Apollo 18 (album)
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| Apollo 18 | ||
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| CD by They Might Be Giants | ||
| Released | March 24, 1992 | |
| Recorded | 1991 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 42 min 37 s | |
| Record label | Elektra | |
| Producer | They Might Be Giants | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| AMG (http://Allmusic.com) | 3.5 stars out of 5 | link (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47916DB4AAC7120C79A3647D1A17FE70BFE41F69B1B39455BD8B023068E0238F457E98088CBFE31F41FE9B326BB5910D1CAEE52B0DB6C3E3F87EEA0705843&uid=CADMR0408031932&sql=10:5nr9ke9t7q79~T1) |
| They Might Be Giants Chronology | ||
| Miscellaneous T (1991) | Apollo 18 (1992) | John Henry 1994) |
Apollo 18 is They Might Be Giants' fourth studio album, although it is the fifth disc in their discography. It was released in 1992 (see 1992 in music), and named after a cancelled entry into NASA's Apollo program.
The album marked the first conscious effort by John Linnell and John Flansburgh to branch out of their early sound, opting for more traditional rock rhythms and fuller arrangements. The duo adopted a backing band with live drums during the supporting tour.
Despite its lack of a chart-topping single and somewhat mixed reception from critics, Apollo 18 remains a fan favorite. The group even performed the album in its entirety at a few special shows in 2003.
Track listing
- "Dig My Grave" (1:08)
- "I Palindrome I" (2:25)
- "She's Actual Size" (2:05)
- "My Evil Twin" (2:37)
- "Mammal" (2:14)
- "The Statue Got Me High" (3:06)
- "Spider" (0:50)
- "The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" (3:49) - so titled because it features a chorus with a peculiar reworking of the lyrics of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
- "Dinner Bell" (2:11)
- "Narrow Your Eyes" (2:46)
- "Hall Of Heads" (2:53)
- "Which Describes How You're Feeling" (1:13)
- "See The Constellation" (3:27)
- "If I Wasn't Shy" (1:43)
- "Turn Around" (2:53)
- "Hypnotist Of Ladies" (1:42)
- "Fingertips" (4:25 in all)
- "Space Suit" (1:36)
"Fingertips" is a series of apparently unrelated short tracks ranging in duration from four to sixty-one seconds (although most of them are under fifteen). The liner notes, in an apparent reference to these tracks, have the message "The indexing of this disc is designed to complement the Shuffle Mode of modern CD players". "Space Suit" is thus track 38. Due to a mastering error, the UK and Australian issues of this CD have "Fingertips" as one track, while the U.S. edition has it as 21 tracks.
The original intended title of track 8 was simply "The Guitar", but the band found it was required to include "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by that song's copyright holder.
External links
- Apollo 18 (http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Apollo_18) page at This Might Be A Wiki
| They Might Be Giants albums
They Might Be Giants | Lincoln | Flood | Apollo 18 | John Henry | Factory Showroom | Severe Tire Damage | Mink Car | No! | The Spine | Here Come the ABCs |