A week or two ago, I wrote about the first half of the first disk of Dial-A-Song -- the two-disk retrospective of They Might Be Giants. Here are comments on the rest of disk one.
Man, It's So Loud in Here
A somber techno-pop tune that channels both 80s new wave bands and the godawful club music of today. To say the humor is dry is to say the Atlantic Ocean is kinda wet.
We're the Replacements
They're not really. But this fannish song says they are.
Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas) (Live)
One of the band's "educational" tunes. It's a cover version -- the original was on a record of science-themed songs from the 50s or 60s.
Your Racist Friend
Another Flood track, this song frustrates me. While the tune is catchy and the production shiny, the Johns seem to be trying for something profound in the lyrics. It doesn't quite work.
Bangs
Silly, but catchy. The song's narrator enjoys a girl's bangs. As in hair. Bangs. Yeah, I know. It's silly.
Snail Shell
The John Henry album marked a turning point for TMBG, as they recorded as a full rock ensemble for the first time. This really opened up the sound of their songs, and this track is an excellent example.
Twisting
The group tackles a 60s-style surf tune, with lyrics about a dysfunctional relationship.
Another First Kiss
Pure pop perfection. "Another First Kiss" is low-key and tuneful, and it can be swamped by the bizarre concoctions that surround it on this disk. But taken on its own, this is a delightful and apppealing track.
They'll Need a Crane
A repetitive tune, with a surprisingly downbeat message.
The Statue Got Me High
Not much to say about a song like this. It's genuinely surrealistic. The trick to it, and what makes it quintessential TMBG, is that it's sung with the same amount of conviction as "Another First Kiss."
(She Was A) Hotel Detective
An earlier song, showcasing the group's lo-fi roots.
Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head
Do I dare? Can I manage it? Should I actually put my hand inside the puppet head? The Johns want me to. Not sure if I can manage it yet.
I Palindrome I
The disk winds up with this John Henry track. It has the cheerfully evil opening line ("Someday mother will die and I'll get the money") and a catchy, interlocking chorus. A fitting end to a disk meant to showcase their best-known and most appealing songs.