoming its own mainstream because everyone doesn't want to follow the mainstream. ------------------------------ From: bartush@calweb.com Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 01:19:02 -0700 Subject: Five favorite songs OK, these are my five favorite TMBG songs as of 12:59pm PST, 10/13/96: (in no particular order) It's Not My Birthday They'll Need A Crane She's An Angel Dead Absolutely Bill's Mood I just noticed that all of these songs are off the first three albums. Does that mean they are superior to the subsequent albums? In my OPINION, yes. (My apologies to all those who think A18 is the best thing since sliced bread...it just happens to be my least favorite album.) By the way, is there anyone else out there who notices a similarity between Spiralling Shape and The Statue Got Me High? To me it seems as though SS is almost a sequel, musically and lyrically, to TSGMH. I know I'm far too literal, but Statue, to me, is a song about drugs, as is SS. And there is a point in the chorus of Spiralling Shape where I always want to sing a line from Statue. Is this just ME? And finally, in response to whomever noted a Bach influence in some of Their songs...I always get that impression in Spiralling Shape (the chorus), and Everything Right is Wrong Again (toward the end). It's that almost harpsichord-sounding fast synth sound. Matt in Sacramento "I am not your broom, I am not your broom! I've had enough, I'm throwing off my chains of servitude!" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 16:30:49 +0000 From: John Emmons Subject: Tour dates If there any word yet on tour dates for the world-wide tour that starts in November? Thanks, Marcella ------------------------------ From: Matthew Coon Subject: Re: How can I sing... Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 16:27:08 -0500 (EST) > > Hmmm... I noticed something interesting at the end of How Can I Sing > Like a Girl... There's a strange vocal part during the fade out and I > can't tell what it's saying. I think it's being sung by Linnell, and > progresses from a high note downward... > > Anyone know what this is? > It is the word "how" (repeated 2X). m@t ------------------------------ From: KdsInThHal@aol.com Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 17:39:41 -0400 Subject: FS reviews and Re: Various things... Can we stop reviewing FS already?? Jeez, I've been skimming through the reviews, because I can see some people write 2 paragraphs about a song just to prove a) I like it or b) It sucks. Then, I see someone responded, and quoted *everything*, only to say a) I agree or b) I disagree. Ugh! It's getting pretty annoying, IMHO. >Someone a few days ago mentioned a whistle at about 3:20 in >Spiral(l)ing Shape. I heard it, too, and it makes no sense >really... but when you consider some of the other things in >Their songs, it's not that unusual What??? after reading that, I tried and tried, and didn't hear *any* whistle whatsoever! What are you talking about? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying..what the *hell* are you talking about??? ~a confused sarah :) http://members.aol.com/kdsinthhal/site.html "Then he giggled in French; that's what he did." - Moxy Fruvous ------------------------------ From: Matthew Coon Subject: Re: End of the HCISLAG Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 16:41:49 -0500 (EST) > Sarah Cooke writes: > > HCISLAG is a cool song in my opinion; does anyone else think that the > fade-out at the end of the song, with John L harmonizing, is the best part? > I love it so much, and I wish he did it throughout the whole song. > > If you mean the part after the key change when they start repeating "HCISLAG...," he does do it on every chorus throughout the song (second line of chorus only). If you mean the third vocal part that is added on the very last two lines of the fade-out, I have to disagree. It's an interesting variation to carry the song out, but it wouldn't work well repeated throughout. m@t ------------------------------ From: Matthew Coon Subject: Re: ==Factory Showroom==> Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 17:13:40 -0500 (EST) Someone writes [Re: FS]: > Easily better than John Henry; I'd have to say it's at > least as good as or better than Pink and Flood. Are you delusional?!? This album sucks! You probably wouldn't even like it if it weren't TMBG! > And if anyone writes to me saying that (a) I'm delusional, > (b) that I only like the album > because it's TMBG and not because it's good, or (c) the album sucks > without actually giving a reason, be forewarned that I will > mercilessly flame their ass to the ground. :) > Oh, well, never mind then... > (At the 9/23 Charlottesville show, Flans said basically > "the reason we have a lead guitarist now is because we have now a song > that has three guitar solos." > Hmm, he seems to be confusing cause with effect... > 6. New York City > Really, really, really good. They take an insanely catchy number and > add just the right amount of power pop and that TMBG irreverance ("The > Empire State where Dylan lived") It's more like that Flansburgh inability to figure out the words to cub songs. > 7. Your Own Worst Enemy > It's kinda flat, but not bad. The cheezy drum sounds, far from > detracting from the track, actually add to the mood. The lyrics are > good (a morose version of My Evil Twin). > The electronic percussion sounds are the best part of the song. (and I still don't like the lyrics, overall). > 8. XTC Vs. Adam Ant > It's really sad that when one of my two favorite bands writes a song about > the other, that this is the best they can come up with. > Yeah, you'd expect more from a song about Adam and the Ants... > 10. James K. Polk > About tied with the other version. In other words, good. The singing > saw takes some getting used to, but it's pretty good. > I like the saw, it's just the fact that it's constantly too sharp that bugs me. [On an unrelated (but too sharp as well) note, listen to "Monday, Monday," by The Mamas and the Papas. It starts out with some a capella vocals, but then they are joined by an instrumental track that is approximately a quarter-step sharper! Kind of jarring.] > > 12. I Can Hear You > Should have been a B-side. Sounds like shit. Yes, I know that's the > point, but after the novelty wears off it's just a spot on the album. > If the song was good, all I'd be asking for was a B-side studio > version of it, but the song itself is probably the least substantial > thing TMBG have ever written. It would be more forgivable on a 22 song > album. > Wow, I don't think I could possibly disagree more strenuously or more entirely. m@t ------------------------------ From: Matthew Coon Subject: Re: FS reviews and Spiralling whistles Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 19:02:48 -0500 (EST) Sarah writes: > > Can we stop reviewing FS already?? Why? Discussion of TMBG's music is one of the more appropriate things that could show up on this list, as well as being a pretty predictable item after a major TMBG record release. > Jeez, I've been skimming through the > reviews, because I can see some people write 2 paragraphs about a song just > to prove a) I like it or b) It sucks. Then, I see someone responded, and > quoted *everything*, only to say a) I agree or b) I disagree. Ugh! It's > getting pretty annoying, IMHO. > Yes. More annoying than threads that won't die are replies with pointless, lengthy quotations that only server as carriers for "me too" messages. Even more annoying than those, however, are messages of the form: "Please stop discussing XXX because it annoys me," from people who don't seem to grasp the fact that they don't have to READ messages about XXX. If the majority of messages on a list concern a topic which annoys you, that may mean that you are simply in the minority. This list belongs exclusively to none of us, and we all have a right to discuss TMBG- related topics which interest us. If you don't like one of those topics, just ignore it; it will pass eventually. For instance, I'm not terribly interested in the annual review of everyone's top five/most favorite/least favorite songs/albums, nor in which TMBG album people first heard, nor in what other bands people think TMBG fans should like, e.g., and so I don't read those messages (usually). I hold on, because I know that eventually a topic will come around which is actually about TMBG and their music, and I'm always happy to see those. > >Someone a few days ago mentioned a whistle at about 3:20 in > >Spiral(l)ing Shape. I heard it, too... > > What??? after reading that, I tried and tried, and didn't hear *any* whistle > whatsoever! What are you talking about? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just > saying..what the *hell* are you talking about??? > A better description of the sound may be "siren," rather than whistle, as it sounds like an ambulance siren. If you have your hi-fi arranged for good stereo imaging, the effect is actually rather startling. (If you still can't find it, it comes in when Flans echoes "Spiral in their eyes...") m@t ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 20:13:22 -0400 (EDT) From: Joshua Hall-Bachner Subject: FAQ Additions Request Hideho! I would like to motion that the following topics be added to the They Might Be Giants FAQ regarding Factory Showroom and various other things that have been going on recently: - Is there really a hidden track on FS? How can I find it? - What is "falderal"? - Why are there no lyrics included in FS? - Isn't "spiraling" an incorrect spelling? - Why is there a remake of "James K. Polk" on FS? - What's with "I Can Hear You"? How was it recorded? - Is S-E-X-X-Y about people with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome? - Where did the phrase "raise my freak flag" originate? - What are all those places mentioned in "New York City"? - Who is "the guy with the messed-up face" in "Your Own Worst Enemy"? - Who are "XTC" and "Adam Ant"? - I heard a song in concert that They wrote but isn't on any album. What is it? Yes, I do realize that that's a lot of topics, but every one of these topics has been brought up several times already on both the mailing list and the newsgroup, and thus I feel that all should be inserted into the FAQ. If needs be, I'll attempt to gather the answers to each question and forward them to John Relph for inclusion. Some (like questions 3-5) are sort of borderline and could be left out easily, but most of those have already been discussed so much already that they really deserve to be in the FAQ. Any comments? (reasons why they shouldn't be, suggestions of other topics that should go in the FAQ as well, etc.) /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "The few surviving samurai survey the battlefield. They count the arms, | \--the legs, the heads, and then divide by five." - They Might Be Giants--/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 20:01:21 -0500 From: "//R@sCaL\\\\" Subject: HOW TO FIND THE HIDDEN TRACK ON CD!!!!!!!!!!! //R@sCaL\\ says: to find the hidden track just play the CD player and press the << button not the |<< button and watch as the seconds go into negative #s it starts @ about -1:10 I think...... the 5 coolest TMBG songs: 5: She's an Angel 4: StompBox 3: Ana Ng 2: Whistling in the Dark 1: Fingertips or something like that ask me agian & I'll tell you a diffrent answer but for now its cool enuff for me: "Thoughts fall from my Thoughts" ------------------------------ From: "Anthony F. Portizo" Subject: FS and the answer to the SEXXY single Date: Sun, 13 Oct 96 21:28:40 EDT Hey all, I absoutely love FS, I think it totally rocks....well I know people of heard enough reviews already, but let me just say that I work in Musicland which is part of the lovely Sam Goody family, and the cool part is that we played FS all weekend on our instore play.....YIPPEE....I know I was excited, it just shows that even big corp. stores like mine can be cool sometimes. And besides we were blastin it so people couldn't help but listen and I think it helped cause people were very interested in the songs and wanted to see the album....LAST NOTE ACCORDING TO MY SOURCES THE SEXXY SINGLE WILL BE OUT THIS TUE. OCT. 15 AND WILL BE ON A CD 5 FORMAT AS WELL AS A CASSETTE SINGLE....that is all.... later ant... -- ------------------------------ From: Kate Subject: RE: Tour dates Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 21:24:12 -0400 If there any word yet on tour dates for the world-wide tour that starts in November? Thanks, Marcella yeah, nov 8th at roseland, nyc. i'm going :) kate ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 22:05:55 -0400 (EDT) From: Eric Webber Subject: Re: Spiralling whistles On Sun, 13 Oct 1996, Matthew Coon wrote:> > > > >Someone a few days ago mentioned a whistle at about 3:20 in > > >Spiral(l)ing Shape. I heard it, too... > > > > What??? after reading that, I tried and tried, and didn't hear *any* whistle > > whatsoever! What are you talking about? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just > > saying..what the *hell* are you talking about??? > > > > A better description of the sound may be "siren," rather than whistle, > as it sounds like an ambulance siren. If you have your hi-fi arranged > for good stereo imaging, the effect is actually rather startling. > > (If you still can't find it, it comes in when Flans echoes "Spiral in > their eyes...") > > > m@t > > The siren song is not what they meant when they were talking about a whistle. The siren sound is around 3:05 or so wait until you're closer to 3:20 then listen close. There is an actual, really short whistle, the kind someone makes with their mouth. It's around when Lin starts singing the "fogging the view" part again. Listen close! Take it easy, Wubba *------------------------------------------------------------------ |Eric Webber- | "We intend to offend and alarm | |erwst9+@pitt.edu | and annoy" -The Penis Wolves | |wubba@tmbg.org | "Maturity is a high price to pay| |http://www.pitt.edu/~erwst9 | for growing up" -Tom Stoppard| *------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ From: Jordan1c@aol.com Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 23:07:36 -0400 Subject: THE statue got me high sound..... since were talking about the little whistle in the spiraling shape,i thought id mention a similar "hidden" sound. in the statue got me high,there is a "HEY!" in the backround. ill tell you when... in the 2nd "statue got me hiiiigh" part of the song, the first one before "the truth is where the sculpters chisel..." during the "hiiiiiiiigh"you hear "HEY!". more specifico "the statue got me hiiiiiiiiiiigh(HEY!)!!!!! the satue got me hiiiiigh the truth is where the sculpters chisel chipped away the lie" listen for it. its interisting. hey!! ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 23:27:16 -0400 (EDT) From: Joshua Hall-Bachner Subject: The *other* mini-tour, and more on this JH/FS thing First off, a question. Back near the end of 1993, TMBG were touring in support of WDTSS, and were already beginning to play some songs from John Henry, which was not destined to be released for at least another six months (sorry, I sort of lost touch with the TMBG world for about a year in there somewhere...) Anyway, I went to the 12/17 concert and I recall them playing Spy, O Do Not Forsake Me, and Extra Savoir-Faire. The thing that's notable, though: I also recall some sort of mention of a song called "I Have Learnt The Value of Human Sacrifice." I never heard anything else about this song, and promptly forgot about it, until people first started discussing the new songs played at the Mercury Lounge this April, when someone else mentioned the existence of just such a song. Anyway, I've been wondering of late...does anyone out there have a recording (or even a memory) of this song being played at any TMBG show, ever? Or, for that matter, of any other new songs played during the WDTSS tour which didn't make it to JH? Just curious. /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "The few surviving samurai survey the battlefield. They count the arms, | \--the legs, the heads, and then divide by five." - They Might Be Giants--/ ------------------------------ End of tmbg-list Digest #2-281 ******************************