I’ve been a fan of They Might Be Giants for most of my life and have always been surprised that people universally disagree with me on this.
Linnell’s songs tend to be quirkier but also shallower. (State Songs is a good example here - there isnt a song for every state and theyre often abstract to the point of meaninglessness. I expected such a project to have more inspiration behind it.
I’ve always found Flansburgh’s more melodic and thoughtful, slightly better composed, and with a superior singing voice.
Of course they’re a great duo and they play off each other’s strengths. I don’t dislike Linnell at all, just the songs that he sings tend to not be my favorites.
They’ve got such an extensive catalog it was hard to narrow down, so here’s a top five of songs sung by each John:
John Linnell: Particle Man, We Want a Rock, Ana Ng, Birdhouse in Your Soul, and Doctor Worm
John Flansburgh: Lucky Ball and Chain, Cyclops Rock, New York City, Man It’s so Loud in Here, Pet Name
Having made these lists, Flansburgh does more love songs, maybe that’s my bias.
Hmm we had Birdhouse In Your Soul as our wedding entrance music so I can’t in good conscience agree with you here.
Those are favorites from each one, not evidence Linnell is a bad musician.
I just looked it up, and Linnell also did “Let’s Get This Over With,” which is by far my favorite of their more recent stuff…
Yeah, I think I’ve just gotta disagree with you as well. “Dr Worm” is such a banger too…
Yeah, it’s tough, cause I love pretty much all the Flansburgh you listed, but I think Linnell probably edges it out for me…
Yeah, I keep looking up other songs to try and make the case for Flansburgh, and they keep being Linnell. He also did “Contrecoup.” And it looks like he’s primary on “Older.” I think all the songs that are immediately popping to mind are Linnell, so I guess that says something…
Linnell has more conceptual songs, and those are awesome. And I do agree that Doctor Worm is a great fucking song.
But Flansburgh just makes stronger songs in general to me. I guess maybe they’re often the less experimental ones, which may say something about my tastes as well.
Said the old-timey sex worker