Severe Tire Damage [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Japanese Version Featuring 2 Bonsu Tracks.

Tracks:

Doctor Worm
Severe Tire Damage Theme
They Got Lost
Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is A Mass Of Incandescent Gas)
Birdhouse In Your Soul
She's An Angel
XTC Vs. Adam Ant
Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Ana Ng
First Kiss
Ana Ng. - (live)
Particle Man
She's Actual Size
S-E-X-X-Y
Meet James Ensor
Till My Head Falls Off
About Me
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled

Amazon.com

America's seminal geek rockers They Might Be Giants have been outsmarting every other act on the college-radio scene since the late '80s. Severe Tire Damage is the band's first live album, and surprisingly, it manages to be whimsical without being self-indulgent. TMBG's nucleus of John Linnell and John Flansburgh up the ante of fun on old favorites like "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," "Ana Ng," and "Birdhouse in Your Soul" while also offering us more realized versions of should've-been-hits like "XTC Vs. Adam Ant" and "She's Actual Size." The Giants' backing band adds unexpected depth to the material, which also includes five new songs (and a hidden epilogue of live improvisation themed around the Planet of the Apes films). Many of the old fans who wrote They Might Be Giants off after Apollo 18 are advised to come back to the fold and see what the boys have been up to. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews:

Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for They Must Be Giants!.......2007-05-30

This is a mostly live album by They Might Be Giants. In addition to the live recordings, there are three new studio recordings. "Doctor Worm" is a great song that has become a favorite of TMBG fans. "Severe Tire Damage Theme" is a brief instrumental. "About Me" isn't so much a song as a song fragment. The live songs were recorded at various venues, as opposed to a live album that features songs from one specific concert. What's interesting to me is that the live versions of the songs have very different arrangements than their studio counterparts. Most of these live recordings are very good. There are six unlisted bonus tracks, which are all improvised live songs about Planet of the Apes, of all things. These ad libbed songs are not very good, to be frank. Overall, though, the album is quite enjoyable.

Strange album.......2005-03-15

The concept is supposed to a mix of live album stuff with studio songs thrown in as well. It's works for me, but I would have loved to hear their versions of other classic songs by them and instead there are new songs and strange improvisations on watching "Planet of the Apes." I mainly give this album a good rating because the new live versions of songs make them sound more refreshing and louder as well and the studio tracks aren't bad either, the "...Apes" tracks are hit and miss, though.

Very good.......2004-01-03

I'am a big fan of TMBG.I first herd it when my friends step Dad was playing it when I was over at is house.It sounded pretty cool,but I had no idea what the band was called.O well.About one year later when I was at camp my councler brought a TMBG cd.He was playing a song I heard(NEW YORK CITY)and it sounded familer.Well he started geting me to listen to TMBG,well I got this cd for christmas recently and I loved it.I'am glad it had Partical Man,but my fav is They Got Lost.And one of the hidden track(Nmb 21)Escape from planet of they apes is cool.But whats up with the song spyder.So I say you should but this one.

This album fails on so many levels.......2003-11-08

As a representation of their live act, it's not even close: nevermind the lack of crowd noise and stage banter, most of it isn't even from actual shows. It's 'live in studio' and soundcheck recordings, with overdubs galore.

As a career retrospective, it doesn't work either. They seem to have attempted a 'best of' line-up here, but left off important singles like "Don't Let's Start" and "The Statue Got Me High". Who cares? Hits that are included, like "Birdhouse In Your Soul" and "Ana Ng", are slowed down and given strained vocal deliveries.

But most importantly, it's just not a very enjoyable CD. Theres no flow, and it pales in comparison to their work in the studio. People who want a good overview of their career should get the 2-disc DIAL-A-SONG anthology. People who want to hear them live should get tickets to a show - they're lots of fun. You wouldn't know that from SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE.

I'd say it's worth it for "Dr. Worm" and the rocking "Why Does The Sun Shine?", but those made it to DIAL-A-SONG. The only thing I really pull this out for is the power-pop version of "First Kiss", later transformed into a ballad for their Mink Car album.

A Deffent MUST HAVE.......2003-08-13

I think if you heard all of these songs before (except the hidden tracks and Dr.Worm, which are all new) on other albums and want to hear them a little defferently, then you should soo buy this alblum. The bonus tracks are kind of weird on the first listen but once you get used to them they are really cool.
"Why Does The Sun Shine" is a great song and the two best verisons of it are on this ablum and on TMBG's Direct From Brooklyn DVD (which has a live 2002 concert video of it).
"XTC VS. ADAM ANT" has a great beginning with the electric guitar.
"They Got Lost" sounds way cooler here than on the They Got Lost cd (you can check it out at tmbg.com).
"First Kiss" I think the Mink Car version of it is longer, but both are equally cool.
"Meet James Ensor" The trumpets make more sense on the John Henry cd, but this version makes me laugh when the Johns make the trumpet sounds.
For the other songs on this cd you will have to listen them yourself. It's not because the other songs on this cd are bad or anything because all the songs are great, in my opinion. I just want you to buy this cd and check it out for yourself.
And for the hardcore TMBG fans check out the They Got Lost cd at tmbg.com It's pretty cool once you get used to it.
But before you buy that cd you must buy this one!