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From: theneedledrop
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  • I am a fan of You Probably Get That A Lot, The Lady and the Tiger, and When Will You Die, mostly for the lyrics.

    Definitely not their best album. Apollo 18 is my favorite.

  • I agree with your review. I love Canajahorie and a few other songs though. I'm enjoying their new rarities compilation, "Album Raises New and Troubling Questions." It definitely fills the void for their crazier songs and sounds that Join Us was lacking. Maybe you should review it?

  • How tall are you?

  • TMBG is my favourite band! I saw them live in 1994. good review!

  • Well the carrot at the end says something positive about his night vision.

  • This album is thousands of times better than The Spine.

  • Review Cleric - Regressions!

  • I agree with everything you've said, though I think 5 is a bit low. The songs are catchy and quirky enough to be generally likable. There are some throwaway tracks, and certainly, there aren't any songs on it that are trumping songs like "Dead" or "Road to Berlin" - but I don't expect such masterpieces to be trumped. But it's not a bad album, it's enjoyable and something you'll keep most of the tracks on

    It's problem? I think it's a little too clean sounding, to be honest. Add some grit, TMBG!

  • As a huge TMBG fan, I'd give it a 7/10, totally agreed on the sound. It might be their dullest record overall, and it's one of the only of their albums I have deleted tracks from. That said "Canajahorie" is a brilliant almost throwback to their best work, and "Can't Keep Johnny Down" is one of their better pop songs. In general I think the album has its highs and lows, but it's easily one of my least favorite from them.

  • I agree with everything you said accept on the production and the maturity. It sounds like there really clean but there lyrics are just as immature as ever.

  • I love your spirit, bro. The beginning of this vid contains some nice sentiment. (within minute 1)

  • Did everyone hear of this band from the MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE tv show?

    That's how I was introduced to them.

  • Oh my god, this guy has no idea what he's talking about.... He obviously has the completely wrong idea about TMBG and shouldn't be allowed to listen to them after this horrible review.

  • In my experience, I have to listen to EVERY TMBG album several times before it really grows on me. But they all DO grow on me, and I end up loving them! This one, I feel, will be no exception. Flood is still my fave!

  • The first time I heard the 'Join Us' EP in May, really thought it was great, but the I really didn't enjoy the full album the first time I listened to it. Now, after a few weeks of listening to it, I absolutely love it. They Might Be Giants are one of those bands that you just have to let grow on you. I would've also given it a 5 or 6 after only hearing it once or twice, but now that I've been listening to it for a while, I'd give it an 8 or 9.

  • that was the coolest carrot bite I've ever seen

  • Factory Showroom owns

  • I agree that it sounds kind of somewhat "thinner" than some of their better stuff, but I really liked it anyway. Basically, I loved every track except Can't Keep Johnny Down. They're just too catchy, mang.

  • I think it's their best album since Factory Showroom. But hey... None of their albums can be as bad as Apollo 18 (I know, I know.... I just can not stand Fingertips)

  • Their best album since Flood. Been a fan since their first.

  • I like this album a lot; I think it's the best thing the Johns have done since John Henry. The lyrics are among the best they've ever penned, and the songs are solid and enjoyable. Not much to skip over here. I do, however, agree with you about the sound. I'm not sure what it is, but it sounds "thin." It may just have been the way it was recorded.

  • Huge TMBG fan here. I really liked Join Us. It sounds to me like a return to the form of the first four albums. The songs are more freeform and whimsical than the standard pop songs on The Else. My favorite tracks were Canajoharie, Cloisonne, Celebration, When Will You Die, and The Lady and the Tiger.

  • yer dumb

  • Like this

  • Ofcourse i know who they might be giants are, one of their songs are the malcolm in the middle theme song.

  • Review tech n9ne's all 6's and 7's

  • Personally I feel other reviewers are praising this album way to much. It was refreshing to see your point of view. personally this album deserves a high 6 or a low 7. And second of all, I am glad you showed appreciation for The Else and The Spine. I grew up with the Spine as a kid so I hated when die hard TMBG fans called it the worst album of theirs when in actuality it is one of their albums that has the most voice than probably any other of their albums (not the best but still distinct).

  • I felt like more than anything it had a retrospective feel to the CD with each song sounding like it could have belong on one of their earlier efforts. It did take me more than one listen but I got all the dust off!

  • Were you drinking out of a mason jar?

  • I absolutely love this band. Sadly I've only heard two songs so far. Old Pine Box was fantastic.

  • I was introduced to They Might Be Giants during my freshman year of high school when my physical science teacher pulled up a youtube video for the song "Why Does the Sun Shine" and then made us memorize it. Good times.

  • I LOVE YOU

  • how about Holy Ghost s/t

  • Review 'Heritage' by Opeth when it's released September 19th!

  • Why was he drinking a jarate at the start?

  • @KingChiliPepper Better drink my own piss

  • @KingChiliPepper  LOL - I was thinking the same thing !!

  • 4:08

  • they should tour with the aquabats, then everyone could kids again!

  • I like that carrot thing you did there.

  • My copy of Zomby - Dedication arrived. Don't need a review anymore!

  • REVIEW WAX- SCRUBLIFE!!!!!!!!

  • I might be the only one who noticed the New Orleans Saints shirt. WHO DAT

  • Review Powder! Go Away - Laika Still Wants go Home

  • damn i wanna punch this guy in his face so bad,... dont get me wrong hes cool as fuck with good reviews just his face makes me want to punch him idk maybe im crazy.

  • Trophy scars-never born, never dead!

    <3

  • I'm curious if you buy the hype. They sound like a million and one other throwback hardcore bands to me.

  • Review the Cerebral Ballzy LP. 

  • Most ofTMBG's music reminds me of 90s rock you hear in the 90s at a mall, but there's something enjoyable about that. Although there's a particular time for this music, Join Us is a pretty ok record.

    Can't wait to see your Little Dragon review :-) By the way, you're awsome Anthony.

  • please review John Maus - We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourslelves

    you will love it anthony!!!

  • @jbarajas0490

    spelt ourselves wrong

  • @jbarajas0490 Actually, he did an audio review on TND.com, check it out :-) Love that album too.

  • Please Mastodon!!!!!!! I BEG OF YOU!!!!

  • The first time I finished listening to Join Us, I started back at the top and went through the track list once more. Some of the songs wore thin extremely fast (Walk the Dog, Judy is Your Viet Nam), but I am still extremely pleased with this album. I was sad to hear you say you didn't like Flansburgh's raindrop voice, Cloisonné is my favorite song from the album along with You Don't Like Me and When Will You Die.

    Haven't been too thrilled with anything else released in 2011 except for Join Us.

  • You should make a Q&A video.

  • Wu-Tang - Legendary Weapons

    Please Review

  • Vomit - Girls!

  • CHILDREN OF NOVA - COMPLEXITY OF LIGHT

  • MAKE A Q & A VIDEO

    MAKE A Q & A VIDEO

    MAKE A Q & A VIDEO

  • LE BUTCHERETTES - SIN SIN SIN!!!!!!!

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX­XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  • You must review "Black Tongue" by Mastodon, OR BRANN WILL RAIN DOWN YOUR THROAT WITH HOT ACID AND DISSOLVE YOUR TESTICLES AND TURN YOUR GUTS INTO SNAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Anthony, I think one of the best albums is begging to be reviewed.

    Prologue by The Milk Carton Kids, to be exact. It's a free download at their website.

  • The Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction

    Or the album Ghost, since they both come together

    DO IT PLEASE AND THANK YOU :D

  • every time i think of "they might be giants," i always think of the malcom in the middle intro

  • May you review the Lana Del Rey song "Video Games"?

  • In some ways Join Us is taking a long time to sink in for me which has always been a good thing in my mind when it comes to TMBG albums. First favorites for me were Let Your Hair Hang Down and CanajoHarie, but I'm leaning towards When Will You Die becoming the defining song of this album. Also, I'm very fond of You Don't Like Me. Others are still sort of trying to make their way into my brain. Flood is my favorite TMBG album, but I hope they make another John Henry style album.

  • Comment removed

  • Jay Rock - Follow Me Home

  • Please make a "Children of Nova - The Complexity of Light" Review (I know its from 2009 but they need more recognition !!!)

  • dude, i was looking for your review of maritime's newest album "human hearts"....and to my surprise...you didn't review it! this took me by surprise, i really thought you'd have done this one. anyway...please review it. it would be so much awesomeness!

  • hoodie allen - leap year

  • new mastodon song. It kicks arse.

  • I actually think that the production behind 'Join Us' is extremely clean, and I think tracks such as Cloisonne and Never Knew Love can easily prove this. Also, I feel that after nearly four years of releasing children's albums and then releasing 'Join Us' is a huge accomplishment for the band, reaffirming their fans that after all this time they can still make records like 'John Henry', 'Apollo 18' and 'Lincoln'. Good review overall, Anthony. I probably would have given it an 8 or 9, though. :)

  • Review Machinegun "Rooms"

    

  • Please review the new little dragon album! (ritual union!)

  • ras g - down 2 earth.

  • Review Minsk - The Ritual Fires of Abandonment

  • You might be giant. :)

  • Please review the new How To Dress Well EP!! i know you weren't exactly the biggest fan of Love Remains......... but the new EP isn't absurdly lo-fi!

  • @theneedledrop can you review Big Sean's "Finally Famous" ? ?

  • CHIDDY BANG PEANUT BUTTER AND SWELLY

  • WHERE IS CALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL???????????­?????

  • I'd put Passion Pit as the nerdiest. At least in terms of looks

  • Comment removed

  • new drums song money?

  • carrot for the win!!!

  • Correction: * you're

  • I'm sure your aware the Wu Tang Clan released a new album titled Legendary Weapons. I'm sure myself and many others would appreciate it if you reviewed this album.

  • Earl by Earl Sweatshirt

  • WAX SCRUBLIFE

  • Please review the new Mastodon song "Black Tongue"!

  • Gotta say I dig some of their older songs, and the band is a solid band, with great musicians, and a good taste for gear. Worked with them on The Spine album(i assisted the engineer the whole album and for the Daily Show theme), and they seemed coked out a lot, and were just a bunch of douches. Especially Flansburgh and their head engineer Pat. It's too bad, because i like the style. I'd rather listen to Hank Green. Seems like a good dude.

  • @musicfuelzgood what exactly did they (and flansburgh) do that made you feel that way?

  • Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

  • Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

  • Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

  • So will we be getting reviews for the new Cormorant LP and Cenotes EP by Giant Squid when they come out?

  • REVIEW St. Vincent - Surgeon!

  • No homo but I love u

  • You should review Long Arm - The Branches.

  • I didn't think you'd like They Might Be Giants! That's really cool to hear at least.

  • @ChaosWolf159 Lil Wane

  • Bomb the music industry's new albuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmm­m

  • I agree, this album was OK but not their best.

  • Been with the Johns since FLOOD. I've seen them over a dozen times (never a dull moment at a TMBG show, btw), and my kids love 123s, ABCs, and Science, but I'm really on the fence with this new one. There's not a track that I've immediately connected with. Even their weakest (IMHO) effort, '96's Factory Showroom, had Exquisite Dead Guy and Spiraling Shape, two of my all time faves. Definitely MEH on Join Us. Hope it grows on me.

    Oh, and Linnell>Flans. By a ton.

  • I think Anthony is a vegan. o:

  • Here are some 2011 albums to check out,

    Givers - In Light, Is Tropical - Native To, X-Wife - Infectious Affectional, and zxz just dropped the album Paris on his Bandcamp.

  • Perfect review, Anthony!

  • Review the new Noel Gallagher single!

  • crush, crush ep?

  • I agree that the sound is kind of thin and simplistic, but I don't mind it - to me it actually feels like their first few albums might if they were recorded today. It doesn't sound great, but the production has never been what stands out to me about their music. It's always been the hooks and the lyrics, and I think the ones on this album are more or less as good as ever. The only thing that's missing is a sad song, because their sad songs are the best. I like this album a lot though.

  • Anthony, I have always liked this band but have never been able to get into the more kid stuff without it being in the context of Animaniacs, Coraline etc. I love their sound and would like to know which album would be a good place to start. I love their arrangements, whimsical melodies, and John's voice. They remind me a lot of Jellyfish's Spilt Milk record and would love to have more stuff like that. What do you recommend?

  • Sesame Street Rock

  • BIg ups for the carrot love! mmmmm

  • Review Baby Baby- Money

  • Thrice 'Yellow Belly' Track Review!

  • LOVE THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS!!!!!

  • I HAD FUN ONCE AND IT WAS AWFUL

  • How about Fountains of Wayne- Sky Full of Holes

  • *shels - Plains of the Purple Buffalo, pleeeease!

  • Anthony, please review the new Steven Wilson album when it drops in September, it's very very ambitious and I think you and your audience should really be a part of its release! gracefordrowning. com

  • I don't know if you review albums that have already passed months ago but I feel that not having a review of 'NOIR" by Blue Sky Black Death and "Lifeboats & Follies" by Tommy Guerrero makes two glaring gaps in your lineup of reviews.

  • Do you own a glass? Or only have jars?

  • New Hoodie Allen album drops tomorrow! Review idea???

  • Last Summer - Eleanor Friedberger

    thumbs up if agree. (< sorry i don't usually do that, but i would like to see this review :D )

  • Mastodon - Crack the Skye

    Even though it's not new, would like to know what you think. Or maybe their new single Black Tongue!

  • The Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction/Ghost

    or

    Trophy Scars - Never Born, Never Dead...

  • Yeah, come on Anthony! Review the two new Devin Townsend albums!

  • The Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction

    or Ghost, since both albums came together.

    YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO DO IT

    YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED

  • Chad VanGaalen - Diaper Island

    Pot favor.

  • The TMBG = Talking Heads analogy is spot on.

  • So have to get off from work to see them at Williamsburg Waterfront on Saturday. They're so much fun live!

  • I feel like they might be giants is my generations talking heads. Not their best work but its still nice to see them alive and kicking.

  • @ChaosWolf159 yes, i will fix that. :-)

  • Flood is my favorite. And I'm strangely proud that I could name every one of the songs that you referenced near the beginning (listing topics). Love em. Looking forward to hearing this one.

  • @stjimmyandco carrots for ever.

  • @Traviiismonster I suppose you're making sense. Very reasonable comment, for sure.

  • The first 6.5 seconds of this video had me thinking that this was a recruitment video for a war against an army of giants.

  • Två Steg Från Paradise - Håkan Hellström

  • YOU SHOULD REVIEW CITY OF SHIPS - MINOR WORLD

  • Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows
  • Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

    Cities Aviv - Digital Lows

  • Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows Cities Aviv - Digital Lows
  • you should review the new Wooden Birds Album "Two Matchsticks"

  • THEY CALL ME DOCTOR WORM

  • @smiller2323 what's up, doc?

  • Saw them live a few weeks ago and they're just one of the funiest bands I've ever seen. "Dan Miller, possibly THE greatest guitarist in They Might be Giants!"

  • @fullbleed24 i've seen them live two or three times, and they've been hilarious at every show. the first time i saw them, they even played fingertips all the way through!

  • If someone is looking for an album where TMBG get back to their roots, Cast Your Pod to the Wind (a pack-in w/ The Else) is the place to go. We Live in a Dump and Brain Problem Situation are clear indicators of this.

  • @SonofMrPeanut I love that podcast! It's one of my favorite of their albums. It's something of a refuge for me. I've attempted to listen to a few songs from Join Us, and I just haven't entirely gotten into most of them. They seem to lack the charisma of typical TMBG, especially early TMBG, and instead of inviting you in they sort of lock you out. Once again, it just seems a bit generic.

    My mother called CYPTTW "precious" in that it's "a bit too much like They Might Be Giants." XD

  • They totally ripped off the cover art from The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza's first album... They Might Be THIEVES!!!

  • @txhc05 you can hear the tdte influence on join us' music, too!

  • Sir... I believe you should review Weekend Nachos' new album "Worthless". It's crust punk. It's dirty. It's filthy.

    If you like They Might Be Giants, then you will LOVE these fellas.

    :D

  • Currently munching on carrots now, the power of the Fantano is pervasive indeed.

  • @SchmuddelGrunge CARROTS FOREVER!

  • Title Fight - "Shed"!

    Or Makeoutvideotapes debut LP!

  • vegan, mason jars and think rimmed glasses. Seriously, Anothony, stop being a parody of yourself.

  • @forthelul lolwut?

  • Joyce Manor Self Titled LP please!

  • Dub FX - Everythinks A Ripple

  • Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo

  • review thee oh sees' castlemania, its awsome

    

  • Can you review Between The Buried and Me's The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues.

  • #themarsvolta2011

  • Little Dragon - Ritual Union, Puhleaseee 

  • @trubluee it's coming.

  • I hope they're not giants forever. That could be problematic for gigs.