TMBG's eponymous debut album was first released in 1986 to wide critical acclaim. And why not? This is, simply put, a great album. Some may argue that it's uneven, but those people just don't understand the band's quirky charm. As they are still a very young band, TMBG uses a drum machine, instead of an actual drummer, on all their songs. On one song, 'Absolutely Bill's Mood,' they have a friend of theirs actually phone in a sample of him playing a guitar, while on 'Number Three,' the two Johns use a saxophone sample from an old record that even they don't know the name of! The album gives us the first taste of TMBG's delightfully whimsical approach to songs, as well as the fact that the two Johns are well aware of their pop culture heritage; the last song, "Rhythm Section Want Ad," contains a quote from Raymond Scott's 1938 classic instrumental, "Powerhouse." This album is an absolute must-buy.

Of the nineteen songs (which, by the way, is at least half a dozen more songs than most other "hip" bands put on albums), the most famous one is probably "Don't Let's Start." This one was released as a single, and it was the first TMBG song to receive airplay on the radio. It was a demo of this song that initially led Bar/None to sign them. It is a great song. The other single to come from this album, "(She Was a) Hotel Detective," isn't as magnificent as "Don't Let's Start," but it's still a very good song. Of the remaining seventeen songs, the best are "Number Three," "Hope That I Get Old Before I Die," and "Alienation's For the Rich." The other songs (with the exception of "The Day"; it's just a bit too odd for my tastes) are very, very good, though. Like I said, you must buy this album, if you don't already have it. TMBG Trivia: "Toddler Hiway" holds the distinction of being the shortest TMBG song ever (and that's saying a lot, given the band's penchant for short songs). It's only twenty-four seconds long. Also, in "Everything Right Is Wrong Again," "The Long, Long Trailer" is mentioned several times. This is the name of a classic 1954 movie starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It's a great movie in the slapstick style of "I Love Lucy." And don't even get me started on "I Love Lucy."

As always, feel free to e-mail me with any problems. Or not. It's your nickel.

"Computer, take me back to the main TMBG page."