They Might Be Giants
Elektra’s Sue Drew signed They Might Be Giants in 1989 and their major label debut, Flood, followed in January 1990. The album was a landmark work of the burgeoning alternative era, with beyond-clever singles like “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” and the top 3 Modern Rock favorite, “Birdhouse In Your Soul,” pushing the collection to RIAA platinum certification for sales exceeding 1 million.
1992’s Apollo 18 saw John and John escalating their simple sound to include more traditional rock ‘n’ roll instrumentation. John Henry, the duo’s next album, released in 1994, took things ever farther, with TMBG now credited as a full-fledged band. Two years later, their sixth and final Elektra release, entitled Factory Showroom, saw the duo delving into the more experimental side of their nature.
Since then, TMBG have pioneered a number of musical fronts, from innovative use of the Internet to children’s music to soundtrack composition. Among their many contributions to film and television are “Dog On Fire,” the Bob Mould-composed theme to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and “Boss Of Me,” their own Grammy Award-winning theme from the hit sitcom, Malcolm In The Middle.