Review of They Might Be Giants: Here Come The ABCs

Introduction

I was first introduced to the quirky pop of They Might Be Giants with the hit single Birdhouse In Your Soul back in 1990. A swift purchase of the accompanying album led me to gems such as Istanbul (Not Constantinople), Particle Man and They Might Be Giants. And then they were gone. But not really…

A brief return to public consciousness occurred with their quirky (oh no, that word again…) theme tune from Malcolm In The Middle called Boss Of Me. Fiendishly and addictively catchy, kids and adults alike roamed the streets humming the few bars they heard on the TV.

Now the group return again, this time using their music to teach children their ABCs for Disney. So have they gone soft in their middle age?

Video

Nice mix of animation, puppetry and real footage to keep the kids amongst us amused (and your kids too…).

Audio

A Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack, but it doesn`t need anything more than this.

Features

Two extra songs: Clap Your Hands and Here In Higglytown, the latter being the theme tune to something called Higglytown Heroes.

Conclusion

I`m not quite sure what I was expecting here. I remember the quirkiness of They Might Be Giants from the 90`s and their latest sitcom theme tune, but doing a children`s ABCs DVD? Would this compromise the music?

Not a chance. There are 35 short and catchy songs including the extra ones, and I can imagine these songs burrowing their way into tiny developing minds and staying there. TMBG also prove that you don`t have to dumb down for kids. Their lyrics are as obtuse as ever and they never stray from putting in unfamiliar words like cortex that you`d never hear in pre-school or even infant school.

A lot of fun, and maybe a DVD you won`t get sick of being asked to watch by your kids…