They Might Be Giants Album: “Factory Showroom”

I don't know that you can really call this album weird, I mean, all of their albums are weird. You kind of wonder if these guys are some mad geniuses that are actually communicating brilliant riddles with:

"Put out your hands and you fall through the window

And clawing at nothing you drop through the void

Your terrified screams are inaudible

Drowned in the spiral ahead and consumed in the shape."

Kind of a cartoon Nietszche feel to it. I think if Charles Manson wasn't a homicidal maniac, he would really dig TMBG. All kidding aside, this album features some of the greatest TMBG songs ever, with cuts like "Till My Head Falls Off," "Spiraling Shape," James K. Polk," and "New York City." If you don't like this album, then you are not a fan of the band and that is OK, I guess. But as an owner of all of their CDs and a person that has seen their incredible live shows on numerous occasions, I just don't see how anybody cannot love them.

I congratulate you TMBG, I want to first say this is my second favorite album behind John Henry (so far, the only album i dont have is Flood. Weird). But this is the one album that is practically flawless, it has all different kinds of songs, hard rock songs (XTC vs Adam Ant, Till' My Head Falls Off) with some catchy diddys (Exquisite Dead Guy, Your Own Worst Enemy) and some of the coolest sounding songs you have ever heard by TMBG (Spiraling Shape, Metal Detector, New York City) and S-E-X-X-Y has a very disco feel to it, while James K. Polk is a very educational song about our beloved 11th president. Pet Name is one of my favorite songs on this album with some of the best vocals by Flansy and with Linnell on keyboards. I Can Hear You is a awsome song recorded on a wax phonograph in the Edison Museum. And with the ending song The Bells Are Ringing is just an amazing ending song that reminds me of The End of The Tour which is just fine because "Tour" is my favorite ending song by TMBG. This is known as their worst album by the critics by is one of my favorites in my book with each and every song having a wonderful sound and tune and overall balance. So stop reading reviews and buy this album!

If you are a TMBG fan, Factory Showroom is absolutely worth adding to your collection. Several of my favorite TMBG songs are on this album. Some songs may seem like standard pop fare, but the Johns usually have a twist with their lyrics. For example, much like "Twisting" on their album Flood, the track "Till My Head Falls Off" juxtaposes an upbeat rock/pop sound with serious subject matter, in this case lyrics about commiting suicide by Advil overdose.

Some fans dislike this album for its more mainstream sound, but it's exactly that sound that makes this a good first CD for the TMBG curious. But don't be mislead, mainstream for John and John is still quirky by most standards, and it contains enough classic TMBG-ness to keep a fan happy. Factory Showroom is an enjoyable album, one of their best. I look forward to seeing where They Might Be Giants goes next with Mink Car.

About me:

Man, this has got to be the best They Might Be Giants album, maybe second to only Severe Tire Damage. Even as great as their early work was, I feel that the duo does better work with the full band. It just gives them a better sound. Songs on the album which I thought were superb the first time I heard it included "S-E-X-X-Y", "Till My Head Falls Off", and surprisingly "James K. Polk." Others such as "Metal Detector", "XTC vs. Adam Ant" and "Your Own Worst Enemy" soon grew on me. This is one of the very few albums which I can put into my CD player, sit back, relax, and listen to all the way through. I strongly suggest this album to any fan of the Johns.

This CD has its share of ups and downs, but mostly ups. Till My Head Falls Off, Metal Detector, New York City (originally from Cub), and Spiraling Shape are easily the best songs on here, but it's a shame only NYC made it onto Dial-A-Song. S-E-X-X-Y is an alright song - it's not great, but you'll get a craving for it once in a while. XTC Vs. Adam Ant is pretty good - the guitar riffs from Flans absolutely rule. James K. Polk is not as high caliber as TMBG's other educational songs (Why Does the Sun Shine? Live, especially), but it's still catchy. I absolutely can't stand How Can I Sing Like a Girl? or Exquisite Dead Guy.

Overall, it's a good album, however short. There's also a hidden track - I won't spoil it, but use the backwards skip in a CD player to find it.