They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants are an American alternative rock group formed in 1982 in Brooklyn, New York. The core of the band is John Flansburgh and John Linnell, who meet as teenagers in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and begin writing songs together while at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Flansburgh handles vocals and guitar, while Linnell handles vocals and a range of instruments including keyboards, accordion and bass clarinet. In the early years they often perform with a drum machine or prerecorded backing track, and their live shows use unusual stage props as part of an eccentric presentation.

The duo first perform around New York City before taking the name from the 1971 film They Might Be Giants. Their early recordings and live activity include the song-delivery project known as Dial-A-Song, in which they record songs onto an answering machine and advertise the number in newspapers. A demo cassette draws the attention of Bar/None Records, which signs them and releases their self-titled debut album in 1986. That album becomes a college radio hit, and the video for “Don’t Let’s Start” helps widen their audience on MTV.

In 1988 they release Lincoln, named after their hometown, with “Ana Ng” reaching the US Modern Rock chart. After signing to Elektra Records, they release Flood in 1990. The album becomes a gold record and includes “Birdhouse in Your Soul” and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”, both of which strengthen their profile on modern rock radio. Their work also gains attention through cartoon tie-ins, including music videos for Tiny Toon Adventures.

The band’s output in the early 1990s includes Miscellaneous T, a B-sides compilation, and Apollo 18, a space-themed album issued while they are named Musical Ambassadors for International Space Year. Apollo 18 is notable for its use of the CD shuffle function, and for “Fingertips”, which is made up of 21 short tracks. After this period they expand into a full band and recruit supporting musicians including Kurt Hoffman on reeds and keyboards, bassist Tony Maimone and drummer Jonathan Feinberg. Their later lineup also includes Marty Beller, Dan Miller and Danny Weinkauf. By the 2000s the group’s members listed are John Flansburgh, John Linnell, Hal Cragin, Kurt Hoffman, Dan Miller and others associated with the band’s ongoing live and recording work.

John Henry arrives in 1994 with a more guitar-led sound, followed by Factory Showroom in 1996. After leaving Elektra, they issue Severe Tire Damage in 1998, and Long Tall Weekend in 1999 becomes the first full album released exclusively in MP3 format by a major label artist. They also contribute “Dr. Evil” to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and continue to work across film and television soundtracks.

They Might Be Giants develop a strong second life in children’s media and television theme music. They write and perform music for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Resident Life, Higglytown Heroes, Dexter’s Laboratory, Courage the Cowardly Dog and other programmes. They also contribute to McSweeney’s, writing a theme song and a large set of songs for an album tied to the journal. Their song “Boss of Me” becomes the theme to Malcolm in the Middle, wins a Grammy Award in 2002, and gives the band a wider audience.

Their later albums include Mink Car, No!, Bed, Bed, Bed, Indestructible Object, The Spine, The Else, Here Come the 123s and Here Comes Science. Here Come the ABCs and Here Come the 123s are children’s releases, with Here Come the 123s winning the Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children. The Else is released on Idlewild Recordings and distributed by Zoë Records for the CD version. Across this period the band works with labels including Bar/None Records, Restless Records, Elektra, Rounder, Barsuk Records, Disney Sound, Lojinx, Megaforce Records, Rough Trade and Idlewild Recordings.

The group also makes extensive use of the internet. They send news to fans through Usenet, create one of the first artist-owned online music stores, and begin releasing podcasts containing remixes, rarities, covers, new songs and skits. Their work appears in advertising campaigns, film music and live television performances, and they continue as an active band from their 1982 start through the present.