Factory Showroom

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Factory Showroom is the second They Might Be Giants album to feature the Brooklyn duo backed by a full band. The band allows John Linnell and John Flansburgh to parody the pop music of their late '70s and early '80s youth more accurately, and thus, more wittily. On the disco parody, "S-E-X-X-Y," for example, Iggy Pop bassist Hal Cragin supplies a vintage funk bottom, while arranger Kurt Hoffman contributes a Chic-like string chart. When they follow with the new-wave parody, "Till My Head Falls Off," Graham Maby's staccato bass line, Eric Schermerhorn's jittery guitar chords, and Linnell's bleating organ sound just like the Cars. Of course, this raises the question of whether we really need parodies of Chic and the Cars at this late date, especially when the satires resemble the targets too much to be irreverent, but not enough to be their equal. --Geoffrey Himes --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Factory Showroom
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I love it
  • Another masterpiece from the two Johns
  • Beatle-based Pop vs. New Romantic.
  • and i wont be till my head falls off
  • This Album Will Make You Go Insane
 Factory Showroom
They Might Be Giants
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
Similar Items:
  1. John Henry
  2. Apollo 18
  3. Mink Car
  4. Flood
  5. They Might Be Giants

ASIN: B000002HKS
Release Date: 1996-10-08

Tracks:

  1. S-E-X-X-Y
  2. Till My Head Falls Off
  3. How Can I Sing Like A Girl?
  4. Exquisite Dead Guy
  5. Metal Detector
  6. New York City
  7. Your Own Worst Enemy
  8. XTC Vs. Adam Ant
  9. Spiraling Shape
  10. James K. Polk
  11. Pet Name
  12. I Can Hear You
  13. The Bells Are Ringing

Amazon.com

Factory Showroom is the second They Might Be Giants album to feature the Brooklyn duo backed by a full band. The band allows John Linnell and John Flansburgh to parody the pop music of their late '70s and early '80s youth more accurately, and thus, more wittily. On the disco parody, "S-E-X-X-Y," for example, Iggy Pop bassist Hal Cragin supplies a vintage funk bottom, while arranger Kurt Hoffman contributes a Chic-like string chart. When they follow with the new-wave parody, "Till My Head Falls Off," Graham Maby's staccato bass line, Eric Schermerhorn's jittery guitar chords, and Linnell's bleating organ sound just like the Cars. Of course, this raises the question of whether we really need parodies of Chic and the Cars at this late date, especially when the satires resemble the targets too much to be irreverent, but not enough to be their equal. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars I love it.......2007-05-04

I have all of TMBG's studio albums and this one is as good as any of them. Spiraling Shape, Till My Head Falls Off and Metal Detector are just awesome songs with brilliant melodies. I dont see whats not to like about this record, its cool.

5 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece from the two Johns.......2006-09-14

I don't know that you can really call this album weird, I mean, all of their albums are weird. You kind of wonder if these guys are some mad geniuses that are actually communicating brilliant riddles with:

"Put out your hands and you fall through the window
And clawing at nothing you drop through the void
Your terrified screams are inaudible
Drowned in the spiral ahead and consumed in the shape."

Kind of a cartoon Nietszche feel to it. I think if Charles Manson wasn't a homicidal maniac, he would really dig TMBG. All kidding aside, this album features some of the greatest TMBG songs ever, with cuts like "Till My Head Falls Off," "Spiraling Shape," James K. Polk," and "New York City." If you don't like this album, then you are not a fan of the band and that is OK, I guess. But as an owner of all of their CDs and a person that has seen their incredible live shows on numerous occasions, I just don't see how anybody cannot love them.

4 out of 5 stars Beatle-based Pop vs. New Romantic........2006-06-12

This was the second album on which They Might Be Giants were accompanied by a full band. It's a solid album, featuring typical TMBG type songs. The songs here that are the popular among TMBG fans are probably "James K. Polk" and "New York City" (which was not written by TMBG). My personal favorites, besides those, are "S-E-X-X-Y" and "XTC vs. Adam Ant". Fans of TMBG should enjoy this album.

4 out of 5 stars and i wont be till my head falls off.......2006-05-12

I'm not a kid... this is just easier.

I have no idea why the critics savage this album like a rabid pitbull on a bloody five year old. While not thier best work this cd has some great tunes... metal detector, new york, till my head falls off, and and spiraling shape are all winners. anyways. just thought i'd say. Its a good album. not nearly the nerd rock travesty the critics will have you belive.

5 out of 5 stars This Album Will Make You Go Insane.......2006-04-09

I congratulate you TMBG, I want to first say this is my second favorite album behind John Henry (so far, the only album i dont have is Flood. Weird). But this is the one album that is practically flawless, it has all different kinds of songs, hard rock songs (XTC vs Adam Ant, Till' My Head Falls Off) with some catchy diddys (Exquisite Dead Guy, Your Own Worst Enemy) and some of the coolest sounding songs you have ever heard by TMBG (Spiraling Shape, Metal Detector, New York City) and S-E-X-X-Y has a very disco feel to it, while James K. Polk is a very educational song about our beloved 11th president. Pet Name is one of my favorite songs on this album with some of the best vocals by Flansy and with Linnell on keyboards. I Can Hear You is a awsome song recorded on a wax phonograph in the Edison Museum. And with the ending song The Bells Are Ringing is just an amazing ending song that reminds me of The End of The Tour which is just fine because "Tour" is my favorite ending song by TMBG. This is known as their worst album by the critics by is one of my favorites in my book with each and every song having a wonderful sound and tune and overall balance. So stop reading reviews and buy this album!

Music:

  1. Femme Fest 2 [Explicit Lyrics] [Live]
  2. Follow The Rhythm
  3. Freaks
  4. Go 2 [Import]
  5. Hootenanny
  6. I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
  7. I Say I Say I Say
  8. It's All Good
  9. Jaded
  10. Kitchen Tapes [Live]

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