They Might Be Giants

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Brooklyn NY, United States (1982 – present)

They Might Be Giants (often abbreviated to TMBG) is an American alternative/college rock duo consisting of John Linnell (vocals, keyboard, accordion) and John Flansburgh (vocals, guitar). Known for their experimental pop music, they have been popular on college campuses and earned a reputation as “intellectual rock” or “nerd rock” thanks to their music’s unconventional subject matter, which often features allusions to history, science, film, literature, and other artists’ music. Despite being billed as a college rock band they have in recent years expanded greatly from such and now have a wide following among young and old alike. The band has maintained a loyal following since its formation in 1982, enough that fans rushed an online poll and got John Linnell voted one of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People” in 1998. In recent years TMBG have worked on children’s albums and have toured to promote both their children’s albums and their “adult” albums by playing two shows a day.

TMBG began as a band comprising the Johns - school acquaintances from Lincoln, Massachusetts, but did not become good friends until they moved to the same Brooklyn, New York apartment on the same day - and the mysterious third member - a drum machine that allowed them to expand their sound beyond anything they imagined. However, after a bike accident that broke Linnell’s wrist and a robbery that stripped Flansburgh’s apartment of nearly everything, the band was rendered useless. They then began Dial-A-Song, a machine that allowed a caller to listen in on demos and other recordings. Originally just an answering machine, “13” contains a recorded message. The phone line was disconnected in 2006.

Tagged as:

alternative, indie, rock, geek rock, quirky
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Top Tracks

1	Birdhouse in Your Soul full track	1,823
2	Istanbul (Not Constantinople) full track	1,324
3	Particle Man	671
4	Minimum Wage	614
5	Your Racist Friend	596
6	Don't Let's Start	566
7	Ana Ng	559
8	Twisting	530
9	Whistling in the Dark	502
10	Dead	501
11	We Want a Rock	459
12	Someone Keeps Moving My Chair	439
13	Letterbox	401
14	They Might Be Giants	393
15	She's an Angel full track	354

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AnimatedOysters wrote:
Thursday afternoon

There's something about TMBG that is always fresh and original. Nothing quite like them out there.

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chrisperfer wrote:
Wednesday afternoon

You've made my day, now you have to sleep in it.

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halfmike wrote:
Sunday afternoon

seeing them in six days! twitching with anticipation

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imdwalrus05 wrote:
last week

I figure that this is relevant to somebody's interests. In October, Jonathan Coulton and Paul and Storm did the entire "Flood" album by They Might Be Giants live at a Chicago concert. There's a soundboard rip of it on his official forums (http://www.jonathancoulton.com/forums/comments.php?DiscussionID=1305), and it is FANTASTIC.

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postcoitusrock wrote:
17 days ago

tell the moon you've seen the serpent, found the sword and walked among the... treeeeeees

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Dunklekuh81 wrote:
23 days ago

YOU'LL ALWAYS MISS MY BIG OL' BODEH

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valerie2776 wrote:
23 days ago

brush your hand across your false goatee

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xMuffinMuffinx wrote:
26 days ago

MISTER KLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW

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missravenx wrote:
last month

I can hardly wait until their Halloween show!

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xShadowAngelx wrote:
last month

Istanbul Not Constantinople!

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DeadlyFred wrote:
last month

Wow, I'm actually impressed at the Top Tracks, TMBG fans have really good taste :)

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thespinesurfs wrote:
last month

You're all going to be in this experimental film.

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cheacher wrote:
last month

greatst band ... .EVER

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khazdorus wrote:
last month

Blue. Canary. BIRDHOOOOOUSSEEEEEE IN YOUR SOOOOUL!

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mindfreak17 wrote:
last month

Where is the All Night Blowout?

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bupkaplan wrote:
last month

YA. YA. HOO HA Fa ZOP!

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moainateacup wrote:
last month

4 days till I see them LIVE WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

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Ziekerz wrote:
last month

Also I just got that. Hahaha you're funny.

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Ziekerz wrote:
last month

I used to be crazy about Particle Man. Listened to it way too much, got my friends listening to it, and next thing I know I hated it. Just burned out on it. Same thing happened to me with Istanbul and Dr. Worm.

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SuckyMcCrapband wrote:
last month

I disagree. Relatedly, I didn't know Triangle Man could take on the appearance of others, and that while taking on other forms he would use the internet to bash Particle Man. Though I guess it's a natural evolution.

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