The Spine:They Might Be Giants

Artist: They Might Be Giants

Date Released: July 13, 2004

Label: Rounder / Idlewild

Produced By: They Might Be Giants / Pat Dillett

Tracklisting:
 * 1) Experiemental Film
 * 2) Spine
 * 3) Memo To Human Resources
 * 4) Wearing A Raincoat
 * 5) Prevenge
 * 6) Thunderbird
 * 7) Bastard Wants To Hit Me
 * 8) The World Before Later On
 * 9) Museum Of Idiots
 * 10) It's Kickin' In
 * 11) Spines
 * 12) Au Contraire
 * 13) Damn Good Times
 * 14) Broke In Two
 * 15) Stalk Of Wheat
 * 16) I Can't Hide From My Mind
 * 17) Renew My Subscription (iTunes Exclusive Track)

Review: I've written a really in-depth review of this album and the related EPs (Indestructible Object and The Spine Surfs Alone) and I've been trying to figure out how best to incorporate that here at Your Subculture Soundtrack. But until then, this will have to do. The Spine isn't the best They Might Be Giants album, but it's all right. It's a bit short -- they REALLY should have combined the two EPs into this album and given us a record that's an hour long, rather than 3 kinda-expensive releases with a couple of duplicated tracks. But still, though, it's pretty decent. The lead single, "Experimental Film" is a bit of a Generic TMBG Song -- sort of what people would think of if asked to think of a They Might Be Giants song, but not one in particular, but the Homestar Runner video for it makes up for any shortcomings. However, "Museum Of Idiots" and "It's Kickin' In" are more than worth the price of admission alone, and there's a lot of other great songs on here, too. The misfires (well, misfire -- "The World Before Later On" mainly) makes me think it's probably not a great place to start, but it's certainly not an album that should be avoided. It did take me a little bit of time to warm up to, though. - Rev. Syung Myung Me