Song Of The Day - Day 166

Today's song is...


Careless Santa


Man, if this song is to be believed, then Santa is a real jerk ;-) Love the drum and bass in this track and, to a lesser extent, the guitar.

Song of the Day - Day 165

Today's song is...


When Tornados Take Over The World


Songs like this one really make me wonder why some of the old DAS tunes never made it off the answering machine. It's a great little tune, easily as entertaining as several that did get developed further. Nice strong guitar melody. Unusual subject matter (I mean who writes about tornados?).I'm just glad someone had the foresight to preserve tracks like this for posterity.

Song Of The Day - Day 164

Today's song is...


For Science


Something about this one always reminds me of Mystery Science Theater. I think it's the cheesy B-movie aspect. I am quite fond of this song, I have to say. It just makes me smile. I think someone could make a great music video out of this. Just sayin'.

Song Of The Day - Day 163

Today's song is...


Lucky Ball and Chain


This poor songs gets lost in my mind between Birdhouse and Istanbul. It's a great song but one I never think about unless I am listening to it. The only thing that comes to mind when considering it is the first Flood show at LPR when Linnell had the volume on the gunshot turned up super loud and startled Flansburgh quite humorously. Linnell looked very pleased with himself and there was some funny banter about it after the song that I don't recall the specifics of. But I really do enjoy the song. It might even be in my top 25 Flans songs. If I actually thought about it.

There's A Picture Opposite Me - 4/27/11

Easy one since I was short on extra time this week.

Please send submissions to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com

TMBG Awareness Day (The Video)

Hey, everyone! It's They Might Be Giants Awareness Day! The Join Us Preview is out and the fans are coming together from across the globe to share the love and spread the good word about our favorite band.

With a lot of help from friends and strangers alike, I present to you, They Might Be Giants Awareness Day (The Video). 21 fans from 3 continents. Accordion, confetti, Legos, singing, adorable children, a llama, a frog, a koala, a tribute to the Flood Promo and as much love for TMBG as can be packed into six minutes! Share it with your friends to help spread awareness of TMBG!

Song Of The Day - Day 162

Today's song is...


It Was A Very Good Year


Happy They Might Be Giants Awareness Day everyone!

The only thing I can say about this song is that I love Linnell's sense of humor. The second verse in particular cracks me up every time.


FYI, we are rescheduling the Cabbagetown chat for this week to this evening instead of tomorrow so that we can all discuss the new tracks and properly celebrate TMBG Awareness Day together. Also, it seems that some of us will be busy tomorrow at this Talent Show thing in Brooklyn where these two guys named John are making a cameo. Don't know what that's all about. :-) Anyway, stop by if you can, around eight.

April Madness Winner!!

The vote wasn't quite a landslide but I think we saw this coming.

The winner of the April Madness countdown to the Join Us Preview is....


John Flansburgh!!!




Enjoy the preview everyone (if you're an IFC member, you've already got it and are probably listening right now)! See you tomorrow for TMBG Awareness Day. Are you aware?!

Song Of The Day - Day 161

Today's song is...


Dog On Fire


Yay, Daily Show! This song works so well as theme music for a fake news program, you'd think it was written for it. I've always wondered a little about the original version of it and how different TMBG's cover is, but never enough to look it up (and my internet is completely dead so I can't do it now). The word I have always heard the band use to describe this theme is "bombastic" which is quite appropriate. Side note, I don't think I had ever heard the entire song, past what plays at the beginning of the show, until right this second. (Bad fan! But thank goodness for my virtually untouched folder of random extra tracks!)

Song Of The Day - Day 160

Today's song is...


Town to Town


Another Hello the Band song. This one is very....squiggly. But there is something I really like about it. Probably the fantastic drum loom. It's like a dance track, Flansburgh style.

TMBG Awareness Day Fan Video

Flansburgh has declared Tuesday to be TMBG Awareness Day, in honor of the release of the Join Us Preview! (More Info) To celebrate and help get the word out, I thought it would be fun if a whole group of fans collaborated on a video to post on Tuesday for everyone to see and share and help get the good word out about our favorite band.

Here is the plan. Record a short video of yourself giving a TMBG testimonial. "Hi, my name is _____, and" (feel free to use pseudonyms) and then an endorsement of your choice. "I've seen TMBG 45 times." "Birdhouse in Your Soul is the greatest pop song ever written." "I learned to play the accordion because of John Linnell." "My husband proposed to me at a TMBG show." "I've been a TMBG fan since Darinka." Those are just some examples. Be creative. Make it funny. Be heartfelt. Feel free to say more than one sentence. Try to keep your video under 10 seconds long. Keep it clean, as this video will be for mass public consumption. And have fun with it!

When you're done, send your video to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com and it will get edited together with the rest. On Tuesday it will be posted to YouTube and the Facebook event page for everyone to share and enjoy.

Submission guidelines:

Keep it under 10 seconds if at all possible.

Any file format is fine, though MPEG-4 is ideal.

Send your video to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com. If your file is too big to email, upload it to YouTube or your favorite file sharing site and send me the link.

Videos must be submitted by 4:00pm on Monday to be included.

That's it! Go to it! Have fun! Together we can make something to share our love of TMBG with the whole world!

Song Of The Day - Day 159

Today's song is...


Thunderbird


"I remember now, I remember now..."

This is never a song I would have included on my list of top favs, but after having just listened to four different versions of it, back to back for comparison purposes, I am reminded that it is a really excellent song. I like the really driving guitar part in particular and the keyboard. And I have always enjoyed the twisted around Beach Boys reference at the end. I was surprised to discover, when I went looking, that there are no videos of them performing this (at least that I could find). I've seen it twice, one of which was at LPR which was like camera central, so I really would have thought someone would have had a camera on. Or maybe they did and I just didn't find it. Anyway, I was looking because I was also reminded, in listening again, that this is one of the songs that I am pretty convinced Dan sings back-up on, on The Spine recording, and I wanted to see if he did live. But no dice, and there are no backing vocals on any of the older live performances I have so I may never know.

It's interesting with a song like this to be able to see it's evolution over time. From live recordings in '99 through the DAS version and the demo to what finally ended up on The Spine and was performed on The Spine Hits The Road tour. I can understand why some people were disappointed with the final result having gotten used to the early version, but I find that the core of the song didn't really change enough for me to have a strong opinion either way. I definitely like the final result more than the demo.

I also find that I really like the lyric "To get the whole sky, on the ground you have to lie."

TMBG Awareness Day

You've probably seen it by now, but Flansburgh has declared Tuesday to be TMBG Awareness Day in celebration of the release of the Join Us Preview.



Personally, I am totally in support of this idea (big surprise), and I think it would be kind of awesome if a bunch of us got together and did something together to show our love (which is not to say, you can't all do stuff on your own too!)

I don't have a clear idea in mind yet (I was hoping for some input from the peanut gallery), but I was thinking about a video of some sort, that a bunch of us could contribute to. I was kind of thinking along the lines of the birthday videos that a bunch of JoCo's fans have made the last few years (look it up if you never saw them), but I am totally open to suggestions.

Thoughts? Anyone interested? Am I on my own?

P.S. Go join the TMBG Awareness Day event page on Facebook if you haven't already (you gotta be logged into Facebook for the link to work): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124599457617441

Song Of The Day - Day 158

Today's song is...


Goodbye


The puppets turn Glasgow into a farewell song for their podcast and I laugh quite a lot. I <3 those little knitted guys.

Song Of The Day - Day 157

Today's song is...


Got Getting Up So Down


I wish I could get this to play on my alarm clock when I wake up in the morning. I am so not a morning person. Except I don't know that it would wake me up. A little too reminiscent of the early morning zombie state.

There's A Picture Opposite Me - 4/20/11

Post #400!!!!! Terribly late because I forgot!




Please send submissions to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com

Song Of The Day - Day 156

Today's song is...


Bastard Wants To Hit Me





This is another song that just makes me laugh. I sort of picture Linnell writing it after an encounter with a crazed fan. Actually, I rather like the interpretation in the video where it doesn't really seem like the guy wants to hit the little dude at all until he runs away and makes the guy angry. And I like the piano part. It's quite lovely.

April Madness Final Round

Photo #1 by CapitalQ





Photo #2 by Blue Canary

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Song Of The Day - Day 155

Today's song is...


7-11


There are some TMBG songs that fall completely in the "WTF, I can't believe they released that" category and remind me what a wonderfully warped and bizarre sense of humor these guys have. This is one of those songs. And I love them all the more for it. The fact that even silly, we-were-goofing-around-in-the-home-studio tracks like this have solid musical legs to stand on (because there really is quite a nice drum track in there) is reason #437 that these guys are my favorite band. And damn it, this song just makes me laugh. A lot.

"You Open, You Close, Everything In The Middle Is Just Bulls**t"

The recent release of Can't Keep Johnny Down has got me thinking about where it falls in the rankings of greatest TMBG album openers. Many would argue these days that the album as a concept is dying due to the rise in digital music. The ability to buy individual tracks and the popularity of the shuffle feature on iPods means that having a strong opener (and closer for that matter) on your album, doesn't matter as much as it once did. But for those of us who still primarily listen to music on CDs and even vinyl, the opener is still as key as it ever was. It sets the tone for the whole album. There is nothing that beats putting on an album and just being knocked out by the opening track.

So where does Johnny land in the strong sea of opening tracks? It has some heady competition. Did it even break your top five? Spoiler: It didn't break mine, though I might be willing to concede it slot number six. Jury's still out on that.

But for the record, here are my top five. And just a note, I am only considering the actual opening song here, not sets or pairing or entire runs. I figure that's only fair since I have yet to hear Join Us past Johnny.


5. Science Is Real - It's not even one of my favorite songs on the CD but it makes such a powerful opening statement about the theme of the album and I really kind of like that it has no musical intro before the lyrics start.

4. Dig My Grave - I waffled on this one a bit, but ultimately decided that even though I think Everything Right Is Wrong Again has better vocals, this one makes more of an impact musically as a first song.

3. I'm Impressed - The crunchy drum beats and the electric guitar that open this track are like saying, hello, wake up, we are not playing this safe anymore. This is not your father's TMBG. So starts what I feel the is the band's most cohesive record to date.

2. Ana Ng - Bomp-ba-bomp-bomp-ba-bomp-bomp-bomp-bomp  Man, is there a better start to an album than that? Oh, well, obviously there is since this is number two. But this is a really, really close second.

1. Subliminal - Um, duh? This is the gold standard all those other songs are trying to live up to. In the first few minutes after Johnny was released, when Gary and I were on our second or third listen he asked me how I thought it compared as an album opener. I can't remember which one of us said it but the words "It's no Subliminal" were definitely uttered. Seeing as how this album also possesses the best closing track in the catalog, I think John Henry wins this game.


Now when it comes to closing tracks I can't yet say what Join Us will bring but it is going to have to be something really damn good to make this list.

5. Road Movie To Berlin - Something about this just feels like a last song. Perhaps it's the fact that it ends on "and we'll go."

4. Rhythm Section Want Ad - For an album that changes mood at least five or six times in 19 songs, I really like that it ends on this zippy up note.

3. Sleepwalkers - As the liner notes say, the end of this album is designed to put you to sleep and this is just the song to do it. Make sure you have your plush animals safely stowed.

2. The Bells Are Ringing - I love how this leaves those echoing drum beats hanging in the air even after the song is over.

1. The End of the Tour - Never was there ever a more perfect closer for an album. This song wouldn't be  at home anywhere else.

Song Of The Day - Day 154

Today's song is...


Theme From McSweeney's Issue 6


Whatever coffee Linnell was drinking the day he cooked up this one must have been some good stuff. While in reality I suspect a lot of this track was created electronically, I like to imagine Linnell coming into the studio with this one and just ripping into it while the rest of the guys sat there with dropped jaws. I think in my imaginary scenario there was also a massive keyboard duel between Linnell and Dan while the others just struggled to keep up. Suffice it to say, I like this track. A lot. I should listen to this more to wake me up in the mornings.

Song Of The Day - Day 153

Today's song is...


I've Got A Match


If there is one thing TMBG knows how to write really well, it's songs about failing relationships. And this one is one of the best, though only one of, in my opinion. I don't actually find this song as sad as most people seem to. I read more frustration into it than sadness, though there is certainly a sad aspect too. I think the absolutely beautiful arrangement compliments the lyrics perfectly. I don't think the same lyrics with a different arrangement would be nearly as effective or evoke the same emotional response from the listener. The more I go back and listen to the older albums, the more I realize what fantastic rhythm tracks they have and this is a particularly fine example. And Linnell's voice is in top form here.

I've read a lot of debate and speculation on this song mostly on the subject of whether or not they don't play it anymore because it makes Linnell too sad to sing it. Honestly, I don't even know where that idea comes from. I think it's low play count is only because it was being played during a period where there were dozens and dozens of shows with unknown setlists. It's hardly the least played song from the album, and there are, after all, only 6 or 7 of the 18 tracks from Lincoln that have been in regular rotation at all in the last 10-15 years. Why assume that this one doesn't get played due to an emotional reaction? (I don't mean to be argumentative. I am actually genuinely curious where this idea came from.) This of course does not mean that I wouldn't love to hear it live, but I'd also love to hear five or six of those other songs they haven't played in 20 years too. Lincoln show, anyone?

Song Of The Day - Day 152

Today's song is...


Other Father Song


Have I ever mentioned how much I love Coraline? The book first, the movie later. There are only two authors who have earned an even vaguely TMBG level of devotion from me and Neil Gaiman is one of them. So I believe I was already pre-disposed to like anything to do with the story. And the movie did not disappoint. Nor did this song.

I'll admit I was rather disappointed when I heard that TMBG's musical contributions to the film had been reduced to this 28 second ditty, but man, they packed a punch with this one. That is one seriously awesome piano part. And the lyrics, in addition to being rather adorable, fit spot on into the story. They sound happy and loving until you realize that the "our eyes will be on Coraline" line is actual literal and they want to sew buttons on her eyes. Creepy! I also love the visuals that go along with the song in the movie. The piano that plays the player!

Coraline herself, is one of my favorite characters in literature because she's got so much spunk (see my Coraline doll, Coraline lunch box and the life size Coraline stand-up in my room). She's got a great imagination, thinks for herself, figures her own way out of a tight spot and generally makes a very excellent role model. I'm glad she got such a kick-ass little theme song for herself :-)

Song Of The Day - Day 151

Today's song is...


WMOB ID


I was gonna skip this until I realized it was released on Unlimited and thus didn't meet my requirements for a skippable song. It's tiny and short and legitimately sounds like a 1920s radio ID. Bonus points for the machine gun fire.

April Madness Round Four - Set Two

Photo #3 by Blue Canary





Photo #4 by TDK

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April Madness Round Four - Set One

Picture #1 by CapitalQ





Picture #2 by Kathy

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Song Of The Day - Day 150

Today's song is...


The Bells Are Ringing


I could point out that this is one of my favorite songs, but if you look up at the top of the page you could probably figure that out for yourself. I love the harmonies in the vocals and the melody just kind of reaches out and grabs you. I love that they actually had someone sing the "bong, bong" part rather than just using the bells. I love the way the music builds throughout the song, the big crescendo as the band enters, and the drums at the end give me chills.

I desperately wish I had paid more attention when I saw them play this at Mohegan Sun. If I had the opportunity to go back and revisit any one show I have attended, it would be that Factory Showroom show at Mohegan because I was just too new a fan to appreciate it. And that was the one and only time I heard so many spectacular songs: this one, Till My Head Falls Off, Spiraling Shape, Metal Detector, I Can Hear You, How Can I Sing Like A Girl?, Token Back to Brooklyn. Ack! Excuse me while I go cry now...

This is one of the very few songs that I have applied a personal interpretation to because I feel like the lyrics so perfectly apply to my experience with the band. I am the girl with cotton in her ears who suddenly had it pulled away and realized everything I was lacking all along. I really have dropped all businesses at hand to travel great distances to the sound that is bringing the people round. The simple key to happiness is found in TMBG. End of story.

There's A Picture Opposite Me - 4/13/11

I've starting roping in friends to appear in some of these that needed a human appearance.





Please send submission to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com

Song Of The Day - Day 149

Today's song is...


Siftin'


Another quality instrumental, well, mostly. I really like the variety of instruments and different synths that get used throughout this song. The tune is just really fun and lively. It kind of reminds me of the "Tequila" song with a bit of a spacey twist. This, strangely, makes me nostalgic for the days of Linnell playing saxophone more so than most of the other songs with sax.

Song Of The Day - Day 148

Today's song is...


Blind


From a project I like a lot, this is my least favorite entry. Mostly just because I don't care for the style of music they are imitating. However, I do get a certain amount of amusement from the line "shirts are for squares" and I'm not even really sure why.

Song Of The Day - Day 147

Today's song is...


Shoehorn With Teeth


Sometimes I am listening to bootlegs of old shows and I get really sad that I never got to see the glockenspiel routine that went along with this. Or the carpet hats for that matter. Then I remember Marty and his bells and everything is OK again.

This is a song that I believe I would just never think about if it weren't for all the wacky antics when it is performed. I think the lyrics are just a little too non-sensical for me and for the most part they don't grab me. Admittedly, the tune is pretty catchy and I do like "What's the sense of ever thinking about the tomb when you're much too busy returning to the womb?" But in general, I prefer it performed by puppets.

The first time I saw this live is on a list I've been compiling, of favorite concert moments I desperately wish I had captured on film (or video) because they were just too good to only live on in my memory. It was the first show of the fall of '09 tour in Ithaca. The first appearance of the Avatars, which was pretty awesome in and of itself. Linnell playing Dan's keyboard one-handed while singing and operating the puppet. But here is the bit that has really stuck with me.

There's Marty standing in the middle of the stage with his bell rig, looking so serious and approaching each "bing" of those bells like it was the most important note he would ever play. He has a flare for the theatrical, that one, and the routine would not have been nearly as funny if he was not so successful at carrying it off without cracking even the briefest of smiles. Meanwhile, Danny has gone back stage to remove the long sleeved shirt he was wearing under his tee. He appears back in the wings behind the drums, just as the song is finishing, visible only to those of us on the far side of the stage who happen to be looking in that direction. As Marty raises his hand for one last dignified "bing" on the bell on stage, backstage, Danny leaps in the air and crashes his hand down on an imaginary bell and then goes about his business. I just about died laughing and I don't think anyone else around me even noticed.

Song Of The Day - Day 146

Today's song is...


California As An Island


I am beginning to think that I should have just listed Partly Cloudy Patriot as all one entry. Ho hum.

April Madness Round Three - Set Four

Photo #7 by Megan





Photo #8 by TDK

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April Madness Round Three - Set Three

Photo #5 by Blue Canary





Photo #6 by Blue Canary

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April Madness Round Three - Set Two

Photo #3 by CapitalQ





Photo #4 by Kathy

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April Madness Round Three - Set One

Photo #1 by Blue Canary





Photo #2 by CapitalQ

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Song Of The Day - Day 145

Today's song is...


Battle For The Planet Of The Apes


Probably my favorite of the Ape songs. I guess I have a competitive nature. I have a few recordings of this in addition to the one on STD. There is quite a funny one where they contemplate dividing that band into Yankees and Mets fans but decide that the Dans make such good People that they can't. Then of course there is the Battle for the Planet of They Might Be Giants version from Unlimited where Jim conquers all. It's a shame the Unlimited track doesn't include the introduction to that which you can hear on the original bootleg (which oddly, is also better sound quality than the Unlimited release, or at least my copies), because that is also entertaining. I think one of the things that entertains me most about this song (can we really even call this a song?) is the Dans' tendency to break into some classic rock cover while doing their bit. No wonder they always win.

"People, people, people, people."

"Apes, apes, apes, apes, apes."

Now go enjoy this amusing video of the song being performed in Atlanta. (Trivia point: I suspect that this was actually Danny's first show with the band though I have not been able to confirm that.)

Song Of The Day - Day 144

Today's song is...


Q U





Hello, ABCs run. Now this one I really like. The instrumentation is simple but effective. Thanks to Jamie, for pointing out a while back, what a lovely bass line this song has. And that video cracks me up. I think it actually cracks me up more now that I've gotten a bit more familiar with Chris "Q" Anderson because I can just picture him doing it. I love the scene where they are walking down the street and the people walk by them and turn around and just stare at them. Hehehe.

Song Of The Day - Day 143

Today's song is...


The Vowel Family





The reason I am not as fond of the ABCs as I am of the other kids albums is that there are a much larger majority of the songs that are hard to appreciate as an adult. The songs play more like kids lesson songs. I'm not talking about all the songs (believe me, there are a couple on there that I adore), but this is a good example. Serves it's purpose for the kiddos, but if you want to teach me about vowels at 30, I need something a little catchier. But I like the puppets.

There's A Picture Opposite Me - 4/6/11

One of my goals for this vacation was to create a back log of pictures to use for this game, so I am not scrambling on Wednesday mornings to think of something since I haven't had any submissions in a while. This is one of the results of today's efforts.





Please send submissions to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com

Song Of The Day - Day 142

Today's song is...


Mas Fun

Great, lively, little instrumental and yay, accordion! I like the quote on the wiki that says the song was written while they were supposed to be doing something else. I enjoy the idea of the guys in the studio, dragging their feet on some project or another by jamming and slapping this together. It probably was more fun than whatever they were supposed to be doing. I wonder if that's why they called the song that? I can't remember if I listed this among by favorite instrumentals but if I didn't, I should have!

April Madness Round Two - Set Eight

Photo #15 by TDK

Photo #16 by TDK

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April Madness Round Two - Set Seven

Photo #13 by Megan





Photo #14 by Blue Canary

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April Madness Round Two - Set Six

Photo #11 by Blue Canary





Photo #12 by Blue Canary

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April Madness Round Two - Set Five

Photo #9 by Kathy





Photo #10 by Blue Canary

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April Madness Round Two - Set Four

Photo #7 by Blue Canary





Photo #8 by Kathy

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April Madness Round Two - Set Three

Photo #5 by CapitalQ





Photo #6 by Blue Canary

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April Madness Round Two - Set Two

Photo #3 by CapitalQ





Photo #4 by TDK

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April Madness Round Two - Set One

Photo #1 by Blue Canary





Photo #2 by Blue Canary

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Song Of The Day - Day 141

Today's song is...


Seven



This is one of the two songs on 123s that I loved instantly, immediately and wholeheartedly as the album was picking me up and throwing me full force into the fandom. It is impossible to be uncheered by a song about anthropomorphic sevens taking over a house. I think one of the things that makes it really work (and really funny) is the complete dead pan with which Linnell delivers the lyrics as if he is not surprised at all to find a seven standing at his door and totally resigned to all of the numeric house guests. 

But what really makes this song shine is it's live performance. This is, without a doubt, in my top five favorite songs to see live. Take Linnell's deadpan and wacky arm movements, add in Flansburgh's overly earnest "I would like some cake" and Dan's priceless faces and intonation on "It's the green house at the end of the block" and "oh, that's just Seven" and you have all the ingredients for a performance guaranteed to delight adults and children alike. Plus, who doesn't love yelling "We want cake. Where's our cake?" especially if the whole audience gets in on the game. I was there for performance number two of this one (later in the same day as number one which was at a family show at the same venue which I didn't attend) and am ridiculously pleased that this has become an adult show fixture as well as a family show one. I hope a live performance of this makes it onto the new live album. That would rock!  

Oh, P.S. I forgot about the horns! Euphonium! Oh my goodness, just so much to love about this song. It also just occurred to me that this has to be one of a very few number of songs that neither John plays on at all when they perform it. I don't really have a point with that statement. Just thought it was interesting.

Song Of The Day - Day 140

Today's song is...


The Edison Museum

 I couldn't resist checking yesterday to see what my birthday song would have been if I had gone the random route. This was it and I have to say I'm glad I let Megan choose because I would have been disappointed. This is a perfectly OK song but certainly not one of my favorites and not one I really have anything in particular to say about. I like the vocal. And it would be cool to someday visit the museum.

Song Of The Day - Day 139

Hello, friends! This is Megan doing a guest post for Kelly, partly because it's her birthday and she is busy doing fun birthday things and partly because I decided she shouldn't have to write her own birthday post and begged her to let me do it instead. So, before we begin: happy birthday, Kelly! I'd like to be the first to thank you today for running this blog and keeping us occupied during the long, dark days of our TMBG-less existence in 2011.

Normally the Song of the Day is generated randomly, but I've been planning this since yesterday afternoon (deviously, in the back of Kelly's car, while she drove me all around Boston because she's a good person) and honestly, there's only one song that's appropriate for the occasion.

Today's song is....


Birdhouse In Your Soul


Whenever anybody asks me my favorite TMBG song, I don't even bother saying "Birdhouse" because I feel like it's kind of a given. It almost feels like cheating, telling people that this is my favorite song, because of course it's my favorite song. It tells a beautiful story with beautiful lyrics and beautiful metaphors and a beautiful melody. I have a piece of it tattooed on my body. How could it be anything else?

No matter how many times I see Birdhouse live, those six little beats on the cymbal -- tsk tsk tsk, tsk tsk tsk --  still give me chills. I love how the audience goes crazy when Linnell starts in with "I'm your only friend..." and how the sound of everybody singing seems to swell on "who watches over you" during every round of the chorus. I cannot ever imagine getting tired of it.

It's impossible for me to pick a favorite Birdhouse memory because, really, they're all my favorites, but I do have an affinity for this particular performance on the Tonight Show in 1990. I love how happy the Johns look, especially during Doc's trumpet solo -- you can tell how ecstatic they are to be playing with the orchestra.

I could go on (and on, and on) but it just gets less coherent and more emotional from here, and I can't imagine there's anybody who has nothing to say about this song, so: go to it!

Song Of The Day - Day 139

Today's song is...


State of the Union


And again with the Partly Cloudy Patriot tunes that I have no way of queing up and listening to. Apparently it sounds like popcorn popping. I'll have to assume that is correct.

Song of the Day - Day 137

Today's song is...


Theme for TheSmokingGun.com


Hmmmm, a 27 second song barely anyone has heard. Don't know what it even sounds like. Oh well. Anyone??