We Know Now Who.

They Might Be Giants vs. McSweeney's

   They Might Be Giants vs. McSweeney's, which came out in May 2001, was the CD soundtrack that accompanied the McSweeney's Issue #6.  McSweeney's happens to be a literary journal full of art and literature of today's popular and budding poets, arthurs, and artists.  Each song on the disc is suppose to correspond with each work in the hard-bound book which is Issue #6.  It is available at many bookstores or at www.mcsweeneys.net.   The disc has 44 songs, 37 of which are TMBG's.  These are TMBG's most explorative and experimental music ever.  Some songs are just odd voyages into sound and rhythm.  However, other songs like I am 40, are powerful rocking hits.   Bangs is another melodic song with pulsating guitars and keyboards.   The Theme Song is like a spacy Beethoven symphony.  Then there is Mona Lisa with its backwards guitar, fantastic beat, and odd sureal vocals.  There are plenty of flat out insane songs like the echoing Dollar For Dollar, the Eastern European sounding Gazing Outward, and the soothing and unearthly Be Patient.  This is a must have for anyone who likes TMBG or strange trippy muisic.  The "hits" off this album were Bangs, I am 40, and Bathymetry for Two.  My personal favorite is Mona Lisa.

My Rating For this Album is: A

The Track Listing for They Might Be Giants vs. McSweeney's:

1. Theme Song
2. The Ballad of T. McSweeney
3. MOR
4. Dollar For Dollar
5. Oprah
6. Garden of Eden
7. West Virginia
8. Koengistein
9. It's Getting Late
10. Daphne (performed by Michael Meredith)
11. She Thinks She's Edith Head
12. Mr. & Mrs. Nuclear
13. Bangs
14. Modern Love Waltz (performed by Phillip Glass)
15. Faster Better Now
16. Be Patient
17. God's Sister Jessica
18. Grassroots Internet Revolution
19. Billy by The Bay (performed by S.E. Willis)
20. Swimming Hole (performed by Roger Greenwalt & E.K.)
21. Mosh Momken Abadan
22. Even My T-Shirt
23. The Army Is Tired Now
24. Drinkin
25. Gazing Outward
26. Frog and Banjo (performed by Doughty)
27. I Am 40: Memories of West St. and Lepke
28. Lincoln, Washington, and That Jefferson Guy
29. Bathymetry for Two
30. Art Mover
31. People Died Today
32. The Truth in Your Words
33. C-Town
34. Roslyn's Dog (performed by Arthur Bradford)
35. Softly
36. Slow
37. Be Kind and Gentle
38. Candy Stripers
39. Girls in Their Turning
40. The Life of Doug
41. R U Together
42. Mona Lisa
43. To A Text by Ad Reinhardt (performed by Free Cooperation)
44. Theme Song/Thank You