John Henry - those two words send a rush of pleasure down my spinal chord (sic) just by existing.
This was their first album with a full band supporting them, hence the name John Henry, its an American fable about a railroad worker that fought to stop machines taking over the man-powered ... Read review
Advantages: A sublime album of high points and even higher points Disadvantages: The cassette version needs to be turned over in some players
John Henry - those two words send a rush of pleasure down my spinal chord (sic) just by existing.
This was their first album with a full band supporting them, hence the name John Henry, its an American fable about a railroad worker that fought to stop machines taking over the man-powered work (they used to use a drum machine, you see?) Aaaaanyway, the album is a delight from end to end (and back again). I bought the album, saw the ... ...influence also shows, but the John and John wierd lyrics and totally rocking vibe shines through all of this like a beacon of purest joy.
Examples of John Henry stand out (they all do) songs -
"Snailshell" first single from the album and a track that I cannot listen to without freak dancing like a maniac around the room, can be difficult when I play it in the car. The guitar on this speaks directly to my inner ... more
John Henry - those two words send a rush of pleasure down my spinal chord (sic) just by existing.
This was their first album with a full band supporting them, hence the name John Henry, its an American fable about a railroad worker that fought to stop machines taking over the man-powered work (they used to use a drum machine, you see?) Aaaaanyway, the album is a delight from end to end (and back again). I bought the album, saw the live tour, got the t-shirt and still I crave more.
To try and catagorise TMBG would be wrong, but this is primarally a rock/folk/indie/ragga/funk/metal/hip-hop/ska/synth album with a few other influences thrown in.
The new bass player is the mighty Tony Menomi (apologies for the spelling Tony) who used to play with Pere Ubu and was very nice to us after the show. His influence also shows, but the John and John wierd lyrics and totally rocking vibe shines through all of this like a beacon of purest joy.
Examples of John Henry stand out (they all do) songs -
"Snailshell" first single from the album and a track that I cannot listen to without freak dancing like a maniac around the room, can be difficult when I play it in the car. The guitar on this speaks directly to my inner soul and does things to my spleen.
"Do not forsake me" - Gregorian chant (honest, it is!) that will transport you to another place and then give you a blindfoild guided tour while slapping your ankles with a bikechain. This is a good thing.
"Extra Savoir-Faire" a bit Noel Coward this one, if you imagine Noel Coward grew up in Brooklyn, had eight heads and a homicidal dislike of steel drums.
"Meet James Ensor" - a rock crazy tribute to Belgiums famous painter that encourages listeners to "dig him up and shake his hand, appreciate the man".
I love this album, it has changed my life for the better, let it into your life , sit back, and take in the audio thrilljoypleasurelove all for yourself. The Brooklyn Ambassadors of Love do it again.
Advantages: Just as nutty as the other albums Disadvantages: This will not be to everyone's tolerance
When "They Might be Giants" release an album you know that at some point you are going to stare dubiously at your stereo as the CD spins thinking, "Why exactly do I like this"
"Should I really be liking this"
"Why don't I just join my friends with their normal pop rock post-punk indie rap bands?"
Then you realise that the first track "Subliminal" which sounded fine to start with is now slowing down and then playing backwards. It then stops as ... ...about a man who is glad to "back in my snail shell".
This is palpable nonsense and you can relax safe in the knowledge that you have "a thing" about you which no-one can touch, You have a conversation piece on your CD rack and soon all the dilemma and peer pressure of buying that new "Best Athems Album in the World Ever part 65" is gone from your mind.
But this does not help you decide if you want to listen to this album, but after you do listen ...
coleecip 08.11.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of John Henry - They Might Be Giants
Product Information for "John Henry - They Might Be Giants" »
Product details
Title
John Henry
Performer
They Might Be Giants
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Alternative
Release Date
09/1994
Recomended Retail Price
12.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1994
Label / Distributor
Elektra / Cinram Logistics
Engineer
Ed Thacker
Producer
Paul Fox; They Might Be Giants
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
75596165426
Catalogue Number
7559616542
Additional notes
Album Notes
They Might Be Giants: John Flansburgh (vocals, guitar); John Linnell (vocals, horns, keyboards). Additional personnel: Jay Sherman Godfrey, Robert Quine (guitar); Steven Bernstein, Frank London (trumpet); Kevin Osborne (trombone); Kurt Hoffman (horns); Tony Maimone, Graham Maby (bass); Brian Doherty (drums).
Hudson Shad: Wilbur Pauley, Peter Becker, Hugo Munday, Mark Bleeke, William Douglas Vannice (vocals). Recorded at Bearsville Sound Studios, Bearsville, New York and Skyline Studios, New York, New York. For their fifth full album of new material, the duo of John Linnel and John Flansburgh (who are They Might Be Giants) expand their lineup into a full-fledged band. They'd been touring as such for a year or two prior to the making of this album and the first peek came with a couple of tracks on the previous year's WHY DOES THE SUN SHINE? EP. The songs still have their trademark absurdist wordplay. But where two minutes used to suffice, they now comfortably stretch out some numbers to twice that length. The crack rhythm section of drummer Brian Doherty and bassist Tony Maimone can anchor, groove and swing. Horns punch out of the arrangements, adding a luster of celebration to the proceedings. With the opening measures of "No One Knows My Plan," one would be hard-pressed to name the ensemble. But once the singing enters and the song's narrative takes shape, it could be none other than these masters of cerebral fun. Their obvious delight throughout is truly infectious.
Album Reviews
Spin (10/94, pp.112-113) - Recommended - "...the good news is that the Johns can still churn out skewed pop niblets just fine..." Musician (11/94, p.92) - "...shows the the Linnell/Flansburgh knack for effortless lyrical slyness continues..." NME (9/17/94, p.50) - 7 - Very Good - "...they've always had a quite disgusting amount of pop songwriting talent, ideas, humour and daft ambition, and on JOHN HENRY it actually comes out..." Entertainment Weekly (9/16/94, p.120) - "...Recording with a full band helps--the rhythms are looser, the arrangements more muscular--but the lyrics still tend toward undergraduate smarminess..." - Rating: B Alternative Press (11/94, p.101) - "...Lurching between faux-vaudeville to clear-cut pop, loopy Latino to bona-fide `60s soul, JOHN HENRY reamins as eclectic as anything the Giants have built in the past..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Subliminal
2.
Snail Shell
3.
Sleeping In The Flowers
4.
Unrelated Thing AKA Driver
5.
I Should Be Allowed To Think
6.
Extra Savoir Faire
7.
Why Must I Be Sad
8.
Spy
9.
O Do Not Forsake Me
10.
No One Knows My Plan
11.
Dirt Bike
12.
Destination Moon
13.
Self Called Nowhere
14.
Meet James Ensor
15.
Thermostat
16.
Window Out Of Jail
17.
Stomp Box
18.
End Of The Tour
19.
Stomp Box
20.
End Of The Tour, The
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Listed on Ciao since
25/06/2001
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