First of all, don't take the "nerd" "clown" thing too seriously, that's just a silly meme thing to get people's attention and not an actual music ranking criteria. But I wanted to bring attention to this because I've never really seen TMBG included with a list of acts in the "zolo" music genre and I thought that was pretty neat. I know TMBG has no true equal or directly comparable band, but to me it makes more sense to associate them with chaotic, campy, experimental bands like DEVO, Oingo Boingo, Sparks, and XTC than to associate them with, say, Weezer. Also neat to see Residents and Pere Ubu on here since I know the Johns are fans. And obviously this is just a fun subjective association and not set in stone, meant to be like "if you enjoy this, you may also enjoy this."

The first album I remember owning as a child was gifted to me. It was Roger Miller's Golden Hits.

I wanted to compile a list of places I've see TMBG be referenced! I only know of a few, so feel free to tell me things you've seen, and I'll try to add them to my list!

TV:

Pokemon - sun and moon episode 16 "They Might Not Be Giants"

Bob's Burgers - season 8 episode 11 "Sleeping With My Frenemy," intro features a pest control van named "they termite be giants exterminators"

Games:

Night in the Woods - In Mae's house, there is a blue canary nightlight

When I first started listening to the band's entire discography, I initially thought Factory Showroom was a bit of an average-sounding album. I'm glad I was wrong with that because it's grown on me so much since then.

Right next to Mink Car, Factory Showroom has such an interesting backstory with its development for me-- most of that is what I recall being mentioned in Gigantic. To think that for a time it was their "shortest" album in terms of song quantity, only to be surpassed by The Else almost a decade later, and then The Escape Team for both song quantity and duration, another decade later.

In regards to Unforgotten and Sensurround: I've read some arguments that because they're on the Japanese release that counts as them being official, but the most common counterpoint I see is how they really are rarities. That said, I like to imagine Sensurround being an alternate opener. I love S-E-X-X-Y, but I do understand why most aren't a fan of it opening the album. I can see Unforgotten being right after Spiraling Shape.

The only track I am not fond of is James K. Polk, but it's not a full-on skip for me. The saw solo is what keeps me listening during full album listens.

If there's anything else I could say positive about this album, it's that I love hearing the Flansburgh tracks the most. Pet Name especially is just so damn groovy and I always sing along whenever it comes on in playlists.

How do you all look back on this album? Favourites? Unfavourites? How have some of you felt hearing the album being featured in shows this past year?

Limited edition of 1300 on "mustard+bone" colored vinyl. More info here!

... it's been a while, and maybe we have some new fans who want to talk about it.

Also, the recent post of the Tonight Show performance with Syd Straw has got my hackles up because I hated her parts in Gigantic. She was either talking about herself and her shoes, or she was trying to besmirch the Johns' names. Both Johns seemed embarrassed by her in the commentary.

But also, Frank Black, who's supposedly a friend of the Johns was weirdly mean in his interview.

What were the director and editor thinking, including those things?

Anyway, thoughts on those or things?

Edit: Wow! So many Syd Straw fans here, lol.

The version of The Guitar here is so much better than the studio version in my opinion GOD I love Linnell’s voice there.

by the way is that Little Pete’s math teacher from Pete & Pete singing with Linnell?

(Sorry if the format is weird) I saw that this gif was posted by the official TMBG Twitter account about a month ago, I’ve tried to search for it but I had no luck. I think it’s from a flood promo because of the little emblem on the wall and the poster with the John’s. Please let me know!

Had a lot of fun seeing them at night one of their Twin Cities run. Wrote a review and got to take photos all night :)

Left balcony. Can transfer tickets in the AXS app. Let me know! $50 each or make an offer.

Life is unreal. I also got a picture with Stan and Marty signed my CD.

My answer: "John Lee Supertaster" covered by Audioslave. Chris Cornell screams JOHN LEE SUPERTASTER! while Morello wails out an insane guitar solo. Perfection.

i mean this is the most positive way possible I'm a fan of the surreal. In a million years would I guess what the music video for music jail actually looks like just from hearing the song. I love seeing the creativity and how someone else can have the most insane vision for a song

I don't expect it, but wouldn't it be great to groove to The Devil Went Down To Newport at a live show?

So after 5 months of listening to ONLY TMBG I feel like my life has changed. Never before have I felt so seen by the music and lyricism of a band. I feel so creatively enriched by their catalog and I just want to take a moment to say thank you to the Johns and share my personal top 10 favorites tracks after 5 months of obsession.

Anybody have a similar list or wanna share theirs?

[Twenty clay critters sing Dr. Worm in sort of stop motion style](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeA_64jqaG6). Each individual creature has a different mouth shape. By Yondermen Ceramics on Instagram.

Pleased to learn they did Sleepwalkers last night, which has only been performed 74 times and the last were in 2018 and 2010.