TMBG Flood
Posted by HayQueen@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 95 comments
When I was in kindergarten in a carpool, I had a high schooler with me who had a mix tape of various 1990 questionable hits. Finally found out the band I liked was TMBG and not REM. Got my mom to buy me the cassette tape of Flood and history was made that day. I love this album and know all the words even to this day. Any other TMBG enthusiasts amongst my peoples?
edasto42@reddit
I was really big into them during my college years (95ish-98ish). I always had a soft spot, but for some reason during that era in my life I really was into them. Went and saw them in concert a bunch of times. Then one day I just wasn’t into it. I just got annoyed by a lot of it. The jokes got old, the fans got under my skin (for some reason they attract a lot of people that don’t go into public a lot), and their quirkiness started to get old.
I still will listen to a song every now and then (Doctor Worm is still a fun listen). But I don’t care about anything they’ve done in the last 20 years
TZath@reddit
Flood was a great album but Apollo 18 was more my jam.
jwibspar@reddit
I only recently learned you aren't supposed to listen to Apollo 18 in order. It was crafted to take advantage of these new CD players with their shuffle function. Wife and I listened to it like that for the first time while cooking dinner the other night. All the little Fingertips make a lot more sense this way.
Spazzrico@reddit
Hey now everybody now hey now everybody hey now everybody now
lolsalmon@reddit
What’s that blue thing..
DOING HERE
hotdoghelmet@reddit
Aren't you the guy that hit me in the eye?
TZath@reddit
I heard a sound, I turned around. I turned around and found the thing that made the sound.
jwibspar@reddit
mySTEEEERIOUS whisper
hotdoghelmet@reddit
I think that is written in the liner notes if I remember correctly.
TZath@reddit
You just blew my fuckin' mind, man
https://makeagif.com/gif/you-just-blew-my-mind-GQ-QVN
Spazzrico@reddit
I think so for me too. It’s the first one I bought. At Looney T-birds in Oxford Ohio.
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
I Palindrome I was my fav.
nudave@reddit
You son of a bitch.
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
My favorite line!
HayQueen@reddit (OP)
Also loved Apollo 18!
saltyhashbrowns@reddit
I got to see them numerous times at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. One time we took our kid to the matinee show and went back that evening for the adult show. 🙌
mrs-ghetto-gourmet@reddit
Great little venue. Saw Living Colour there one night a few (10ish?) years ago, and the next night saw 311 at some amphitheater I don't remember the name of. Too many beers ago (lol) but I definitely remember having a blast!
lord_nerdly@reddit
Just saw them in Detroit last night! My first show. Apparently I’ve missed a lot of their albums, I didn’t know about 1/3 of the songs. Had to make a few purchases today.
LongjumpingJaguar308@reddit
Jealous! Used to see them yearly when I lived in Asheville but they've not come to Boise in the decade I've lived here.
Snarktoberfest@reddit
Saw them at the Egyptian.
LongjumpingJaguar308@reddit
How long ago? Just wondering if I'm not paying enough attention.
Snarktoberfest@reddit
June 9, 2013
LongjumpingJaguar308@reddit
Ok, that was before I moved here!
SquirrelEnthusiast@reddit
Going in two weeks!!!
thebarnacleez@reddit
I saw them back in like 1998, and still think about how fun that show was. They had the whole venue doing a conga line.
Kinetic_Silverwolf@reddit
I was introduced to TMBG like many of my peers, via "Tiny Toon Adventure". I bought all of their 90s albums, along with Showroom and Mink Car, before I stopped really following their new releases. I saw them once at House of Blues, which is an amazing venue for them, and had an awesome time.
John and John rock.
TomPalmer1979@reddit
My favorite band of all time, just saw them live again in November. Love em.
I discovered them, like many Xennial-aged fans, through Tiny Toon Adventures. There was their MTV parody episode, which featured Istanbul and Particle Man. Being a kid of about 10-11, I loved that episode but did not actually think they were a real band.
Then when the SegaCD came out, I got one, and it came with a music sampler disc (because CDs were a new technology then), and one of the featured songs was Mammal, and I went "holy shit they're real?!" Shortly thereafter as a family we went to a record store, and I used my allowance to buy the first two CDs I ever bought; the Jurassic Park soundtrack, and They Might Be Giants' "Flood". To this day one of my favorite albums of all time.
Wapiti_whacker82@reddit
Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople.
Wapiti_whacker82@reddit
I don't think I've ever heard of them. Will have to check them out!
yodellingllama_@reddit
Honestly, I didn't get into Flood until after Tiny Toon Adventures. I went back to Flood (and John Henry and Lincoln) after my first purchase: Apollo 18.
qualityskootchtime@reddit
That was so sick when they played their songs. Particle Man!!
doompines@reddit
Same here! I taped that episode of Tiny Toons and played it over and over and over.
qualityskootchtime@reddit
MINIMUM WAGE…….HEEEYAH!
ravenpen@reddit
Going to see TMBG tomorrow night!
Relevant-Package-928@reddit
Of course! I've been to see TMBG several times and have seen them play Flood in its entirety, twice. They always have the most fun shows.
bascule@reddit
I still have a literal blue canary in the outlet by the lightswich night light
Mission_Fart9750@reddit
Does he watch over you?
JuniorPatrick@reddit
Same. Also have a framed photo of a lighthouse on the opposite wall.
CustomReplicant@reddit
Just got mine a week or two ago.
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
So do I!!!!
jocundry@reddit
I used to have one of those. Lost it in a move, unfortunately
Mission_Fart9750@reddit
Flood is the only TMBG album I have, and I love it. It also doesn't hurt that Particle Man and Istanbul (not Constantinople) were already known to me thanks to Tiny Toons.
indecisivesloth@reddit
They just put out a new album if that's of interest to you.
Common_Juggernaut724@reddit
They have a smattering of songs I absolutely love. I don't think I'd call myself a fan, exactly, but I love them for what they do.
Also: their cover of Destiny's Child, Bills, Bills, Bills is fantastic.
Sinead_0_rebellion@reddit
I managed to see them a few years back on Record Store Day here in Maine at one of the local Bull Moose Music stores. It was so cool.
thelaineybelle@reddit
Wassup!!!! TMBG and Violent Femmes fucking rule!!!
TheRealDoomsong@reddit
I listened to Birdhouse In Your Soul on the way to work this morning, so i feel you lol
necronomitodd@reddit
I saw the video for Istanbul on Liquid Television, so I bought Flood on cassette at my nearest opportunity.
Mr_Sandmarine_Man@reddit
Core memory driving around Pittsburgh in college listening to Flood for the first time, likely somewhat stoned, being introduced to it by a young woman with a very emo aesthetic. Blew my little Dead Kennedy's and The Clash infused punk rock head off.
epidemicsaints@reddit
First song I heard was "Ana Ng" and it's still my favorite. My faves on Flood are "Birdhouse" and "Dead."
Moleta1978@reddit
Lincoln is the album that I will always hold closest in my heart. Ana Ng is awesome and growing up in rural Virginia, Cowtown was a great track to sing along to right after.
vajrasana@reddit
I came back as a bag of groceries accidentally taken off the shelf before the expiration date
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
I’m dead and I haven’t done anything that I want, or I’m still alive and there’s nothing I want to do.
plumbusinsuranceltd@reddit
Seeing them tomorrow night!
bk30306@reddit
I’m proud to say that TMBG was my first concert. It was during the John Henry tour in like 1995 (I was 15) and it absolutely rocked!
litchick@reddit
They call me Dr. Worm.
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
I’m interested in things… I’m not a real doctor but I am a real worm I am an actual worm. I live like a worm… I like to play the drums (this part was always like, huh? Lol)
litchick@reddit
So delightfully catchy and absurd. Picking a favorite TMBG song is like picking a favorite child but this one is a current fav.
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
Right now I’m really into “Can’t Keep Johnny Down “
CustomReplicant@reddit
I'm not a real doctor, but I am a real worm. I am an actual worm.
val0ciraptor@reddit
When I was first getting to know my husband I once messaged him if he knew the song that went, "Triangle man, triangle man, triangle man hates particle man... because you look like the type of guy who does."
This, of course, was back before we all had readily available internet on phones so I sent that T9 message on my flip phone. A friend had sent me a weirdly made with like Microsoft Paint music video for that song and I couldn't remember the name.
He messaged back that it was Particle Man by TMBG and was pretty annoyed that I'd clocked him like that.
Anyway, we eventually saw them in concert when they had Jonathan Coulton opening and we saw a guy so drunk before TMBG played that he got kicked out. Imagine being stumbling blind drunk at TMBG.
RogowskiCoil@reddit
TMBG is my honorary favorite band of all time. I first heard them on Tiny Tunes, then discovered that my cousin had Lincoln on LP. I got Apollo 18 when it came out and went to see them on that tour.. it was my first concert. They were a big part of my life through adolescence into adulthood. Their shows are such a blast! I've been to 7 or 8, most recently in 2023, and they still rock.
CaptGarfield@reddit
I thank Tiny Toon Adventures for my love of TMBG. Saw them in Philly a couple years ago
SweatyPalmsSunday@reddit
We’re
In
Aaaaa Road movie to Berliiiiin
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
Can’t drive out the way we drove in…
CottaBird@reddit
My first exposure to TMBG was through Tiny Toons. I didn’t know Triangle Man and Istanbul were songs from a real band and not for the cartoon until my big sister showed them to me much later. I’ve been hooked ever since.
kgruesch@reddit
Fellinthedoor Andyoufellonthefloor Withyourhandontheknob Lookingupandabruptly Forgotwhatyourthinking Firealarmsgo Offinyourhead Youlive...
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
In the nightgown of the sullen moon…
Moxie_Stardust@reddit
This remains one of my all time favorite songs by anyone.
Miriyum1031@reddit
Yes! Absolutely! Finally got to see them in concert as an adult and definitely teared up with nostalgia awesomeness! I probably quote them randomly on the regular.. you know, everybody wants prosthetic forehead on their real heads.. 😂💚
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
Oh no! Not the prosthetic forehead!
EricRShelton@reddit
I was just listening to Apollo 18 about half an hour ago in the car!
WinnieTheEeyore@reddit
One of the few albums where I can sing the entire thing.
gerardkimblefarthing@reddit
I do have kids, and they do listen to Flood!
Unfair@reddit
Anyone see the Particle Man video on Tiny Toons? https://youtu.be/LsAiCs66l40?feature=shared
That’s how I was introduced to them - saw them at Central Park in the mid 90’s as my first ever concert.
It was really cool to hear them on Radio Disney all the time when they started making Children’s music in the early 2000’s
OhTheHueManatee@reddit
I bought that album from a used CD store. Listen to it a few times. Decided it wasn't really my thing and returned it. I found myself singing the songs from it tons and so I had to back to get it again. They have a lot of great music. I find it funny that one of their more popular songs Why Does The Sun Shine? Is not only a cover but based on outdated concepts about the sun so they made a sequel to it song called Why Does The Sun Really Shine? which is more accurate, I think better but it's fairly obscure by comparison.
Flashy-Share8186@reddit
Minimum wage! hyah!
TinyRandomLady@reddit
Why is the world in love again?
Why are we marching hand in hand?
Why are the ocean levels rising up?
It's a brand new record for 1990
They Might Be Giants' brand new album Flood!!!
MissAngryBanana@reddit
If I had kids, they would totally be listening to Flood. It’s a fantastic album, top to bottom.
nudave@reddit
I have passed Flood on to my nerdy 15 years old daughter. Proud dad.
Starbreiz@reddit
Omg that yellow cassette was a staple in my life. It's one of the few cassettes I took with me when I moved
smokythejoker@reddit
I’m a huge fan, I have all of their albums on vinyl. I go see them whenever they come to LA.
Firebolt164@reddit
I remember my dad buying me this album at Walmart in like 1992 and I listened to it until the tape literally fell apart
_ism_@reddit
seen them live. seeing Weird Al this year. nerdsim complete.
ghoulthebraineater@reddit
Puddles Pity Party is fucking amazing.
https://youtu.be/VBmCJEehYtU?si=PH0JBSzE9c-Rp8xR
B_Williams_4010@reddit
'Flood' is still my favorite album. I firmly believe that the boost they got from being on Tiny Toons is what made them.
YourGuyK@reddit
When I was in high school we had a pick up volleyball team called The Ugliness Men.
Their kid's music albums are amazing as well. They have a whole album about numbers that I absolutely adore.
Pleasant_Expert_1990@reddit
Flood was the first CD I ever got, received for Christmas 1989.
"Why is the world in love again?
Why are we marching hand in haaaand?
Why are the ocean levels rising up?
It's a brand new record for 1990.
They Might Be Giants brand new album
Flooooood!"
Then right into Birdhouse in Your Soul. Transformative.
NoKatyDidnt@reddit
I love TMBG. Puppet Head is a great song. Flood is an amazing album in general.
QueenInYellowLace@reddit
Saw them in concert in Santa Barbara in about 1997 and they were fucking amazing! Such a great show!
ObligationJumpy6415@reddit
Saw them perform the entire Flood album several years ago. Amazing show!
Zagmut@reddit
Hell yeah, saw them last summer in Portland!
vinegarnglitter@reddit
Little bit of art behind the bikes!
lavasca@reddit
Oooh! Blue Canary was the best way to start a morning!
Moxie_Stardust@reddit
I'll be getting a John Henry skull tattoo at some point, it's nice because it fits my general vibe but will also be recognizable to certain people I could name. Been listening to them ever since Flood came out, seen them live every time they've been in my area (and once at Gen Con!)