They Might Be Giants
Here Comes Science
Disney Sound
By Al Kaufman
Since the band's inception in 1986, many have accused geek rockers They Might Be Giants (namely, John Linnell and John Flansburgh) of being a kids' band. Between silly songs, such as "Purple Toupee," they put songs about American history, like "James K. Polk," or social commentary, such as "Your Racist Friend." They wrote the theme song to Malcolm in the Middle, and it's recurring chorus, "You're not the boss of me," became the mantra of children everywhere.
So when They Might Be Giants released their first actual kids' CD, NO!, not too many were surprised. It was a glorious CD, filled with silliness, education, and attitude. It was a CD for kids that parents, who remember singing "Birdhouse in Your Soul" from the top of their lungs in high school, didn't mind playing over and over again.
While continuing to put out "adult" CDs, TMBG have been spending the bulk of their time dishing out kids' music lately. Their CDs now all have themes. There was Here Come the A B Cs, followed by Here Come the 1 2 3s, which has now led to Here Comes Science.
Teaching science to the sippy cup crowd is a little tougher than numbers and letters, and many of the songs about scientific theory, the elements, evolution, electricity, cells and photosynthesis, have so much information in them, delivered in such a deadpan approach, that they have the same effect as a boring 8th grade chemistry teacher would have on a hormone-fueled boy in class who can only stare at the cheerleader sitting next to him. Even the melodies, often a strong point of TMBG, seem slapped on.
The only truly inspired track on here is the supposed "bonus track," "The Ballad of Davy Crockett (in Outer Space)," which, using the original song's melody, tells how Crockett tamed the final frontier.
TMBG also include "Why Does the Sun Shine?," originally from their Severe Tire Damage release, on here. While the song, taken from a 1959 educational album called Space Songs, (as is "What Is a Shooting Star?") may work in a kitchy, "takes me back to the days of Schoolhouse Rock" way for adults, for kids it may just seem a little too much like learning. They follow the song with "Why Does the Sun Really Shine?," in which they explain that the sun isn't really a gas, but a "plasma," which is the fourth form of matter, after solid, liquid, and gas.
Yup, there's plenty of stuff to learn here, but most of it doesn't come close to the entertainment value of a Bill Nye, Science Guy. That is, until you pop in the accompanying DVD. Then everything starts to fall into place. Within the deceptively simplistic-looking cartoons, the elements come to life and you understand that "AU" actually means "gold", you can follow how photosynthesis works, and how to remember the colors of the spectrum. The videos are fun and frolicsome, with cartoon versions the two Johns guiding your way through. Kids will want to watch them repeatedly. And parents will let them do so without feeling guilty, and without needing to reach for the Prozac.
