John Henry is a powerhouse of an album. They Might Be Giants' full band debut finds the Johns joined by Brian Doherty on drums, Kurt Hoffman on keys and woodwinds, along with twin rock legends Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, Bob Mould) and Graham Maby (Joe Jackson, Freedy Johnston). Coming off extensive live band touring behind Apollo 18, for TMBG, John Henry is a hard left turn back into the world of the rock combo. While the album is full of wild sonic surprises like the manic improvisation of "Spy" and the rich vocal harmonies delivered by Hudson Shad on "O, Do Not Forsake Me," at the core of the album is a remarkable set of rollicking songs delivered in a direct manner. "Snail Shell," "Subliminal," and "Meet James Ensor" immediately established themselves as show-stoppers, and audiences' appreciation for the album has only grown over the years.
Presented on 180-gram, neon orange vinyl, this is an Idlewild-exclusive release. Download card included.
Track List:
Side A:
- Subliminal
- Snail Shell
- Sleeping in the Flowers
- Unrelated Thing
- AKA Driver
- I Should Be Allowed to Think
Side B:
- Extra Savoir-Faire
- Why Must I Be Sad?
- Spy
- O, Do Not Forsake Me
- No One Knows My Plan
- Dirt Bike
Side C:
- Destination Moon
- A Self Called Nowhere
- Meet James Ensor
- Thermostat
- Window
- Out of Jail
- Stomp Box
- The End of the Tour
Side D (Live):
- O, Do Not Forsake Me
- AKA Driver
- Sleeping in the Flowers
- Snail Shell
- Meet James Ensor
- A Self Called Nowhere