| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Broken Face |
Posted - 01/13/2005 : 07:02:34
from Pitchfork
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-01/13.shtml#story3
Frank Black, The Wrens Contribute to TMBG Tribute LP
Jason Toon reports:
Pennsylvania-based MultiMedia Three label is set to release a They Might Be Giants tribute album this May or June, according to Philadelphia musician David Miller, who is curating the project. Confirmed contributors include The Wrens, Frank Black, Steve Burns, Hotel Lights, This Radiant Boy, Recepter, and the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. Matt Mahaffey will contribute a version of "'Ana Ng' with an interesting twist," Miller says, either under his own name or the Self moniker. Frat-ska survivors Reel Big Fish are talking the project over with their lawyers.
Miller hopes the eclectic list of contributors will help rehabilitate a band he thinks has been unjustly dismissed by indie audiences. "Think of the bands who use that formula of melancholy lyrics set to really upbeat music-- the Cure, the Smiths, Nirvana," Miller says. "The Giants take both of those elements to extremes, but there's something in their sound that just turns some people off. Their songwriting is pure brilliance. I wanted to put these songs in a context where those people will get them."
Most of the acts are still deciding which TMBG tune to cover, but we do know the following: Steve Burns will cover "Dead" ("He's a good fit because he knows what it's like to be stigmatized," Miller says. "If the guy gets one more record under his belt, they'll forget all about Blue's Clues"), the Trachtenburgs will take on the 19-part mini-epic "Fingertips", and This Radiant Boy will dare to address "Don't Let's Start", one the band's earliest and best-loved singles. The Wrens, meanwhile, have their eyes on the Flood classic "Birdhouse in Your Soul", though that could still change. Also, there is the distinct possibility of it taking them seven years to finish.
Since "the Pixies are my all-time favorite band," Miller says, he's most excited about Frank Black's participation. "He wasn't an easy man to find," Miller says. "But he was number one on my list because he's a very big TMBG advocate. He's in the Gigantic documentary, and he was obsessed with the Flood record." The Pixies also figure into Miller's unlikely selection of Reel Big Fish. "They were on the Pixies tribute and did 'Gigantic'. I was like, 'I don't want to hear a ska version of 'Gigantic', but they did a weird house-techno version, so based on that alone I wanted them on this."
MM3 Records: http://www.multimediathree.com
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
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| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| lumpy |
Posted - 08/17/2006 : 22:32:14
Frank's version of "Road Movie to Berlin" has actually become my favorite of his songs. I love that it has this downtempo country/blues/swing yet it still has that Frank style. Beautiful cover in my opinion. I personally like it better than the original. |
| edbanky |
Posted - 08/17/2006 : 22:28:33
quote:
Originally posted by fbc
Molly 'the beautiful' McGuire on bass and vocals.
quote:
McGuire got the chance to play bass on a Frank Black track slated for Hello Radio: The Songs of They Might Be Giants. She found out about the gig when a session bassist called in sick, and since Black was her teenage hero, she not only jumped, she practically pole-vaulted to the studio. To her dismay, Black had selected the tricky-to-play “Road Movie to Berlin,” a song full of musical changes.
“But he stripped it down to three chords,” says McGuire. “I plunked it out on the bass with a country swing. Then he asked, ‘Do you sing?’ I said ‘yeah,’ and we ended up singing the entire song together in the vocal booth. He left before it was mixed, so I got to sit in the control room and flip out, listening to our voices together on the playback.”
Mmmm . . . Molly . . .
Due to my present condition and predicaments of being a crippled as a result of the fatal accident that I had, I am not able to carry out this contract because I can only walk on a wheel chair. |
| edbanky |
Posted - 08/17/2006 : 22:22:26
Yeah, I almost wholeheartedly disagree with the assessments quoted here. First of all, "Road Movie" (by all accounts in my aural memory) is basically just Flansburg and a guitar, with a few human-sounding whistles. "Weird synth-pop production"? On top of it, the arrangement on the album is just about perfect, in my opinion. It's also one of Flans' most earnest compositions. Ah crap, I just remembered the big synth-orchestra section. Shit. Still, I'm right.
Anyway, the other part about "sabotag[ing] their best interests" is kinda stupid. They obviously could not have been financially-driven, nor were they aimed at pleasing critics. Nevertheless, TMBG have built a freaking empire on what the reviewer refers to as sabotage. They have a huge, loyal fanbase. They're diversified up the ass with multimedia projects, decidedly un-saboteur-like turns penning TV themes for a particular hugely successful and critically lauded television show among others. As I see it, they're an uncompromising cultural behemoth.
This statement, particularly, is utter horseshit:
quote:
While these kind of bona fides may be enough to ensure the group a long afterlife in bar trivia contests, they hardly inspire the kind of fawning dedication reserved for indie legends like the Replacements or the Pixies.
Er, what?
Pixies became iconic despite their amazing music, in my opinion. And the Replacements? Hmm . . . I see far more "fawning dedication" pointed squarely Johnsward than has been reserved for Westerberg's group. People do their share of namedropping of the Replacements, but geez. And "bar trivia"? C'mon dudes.
Am I crazy?
Due to my present condition and predicaments of being a crippled as a result of the fatal accident that I had, I am not able to carry out this contract because I can only walk on a wheel chair. |
| Erebus |
Posted - 08/17/2006 : 11:27:15
Appearing today, a review at PopMatters: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/various-artists-hello-radio-the-songs-of-they-might-be-giants/
Frank Black/Pixies excerpts:
“Anyone unfamiliar with the band’s output might be surprised to learn that They Might Be Giants are without a doubt one of the best pop songwriting duos in recent music history. Even a cursory examination of their discography reveals a mastery of the pop songwriting form that would shame Rivers Cuomo. Unfortunately, this is often (almost always?) obscured by the gimmicky trappings of the nerd-rock genre which the group practically invented. Their best-selling album, after all, was 1990’s Flood, absolutely filled with jokey weirdness like “Particle Man” and their cover of “Istanbul, Not Constantinople”, songs that will remain forever associated with Doctor Demento and Tiny Toons. While these kind of bona fides may be enough to ensure the group a long afterlife in bar trivia contests, they hardly inspire the kind of fawning dedication reserved for indie legends like the Replacements or the Pixies, even if they’ve been around almost as long as the former and much longer than the latter. (They even wrote a song about the Replacements, for goodness’ sake.)”
“I would assert that in this regard They Might Be Giants—dual Johns Linnell and Flansburg—have repeatedly sabotaged their own best interests. I can think of any number of TMBG songs that are the equal to Paul Westerberg’s best slices of midwestern melancholy, or Frank Black’s twisted surreality, but the band themselves have seemed at times almost to reject these aspects of their music in favor of accentuating the nerd-friendly goofiness that makes them so easy to dismiss.” [snip]
“Frank Black shows up for “Road Movie to Berlin”. It sounds fairly tossed-off, but that’s hardly a bad thing—the cover fits pretty nicely with Black’s recent excursion into bluesy Americana. This is the very best kind of cover, showcasing a familiar song in a totally different light so as to bring entirely new angles to the surface. The weird synth-pop production of the original obscured the sardonic virtues of the Johns’ lyrics. Surely a line like “We were once so close to heaven, / Peter came out and gave us medals, / Declaring us the nicest of the damned” was just waiting for a day when Black would sing it.”
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| edbanky |
Posted - 07/19/2006 : 12:38:05
quote:
Originally posted by johndietzel
quote:
Originally posted by Crispy Water
This is incredible news! For years, I've fantasized about hearing Frank do a cover of Alienation's for the Rich. If we're assuming it'd be a Flood track, though, I agree with whoever suggested Lucky Ball & Chain. I doubt it will be something like Letterbox or Sapphire Bullets...
Nothing is ever something.
I guess I could see him trying on "Road Movie To Berlin" . . .
Yeah, what he said . . .
:)
Misogynist * Infidel * Bigot |
| Erebus |
Posted - 07/15/2006 : 18:43:26
Not being the TMBG devotee, I went the iTunes route. I rather like Frank here. Not life-changing, but very enjoyable.
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| VoVat |
Posted - 07/15/2006 : 18:22:23
It seems to be the general rule that tribute albums will contain a few really good covers, with the rest of the songs either sounding too similar to the originals or just generally sucking (if not both). I listened to the samples on MySpace and Amazon, and most of the tracks sounded kind of dull. I do really want to hear the Frank song, though, and what I've heard of the "It's Not My Birthday" cover sounds cool. But would it really be worth buying the disc for two songs? I might end up giving this one a miss, which is a shame, because a TMBG tribute album had the potential to be really good.
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
| telescopicboy |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 12:02:38
That's just it, Chris- I, like a lot of people, never got the subtext of a song like "...Crane" when it was wrapped up in such a bouncey package. I understand that it's that approach which has won over their core fans. But, as i stated previously, i had a difficult time appreciating them.
To hear the Wrens deconstruct that song down to a melancholy build-up really helps put the poetry of the song in perspective for someone like me... and it IS poetry. I went out last night and bought Flood and Lincoin just to hear some of these originals, and with all due respect, that Wrens track is absolutely beautiful. It's a sad song, and they've just taken it upon themselves to call a spade a spade. I'm going to see what else they have on iTunes! |
| Chris Fabulous |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 05:19:52
quote:
Originally posted by Apesy
[The Wrens' "They'll Need a Crane" is] my favorite track behind Frank's...
I don't like that it takes the bridge (which I've always thought of as the emotional climax of the song) and uses it as a lame throwaway intro, and I don't like that it's so slow and dark sounding. It totally does away with the juxtaposition of dark lyrics against bouncy music that makes the original so successful. The Wrens make it into a dirge, basically, whereas before it was desperate and alive and interesting. I will give it to them for taking a risk, but I don’t like the result.
quote:
I think the album is amazing up until This Radiant Boy's cut, and then things start getting a little bland... They're played too straight.
Well, I wouldn’t say “amazing,” but yeah. It's like they lumped all the straightforward (ie boring/pointless) covers at the end. Despite being very much like the original, however, I dig "It's Not My Birthday."
CF
www.chrisfabulous.com |
| Apesy |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 13:47:44
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Fabulous(The Wrens ruined "They'll Need a Crane," which is no small feat.).
That's my favorite track behind Frank's...
I think the album is amazing up until This Radiant Boy's cut, and then things start getting a little bland; aside from Jason Trachtenburg, nobody really takes any gambles with the arrangements or anything. They're played too stright.
-=Apesy |
| Broken Face |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 11:01:26
"Road Movie To Berlin"
Frank Black, Guitar/Vocals
Molly McGuire - Bass/Vocals
Bryan Brown - Drums
Any more info? Like who produced, or where/when it was recorded?
-Brian - http://bvsrant.blogspot.com |
| Chris Fabulous |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 10:40:29
I got the ablum and listened to it. TMBG is my favorite band, so I'm comning from a different perspective than telescopicboy. The Frank track is by far the strongest on the record, in my opinion. The rest range from pretty damn good (Fluid Ounces) to fucking horrible (The Wrens ruined "They'll Need a Crane," which is no small feat.). I like that Frank included the "lost verse" of "Road Movie."
And it's cool that you've seen the light, telescopicboy. TMBG's sound isn't for everyone, but I don't think anyone would say they're bad songwriters.
CF
www.chrisfabulous.com |
| Born to Lose |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 08:50:27
This just confirms my belief that Frank Black has a knack for taking brilliant songs under his wing and making them even more amazing. |
| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 08:31:24
Posted in the news...
 "No man remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself." |
| Carl |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 08:24:51
quote:
Originally posted by fbc
Molly 'the beautiful' McGuire on bass and vocals.
quote:
McGuire got the chance to play bass on a Frank Black track slated for Hello Radio: The Songs of They Might Be Giants. She found out about the gig when a session bassist called in sick, and since Black was her teenage hero, she not only jumped, she practically pole-vaulted to the studio. To her dismay, Black had selected the tricky-to-play “Road Movie to Berlin,” a song full of musical changes.
“But he stripped it down to three chords,” says McGuire. “I plunked it out on the bass with a country swing. Then he asked, ‘Do you sing?’ I said ‘yeah,’ and we ended up singing the entire song together in the vocal booth. He left before it was mixed, so I got to sit in the control room and flip out, listening to our voices together on the playback.”
Did you have to mention her, Soren?
Ah, be still my beating heart...
Join the Cult Of Pob! And don't forget to listen to the Pobcast! |
| telescopicboy |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 07:41:53
Just read your review BF! I too picked up a copy, despite the fact that i can't stand They Might Be Giants. The only reason i picked up the album is for Frank Black (obviously) and Self. But, my feeligs on this CD are pretty different, since I'm not a TMBG fan.
At first I couldn't figure out why FB or Self would be on a tribute to such an obnoxious, goofy band. I had to hear for myself what it was that they see so redeeming in them. But, now I get it. These songs are really good! Take away TMBG's signature sound, and i actually am a fan- of their songwriting. The songs are really solid (minus Doctor Worm, which just seems like rambling filler material). For someone who isn't a fan of the band, these versions can at least show you what good songwriters thay are.
Now, i feel really dumb. This is what I've been missing out on?! Smart lyrics? Good melodies? ...just because I can't stand nasal singing and accordian. If you'll excuse me, I have to go order some TMBG CD's... and eat my hat. |
| Broken Face |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 06:46:44
It's up for DL on emusic, by the way...
-Brian - http://bvsrant.blogspot.com |
| fbc |
Posted - 07/11/2006 : 11:59:56
Molly 'the beautiful' McGuire on bass and vocals.
quote:
McGuire got the chance to play bass on a Frank Black track slated for Hello Radio: The Songs of They Might Be Giants. She found out about the gig when a session bassist called in sick, and since Black was her teenage hero, she not only jumped, she practically pole-vaulted to the studio. To her dismay, Black had selected the tricky-to-play “Road Movie to Berlin,” a song full of musical changes.
“But he stripped it down to three chords,” says McGuire. “I plunked it out on the bass with a country swing. Then he asked, ‘Do you sing?’ I said ‘yeah,’ and we ended up singing the entire song together in the vocal booth. He left before it was mixed, so I got to sit in the control room and flip out, listening to our voices together on the playback.”
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| Chris Fabulous |
Posted - 07/11/2006 : 11:47:28
I heard a clip of the FB track online, but I don't have the CD yet. Who's playing with Frank? When was it recorded? Just curious. I'll have to pick this up soon.
CF
www.chrisfabulous.com |
| 1965 |
Posted - 07/07/2006 : 16:17:29
(( I'm a Snake... cut in half 'cause I'm not the one you needed. )) |
| telescopicboy |
Posted - 07/05/2006 : 21:21:26
July 11th?! That's this upcoming Tuesday!!! |
| prozacrat |
Posted - 05/22/2006 : 00:51:10
Excellent. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
http://www.prozacrat.com |
| david_miller |
Posted - 05/16/2006 : 19:14:48
I know, i know... this has been a long time coming, but here are the details.
Yes- the street date is set for July 11th. But, what's really exciting is that Bar/None Records is the distribution label. It seems fitting since they were responable for TMBG's first 3 albums. Ultimately, their involvement means getting the album out into stores, on iTunes, etc.
Here's the FINAL tracklist:
sElf- ana ng
The Long Winters- pet name
David Miller- narrow your eyes
Charles Douglas- she's an angel
FRANK BLACK- road movie to berlin
The Wrens- they'll need a crane
Steve Burns- dead
OK Go- letterbox
Recepter- boat of car
This Radiant Boy- don't let's start
Jason Trachtenburg- doctor worm
Fluid Ounces- it's not my birthday
Brett Kull- another first kiss
Hotel Lights- the end of the tour
Frank's version of Road Movie is nothing short of kickass. It's live, it's strong, and really really serves the song well.
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| 1965 |
Posted - 04/15/2006 : 00:26:11
For those who are interested, apparently the release date for the TMBG tribute CD will be 11th July '06.
(( I'm a Snake... cut in half 'cause I'm not the one you needed. )) |
| matto |
Posted - 05/12/2005 : 07:13:47
quote:
Originally posted by darwin
Favorite TMBG song: Where Your Eyes Don't Go
Favorite TMBG album: Lincoln
You took the ____ right out of my head
"nie za volkot, volkot na vratot" |
| VoVat |
Posted - 05/11/2005 : 12:23:46
The tribute album now has a MySpace page. There's a sample of the various songs that are on there, but I haven't been able to listen to it yet.
I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied. |
| Carl |
Posted - 05/10/2005 : 17:28:03
I thought he might do Ana-Ng. He picked the video when he hosted MTV's 120 Minutes back in the day. |
| johndietzel |
Posted - 05/09/2005 : 22:06:15
quote:
Originally posted by Crispy Water
This is incredible news! For years, I've fantasized about hearing Frank do a cover of Alienation's for the Rich. If we're assuming it'd be a Flood track, though, I agree with whoever suggested Lucky Ball & Chain. I doubt it will be something like Letterbox or Sapphire Bullets...
Nothing is ever something.
I guess I could see him trying on "Road Movie To Berlin" in Honeycomb style, in the case of a Flood track. But I would be disappointed with that I think.
----------------------
"One is sometimes tempted to wish that the superlative could be abolished, or its use allowed only to old experts. What are men to do when they get to heaven, after having exhausted their vocabulary of admiration on earth?"
--Oliver W. Holmes,
Our Hundred Days in Europe |
| telescopicboy |
Posted - 05/02/2005 : 09:16:33
Is there any word yet on which song Mr. Black is covering for this CD? The suspense is killing me!
I've been keeping track of all the message boards that mention this tribute, in hopes of finding out as much as possible. I hope this CD turns out to be as good as i think it will! Self is one of my favs. |
| david_miller |
Posted - 04/16/2005 : 08:56:21
Hi...
So, The Wrens have announced that they'll be do trying their hand at a different song, other than "Birdhouse". More news to come... |
| Crispy Water |
Posted - 04/12/2005 : 12:05:46
This is incredible news! For years, I've fantasized about hearing Frank do a cover of Alienation's for the Rich. If we're assuming it'd be a Flood track, though, I agree with whoever suggested Lucky Ball & Chain. I doubt it will be something like Letterbox or Sapphire Bullets...
Nothing is ever something. |
| Mickey |
Posted - 04/10/2005 : 01:55:21
the Wrens doing Birdhouse is going to be MINDBLOWING
-Mickey |
| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 04/05/2005 : 16:38:10
Thanks for popping in, David.
 "Oh dear / I seem to have joined the Cult of Frank." |
| Apesy |
Posted - 04/05/2005 : 15:38:31
Frank Black? Self? Steve Burns? Trachtenburg Family? The Wrens?
Performing TMBG songs?
This is already the best tribute album of all time.
Mr. Miller, I tip my hat to you.
-=Apesy |
| david_miller |
Posted - 04/05/2005 : 11:36:43
Hello all,
My name's David, and this TMBG tribute has been a labor of love for me for the past few months. As thigs have been progressing, the scope and details of the album have changed. But, allow me to tell you what I know....
Here's an update- So far, i've recieved 6 of the tracks to be included on this tribute.
Self- "Ana Ng"
The Hotel Lights (Darren Jessee of Ben Folds Five)- "The End Of The Tour"
Charles Douglas- "She's An Angel" (Joey Santiago played on Charles' latest record- it's really good)
This Radiant Boy- "Don't Let's Start"
Steve Burns- "Dead"
Brett Kull (of Echolyn)- "Another First Kiss"
Things are shaping up to sound really good. Soon, the album will be finished and we've begun discussion with a large distributor. The remaining contributions include...
Frank Black- "TBA" (i know, i know, you were hoping to find out what song- but even I don't know quite yet)
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players- "Doctor Worm"
The Wrens- "Birdhouse In Your Soul"
Recepter- "Boat Of Car"
..and myself- "Narrow Your Eyes"
I'll post again when I've got more info.
-David |
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