John Henry:They Might Be Giants

Artist: They Might Be Giants

Date Released: 1994

Label: Elektra

Produced By: Paul Fox and Ed Thacker with They Might Be Giants

Tracklisting: Review: This is the first They Might Be Giants album with a full band (and all since have had a full band, though it changes between albums), and surprisingly, one of the best They Might Be Giants albums of all of them. Typically when a band drastically changes its sound, it's for the worse, but John Henry works particularly well (especially with the prominent and frequent use of a horn section). The only reason I could see not recommending this one as an introduction to They Might Be Giants is that it's the most atypical release from them (which, I suppose is saying something for a band known for its atypicality). Still, though, this album is full of wonderful songs, from the exquisitely beautiful "The End Of The Tour", to the organ-based rocker "Out Of Jail" to the conga "No One Knows My Plan" and the, well, "Dig My Grave"-retread of "Stomp Box" (hey, "Dig My Grave" is an awesome song -- I'm cool with John Linnell basically rewriting it). This is just an outstanding album. Perhaps not the most "They Might Be Giantsy" They Might Be Giants album, but a damn fine pop-rock album. Definitely recommended. - Rev. Syung Myung Me
 * 1) Subliminal
 * 2) Snail Shell
 * 3) Sleeping In The Flowers
 * 4) Unrelated Thing
 * 5) AKA Driver (a/k/a Nyquil Driver
 * 6) I Should Be Allowed To Think
 * 7) Extra Savoir-Faire
 * 8) Why Must I Be Sad?
 * 9) Spy
 * O, Do Not Forsake Me (with Hudson Shad on vocals)
 * 1) No One Knows My Plan
 * 2) Dirt Bike
 * 3) Destination Moon
 * 4) A Self Called Nowhere
 * 5) Meet James Ensor
 * 6) Thermostat
 * 7) Window
 * 8) Out Of Jail
 * 9) Stomp Box
 * 10) The End Of The Tour