Don't Let's Start: A Podcast About They Might Be Giants

Latest Episodes:

20: FLOOD - Part 1: Bluebird of Friendliness Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

Live, from the Electric Well! Actually-your-friends, Dave and Jordan, are back, and rocketing forward at lightning speed past the '80s (for now) and towards They Might Be Giants' brand new record for 1990, Flood! We discuss all things Flood, except for 17 of the 19 songs, which are coming up in the next episodes!

We discuss the origins of the title and album art, TMBG's signing (and singing) with Elektra records, and attempt to break down the new kind of production that was brought to the album (I'd be fired if that were my job!) We gasp for air and drown in the deep waters of Theme For Flood, our pale corpses floating to the surface like so many forgotten...ahem, anyway, then we devote the rest of the show to filibustering vigilantly about Birdhouse In Your Soul, their biggish hit song that countless screaming TMBG fans adore, and PEOPLE, we are leaving IN the whistles and bells. This podcast episode is infinite! Listen now and while you're at it, stay tuned soon for more on Flood!

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19: GRAB BAG #1: TMB Songs Aug 21, 2019

Show notes

Oh boy, oh boy! During our interview with Bill Krauss, Bill showed us an old handwritten list of songs from the mid 80s with the title "TMB Songs." In this episode, we review this list and pick out a handful of rare and forgotten songs to discuss! We also ponder some exclusive never before seen song titles that fans have never known about! This episode also includes unheard moments from our interview with Bill! This is the first in a series of grab bag episodes where we discuss random mystery songs! Listen to hear what they are! Also, we answer e-mails in our rare-but-beloved Letterbox segment, plus Unrelated Thing!

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18: Interview with Bill Krauss! Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

Reel 'er in, we've got a BIG ONE! Mr. Bill Krauss, producer of THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, LINCOLN, and other iconic 80s TMBG material joined us for a sit-down! We talked to Bill about his origins in music, getting involved with They Might Be Giants, recording the early demos and albums, being TMBG's live sound-man, stories about being on the road with the band, and tons more! Absolutely Bill's Cool!

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17: THEN: THE EARLIER YEARS: Disc 2: Hip Hip Horrific Is Our Thing Jun 24, 2019

Show notes

There's something coming. A new podcast episode on the horizon. It's coming very slowly. BUT NOW IT'S HERE! Our new episode is in the can, the big trash can! Jordan and Dave weep weep weep with joy and terror as they guide you through the bonus tracks on Then: The Earlier Years, disc 2!

They Might Be Giants have a lot of goodies and strange-lings in store! Jordan tries to find the inspiration for Kitten Intro! Dave tells a heartbreaking true tale about Weep Day! Dave and Jordan battle brains over the meaning of the haunting and obtuse The Big Big Whoredom (and it scares them)! Then they talk about gettin' experimental over I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You!

Here's hoping you don't turn the episode off, because Become A Robot gets dissected for parts! Then they want to want to sigh at the time that they discussed the unique qualities of the demo for Which Describes How You're Feeling! Swing Is A Word gets some words, Doris Cunningham is given Doris Contextham, and hey! hey! Counterfeit Fake! Jordan and Dave want you AND THAT'S NO MISTAKE! Finally, Dave and Jordan have stern words for the naughty children and naughty John and John in Schoolchildren Singing Particle Man! Listen or don't, it's entirely up to you!

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16: THEN: THE EARLIER YEARS DISC 1: Don't Remind Me Of Yesterday Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

Here's something novel for this podcast: LET'S ALL CELEBRATE TMBG! This episode discusses the were-we-ever-so-young 80's compilation from 1997, Then: The Earlier Years, notably the freaky and mysterious bonus tracks on disc 1! Dave and Jordan discuss the critics of Critic Intro! They say everything about Now That I Have Everything!

They tap out rhythms with a smile on their face to Mainstream U.S.A.! Then they skip all the 80's stuff and get to talking about Flood...FAKE OUT! In Buenos Aires, that is! Gets talked about! Sti synécheia paírnoun to baglama tous kai tragoudoún mazí me ton Ellinikó Arithmó 3! The unassuming Hope That I Get Old Before I Die (Original Version) gets its unassumed due!

We have our own podcast about They Might Be Giants, and we wanna get it recorded...can we do that? WE DO! And talk about the 1985 demo, I'm Def! To believe for all the world that you are my precious little 1985 demo for Don't Let's Start! Finally, we close out the yuks with the '85 Radio Special Thank You. All we can say is, John and John, you're welcome.

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15: Interview with Julie Kantner from The Turtlenecks! May 03, 2019

Show notes

We've got a lot of insight into a real special slice of TMBG esoterica today, as we interview Julie Kantner, incredible songwriter and past member of John Flansburgh's college dorm band, The Turtlenecks! Jordan and Dave talk to Julie about songwriting, playing live, and we devote a lot of wide-eyed attention to the six-song Turtlenecks EP from 1981, put up by Julie on her Bandcamp page! We learn about some of the earliest unheard Flansburgh (and Linnell!) songs, and hear a lot of crazy and funny anecdotes about her and the college-aged pre-TMBGer! In the latter portion of the episode, Julie tells us about the inspiration behind some of her best songs released through her bands Fertile Virgin, Twig, and Uranium Daughters! She writes short, catchy, fun and lyrically complex rock songs, and we think all TMBG fans would go nuts for her music!

Check out all of her stuff, including the Turtlenecks EP, at https://uraniumdaughters.bandcamp.com

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14: MISCELLANEOUS T Wrap-Down: I'll Find Your Answering Machine Apr 24, 2019

Show notes

Our options for Miscellaneous T tracks to discuss get whittled away as Dave and Jordan confront the very few ***exclusive*** Dial-A-Songs and demos for Miscellaneous T! We dip back into our ongoing Dial-A-Song historical discussion! We also chill the f out a bit and answer some e-mails, discuss a wide variety of questionably compelling TMBG topics, talk about our favorite non-TMBG b-sides in our award-winning Unrelated Thing segment, and (are you ready?), introduce an ALL NEW award-winning segment! Where are we going to put all of these awards?!? And all of these hyphens?!!?

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13: MISCELLANEOUS T - Part 3: Flowers Die And So Will I Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

Dave and Jordan finish their stride through the b-sides compiled on Miscellaneous T! For Science is real, and they talk about the cocky character clamoring for the Venus vixen! Then we discuss lucky track number 13 and dig into more Dial-A-Song history, plus make extremely educated guesses about the inner lives of Gloria and The Guy!

And from the phone machine to the phone inside her ribcage, we marvel at the musical dexterity of The Famous Polka! The haunting tale buried deep inside When It Rains It Snows is shuddered upon, and we're having a good time unpacking the musical influences of We're The Replacements! Here's a hint: the band The Replacements! Also, we talk about those darn single remixes! I pity the fool who doesn't listen to Miscellaneous T, Part 3!

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12: MISCELLANEOUS T - Part 2: The Sweetest Spot Mar 29, 2019

Show notes

Dave and Jordan soak up Miscellaneous T some more! They get drenched by rising flood waters in I'll Sink Manhattan! The sound upon the roof isn't only water, it's Dave and Jordan trying to wade through It's Not My Birthday! Then they cry a river of tiny tears as they grasp at the meaning of the three-word Hello Radio!

Then...THIS JUST IN: Mr. Klaw's secret identity REVEALED, and YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE who it is! CLICK HERE NOW! Share and subscribe! After discussing the sexxy and stripped down Kiss Me Son of God (Alternate Version), the episode is closed out by the biggest show-stopping history-making discussion of The Biggest One, including EXCLUSIVE insight into a key (don't throw it away!) moment in the lyrics! What am I talking about?!? What am I doing hangin' from the hope that you will LISTEN NOW!!!!! You've got no one to blame but your beautiful selves if you miss out on what is without question our MOST RECENT EPISODE EVER!

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11: MISCELLANEOUS T - Part 1: The Tiny Lights Shines Twice As Bright Mar 22, 2019

Show notes

Mister Cooper and Mister Fox talk about the first five tracks of Miscellaneous T, the jaw-dropping and unpredictable They Might Be Giants B-side compilation! We get BESIDE ourselves discussing the very nature of the B-side! D & J deal with Hey Mr. DJ I Thought You Said We Had A Deal!

Then Pal Jordan tells Pal Dave about TMBG's obsession with Pal Joey and why they covered Lady Is A Tramp! Thoughts fall from their thoughts as they try to reveal the scope of Birds Fly! Then they skip over The World's Address (Joshua Fried Remix) because they already devoted episode 08 to that! Finally, Jordan tells Dave a bedtime story about the Nightgown of the Sullen Moon. Don't feel a bit insulted! Listen NOW!

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