Glory McElheny makes her TMBP debut to talk about the undisputed banger "Metal Detector" off of Factory Showroom. We talk about the book Buried Treasure of Casco Bay which inspired the song, actual metal detectors, and moog synthesizers. We also found a wide range of live versions of the song and we attempt to narrow down our choices of covers.
Marvel comics editor and ukulele cover artist Jordan D. White makes his debut on the show to talk about a comic-related song, Chip The CHiP! It's the first Escape Team episode in over two years and we make up for lost time with tons of comic talk, CHiPs TV reminiscing of sorts, and trying figuring out what Linnell is doing with his voice. Plus, covers by our very own Noah Daniel and one by Jordan himself.
Greg Lindberg returns to the show after more than two years to talk about the sadly-still-relevant song Your Racist Friend, visiting IN PERSON at Velour Underground Studios. We do some catching up, talk about a bunch of goofy stuff kind of related to the song, and diss some racist bastards (take a drink if you can guess who). We play both demo versions, a ton of rad live versions, and an eclectic mix of covers.
Jonathan Leonard is the first inductee into the FIVE-TIMERS CLUB, returning for an episode on fan-favorite deep cut "Certain People I Could Name" off of Long Tall Weekend. A nice mailbag starts the episode including some more well-wishes for Flans and a special treat made by a fan, then onto the episode with much samurai movie talk, Elvis Costello comparisons, and covers by friends and strangers as well as first-take vocal performance by Greg. You'll see.
Old Punknews friend Tori Pederson visits to talk about the classic spooky Pink Album track 32 Footsteps. We catch up and talk punk journalism, Mr. Bungle, Ween and I Think You Should Leave, then we dive into the song to figure out what makes it's creepiness so effective and addictive to listen to. Custom cover supplied by Appalachian/old-timey folk & TMBG mashup team The Number Three, featuring past guests Ben Byrd and Rachel Jones!
Couple Jennifer Noelle and Dominic Linde are on the show together to talk about a shared favorite song, "Happy Doesn't Have to Have an Ending" from the Bed Bed Bed accompanying CD. The three of us discuss the John's entry into children's music with No! and this book, and break down what makes this song so successful, and how it introduces kids to unfamiliar terms and concepts in a fun way. Also, you'll hear a cover by an adorable kids choir as well as an equally adorable adult.
Elizabeth Sandifer co-wrote the 33 1/3 book on Flood (with former guest Alex Reed) and is here to talk about a non-Flood song, "Become a Robot" from TMBG's 1985 demo tape and collected on Then: The Early Years. Hear us attempt to decipher one of the most bizarre songs in a career full of bizarre songs. We play the only live clip of this song in existence, and Greg, Cara and little Zinnia create the only cover in existence, recorded from Madrid. Episode edited by Avren Keating of the Waves Breaki...
Good friend of the show Cari Hearn returns for her umpteenth time for another TMBP My Murdered Remains song episode. We get real classical on this thang, talkin' chord progressions, singing timbres and violin technique (is your violin sponge-worthy?), as well as plenty of sci-fi nerd talk. Also, hear TWO covers by Cari that are vastly different!
*Listen to the pre-episode introduction for a special "get well soon" message from the TMBP listeners.* OG fan Stanley Allen makes his first appearance on the show to remind Greg of the greatness of Rowboat Mayor, another My Murdered Remains track. They discuss music of all types that informed their fandoms of TMBG and ponder young Flansburgh's own fandoms of punk and post punk bands that could have steered the rowboat of his tastes, even so much later on in life when writing a song like this. W...
Brit Nick Jackson finally makes his first appearance to talk about a tune far, far down on John Henry's tracklisting, "Out of Jail." We talk at length about how this song deserves more love, why the demo rules, why it should be played more live, and demonstrate the massive amounts of fan love for this song by rounding up a bunch of sweet covers, including Nick's own cover, which Greg jumped in on for drums. Episode edited and mixed by Avren Keating of the Waves Breaking podcast. Thanks Avren!...
Iowan Rachel Jones makes her first appearance on the show to talk about the weird little old TMBG rarity "Birds Fly". We dig around to try and figure out the true age of this song, unearth the one and only live performance of the song, and get two custom covers including Rachel's own cover from the Purple Toupee comp! This episode (and the next 5) is edited and mixed by the amazing Avren Keating of the Waves Breaking podcast, because I'm in Spain!
Joel Yalowitz, known around TMBG cover communities as Guest/Host, is here to talk about the More Murdered Remains tune Prepare. We talk about the tragedy that song got booted from Nanobots, dissect what makes it so cool, and listen to a few awesome covers, one by Joel himself.
Meredith Pryce makes her debut on the show to talk about this beloved early b-side. We talk about the 80's children's book and how John Linnell is lying that he never heard of it, we talk about what makes this song the best b-side in their entire career and we find a million great covers in a million styles.
Adam Goren aka Atom & His Package returns to the show to talk about the song we covered for the Purple Toupee compilation, "Alphabet of Nations" from Here Come the ABCs. We have a ball talking geography, teaching, this rad song obviously, and also learn about his awesome new band Dead Best.
New friend Lydia Snow makes her first appearance to talk about her young journalism career and communicating with TMBG management leading to writing an excellent BOOK review, then we get to the song to break it all down, and hear the only cover yet in existence.
Greg Behan appears on the show after long last to talk about the Lincoln banger "Where Your Eyes Don't Go." Fellow Gregs always deliver, and boy howdy do we get into it with this classic, breaking down every element of its greatness, playing tons of great live clips spanning decades, and curating the best covers out there... plus a cover from each Greg!
Old friend of the show Dana Williamson returns to the show to talk BOOK and specifically the bangin' opener Synopsis for Latecomers. We get into the weeds with music theory elements of the songs so you all know the genius of JL, and try to decode the frightening scenario of the lyrics. We also play a couple of custom covers from the crew for you all to enjoy.
Join me, poet and podcaster Avren Keating and photographers Eve Gasse and Ian Hutchings to discuss Brian Karlsson's photography and Paul Sahre's typography in the book of BOOK.
New friend of the show and speed-listening champion Ben Byrd is here to lawyer all of our asses about TMBG's cover of Yeh Yeh from Mink Car. The song has a long winding history before it even made it to the Giants, so step on into that jury box and get ready for our opening statements on this lengthy trial of the century.
Old friend of the show Mari Morton makes their triumphant return to talk about Book and its second single I Broke My Own Rule. We talk much music theory, Linnell's kitchen rules, mental health, and play three custom covers.
It's been two friggin years since the Crane live episode in Bloomington, IN. Since we don't do covers sections at a live episode, it's high time we shine a spotlight on the best and most interesting Crane covers on the web. Roundtable guests Cari Hearn and Jon Hancuff return to help me. Enjoy!!
Speed-listener Chris Conaton joins us for the first time to talk about one of the weirdest songs on BOOK, If Day for Winnipeg. We go over the history of If Day during WWII, talk about relvant sonic comparisons from elementary music boomwhackers to gamalan music, and demonstrate what how a ring modulator plugin effect works.
Australian friend Belinda Van Helden is on the show to talk about the classic TMBG kid's song Four of Two. But is it a kids song? Find out about the song's life before the album No! and learn all about the location of famously-stopped clocks.
Lydia Sekscenski visits the show to talk about Icky off of Nanobots. Who's that Icky guy? We try to get to know him in our discussion of the lyrics, the intriguing chord progression, and an instrument rarely used throughout TMBG's canon. Greg contributes a cover that's... loud.
Garrett Secret joins us to talk about a tune deep in Glean's tracklist, Aaa. We get our hands dirty trying to make sense of the chord progression, talk percussion, and find a surprisning amount of covers.
Ariana Harris makes her debut on the show to talk about the Flood classic Whistling In The Dark. We discuss the disputed meaning of the title phrase, marching bass drums, and live recordings from all eras of the band.
I Lost Thursday was the first single released from BOOK, well ahead of the album. Patrick Crowling makes his first appearance on the show to talk about this funky pandemic-born track, and we get two custom covers, one from Patrick himself.
I Can't Remember the Dream was the third single released from BOOK and the first one to receive the music video treatment. Here to talk about it is the director himself, Alex Italics! He shares stories about every single TMBG video he's directed before we break down the song musically and lyrically, discuss the recent alternate version, and check out an awesome custom cover and a crazy mashup, both made by friends of the show.
It's our first BOOK episode! Chris Oliveira returns to the show to talk about a song deep in BOOK's tracklist, Part of You Wants to Believe Me. We try to parse just what's going on in the word, debate instrument tones, and listen to some awesome custom covers.
Bryce Hurst is here to talk about this Join Us deep cut. Learn about the complexities of this seemingly simple song, hear its Quiet Storm version and Bryce's rad cover.
