Once upon a time, alternative rockers They Might Be Giants were totally hip with the college crowd. I, for one, loved to crank up their 1990 release, Flood, while hanging out in my dorm room, singing along with songs like “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” “Particle Man,” and, of course, “Istanbul.” Now, though, the band’s music isn’t just for grown-ups. Thanks to albums like Here Come the ABCs and Here Comes Science, the lovably geeky rockers are adored by both grown-ups and their kids. And it all started with 2002’s No!—the tenth anniversary of which is being celebrated with a new deluxe edition re-issue release.
Really, the guys from They Might Be Giants have always been the perfect fit for kid-friendly cross-overs. Even on their adult albums, they’re not afraid to be silly. Their songs are loaded with wit and whimsy, and their delightfully nerdy lyrical style seems just as suitable for songs about geography and the alphabet as for songs about lighthouses and ancient cities. No!, then, is pure They Might Be Giants: the same quirky little tunes, written with the same clever wit. This time, though, the songs are perfectly appropriate for audiences of all ages, with themes and lyrics that kids will easily understand.
The album’s first track, “Fibber Island” is sure to be an instant favorite—a ridiculously catchy tune about a fib-filled world where our house is made of pie and our friends are from Mars. Other highlights include “Clap Your Hands,” a high-energy song with directions for kids to follow as they sing and dance along (“Clap your hands! … Stomp your feet! … Jump in the air!”). The super-short “I Am a Grocery Bag” offers (quite literally) a grocery list of items. And the brilliant bonus track, “Alphabet of Nations,” will teach listeners a little bit about world geography.
Of course, not every song on the album is an instant classic. Some are a little sleepy, while others don’t seem to fit (like “In the Middle, in the Middle, in the Middle,” which would be cute on any other kids’ album—just not one by They Might Be Giants).
Overall, though, No! is a fun-filled album that’s a must-own for hipster moms and dads. It’s sure to end up on heavy rotation in your Cheerio-strewn SUV or minivan. In fact, it’s such an enjoyable album that you might find yourself playing it even when the kids aren’t around.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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