What can I say about these guys. They're amazing! I geek out every time. WHO DIGS?! I first heard Birdhouse In Your Soul about 3 years ago, and was amazing how crazy it was. It's a great interesting song with odd lyrics. The chord structure is odd as well. The Intro itself not diatonic at all has incredible hidden modal interchange starting on the I maj to II min to FLAT III major! IT'S INCREDIBLE TBH! And I fell in love. I even did home recordings of the same song a year later give or take with @andrewskyDE mixing and mastering the beast. I really enjoy there album Flood. but have been expanding more on them everyday. A recent find with very unique harmonies and string counterparts. It's beautiful and the low voice suits it so well. What are some of your favorite TMBG songs?
First learned of the Johns on PostModern MTV, the precursor to 120 minutes around the time of Lincoln, as I rushed out and bought both the pink album and Lincoln. Couple gems: 1. Birdhouse in Your Soul 2. Ana Ng 3. Don't Let's Start 4. They'll Need a Crane 5. She's an Angel 6. Destination Moon 7. Welcome to the Jungle 8. It's Not My Birthday 9. End of the Tour 10. Fingertips 11. Nightgown of the Sullen Moon 12. I've Got a Match 13. Purple Toupee 14. Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head 15. Hey Mr. DJ I Thought You Said We Had a Deal 16. We Want a Rock 17. I Palindrome I 18. Where Your Eyes Don't Go 19. You’re on Fire 20. Narrow Your Eyes 21. Man, It's So Loud in Here 22. I Should Be Allowed to Think 23. Statue Got Me High 24. Subliminal 25. Your Racist Friend *Secret Bonus Track: Minimum Wage
Yeah I dig them. I keep forgetting about them and then rediscovering 'em and thinking "wow just wow". A LOT of flotsam and jetsam to sort though (especially after the first batch of albums) ... and yes they can grate (which they probably enjoy). Still love them. I lived in NYC in the late 80s and was a Dial A Song junkie. I can still remember the sublime experience of hearing a crackly "Birdhouse" for the first time over the phone and dialing back hoping to hear it again. Linnel is a genius. When he is "on" his chord progressions and hooks get lodged in my brain and stay there a while. I might get hit for saying this but I think he has written some of the most inventive pure pop since The Beatles Revolver.
I used to make a band I played in do Twisting In Her Room (I think that's what it was called). I played organ and sang. It was a fun tune.
I think their first album should be placed on Mt Rushmore for sheer melodic/poetic magnificence. Memo to myself Do the dumb things I gotta do TOUCH THE PUPPET'S HEAD
They are so awesome! Well the rain falls down without my help I'm afraid And my lawn gets wet though I've withheld my consent When this grey world crumbles like a cake I'll be hanging from the hope That I'll never see that recipe again As I walk, I think about a new way to walk As I think, I'm using up the time left to think And this train keep rolling off the track Trying to act like something else Trying to go where it's been uninvited It's not my birthday It's not today It's not my birthday, so why do you lunge out at me? When the word comes down, "Never more will be around" Though I'll wish you were there, I was less than we could bear And I'm not the only dust my mother raised So, I'm rattling the bars around this drink tank Discreetly I should pour through the keyhole or evaporate completely But there'd be no percentage, and there'd be no proof And the sound upon the roof is only water And the rain falls down without my help I'm afraid And my lawn gets wet though I've withheld my consent When this grey world crumbles like a cake I'll be hanging from the hope That I'll never see that recipe again It's not my birthday It's not today It's not my birthday, so why do you lunge out at me? When the word comes down, "Never more will be around" Though I'll wish you were there, I was less than we could bear And I'm not the only dust my mother raised I am not the only dust my mother raised Songwriters: John Flansburgh / John Linnell / John C. Flansburgh / John S. Linnell It's Not My Birthday lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
I picked up their first album a few weeks back at a record fair, have only played it once and it didn't instantly grab me.
I'll sink Manhattan Right under the sea I'll find the sweetest spot to watch As it goes away You were so happy With the things that you said Like, "He's my lower half, " you laughed But you're going to cry A river of tiny tears flow from your crocodile eyes Too late to apologize, I say, as flood waters rise I'll sink Manhattan I'll sacrifice friends I think they'd understand my plan I'll never be sure I've got a message So before I get through I'll find your answering machine And I'll sink it first Burn your forget-me-nots Admit that true love can die No, I won't apologize, my love, just kiss me goodbye Songwriters: John Flansburgh / John Linnell / John C. Flansburgh / John S. Linnell I'll Sink Manhattan lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
WHY, YES, I DO DIG THEM . . . although I think J + J packed so excessively many hooks into their first several records that after John Henry, they were running on fumes and never really got the mojo back fully, so I sort of lose interest around there. I am also yet again trotting out my excellent anecdote about seeing them play at like 9:00 am for a library association conference at my local nowheresville Holiday Inn, and here's a pic to prove it:
Loved them since I discovered them around the release of Apollo 18. Got to see them live right when they started playing with a backing band, at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY in September '92 (I still have the DAT recording I made!!) Saw them a few more times since then and they never fail to put on a great, unique show. Their albums have been a little more hit or miss since John Henry (their last truly great album, IMHO), but I still love them lots. I even have all four subscriptions of their Hello Recording Club CDs (40 CD singles!!) The little band that could. From Central Park, July 31, 1993:
See The Constellation: "just a guy made of dots and lines" The Statue Got Me High Can't Keep Johnny Down
