Artist: They Might Be Giants
Album: Venue Songs DVD/CD
Label: Idlewild Recordings
Review by: Christopher Thomas!

“A day before they set out, they were contacted by a mysterious, deranged millionaire with a bold artistic challenge: Write a new song every day. A song that would celebrate the unique character of each venue in which they performed. Or else lose their magical songwriting talisman.” Such is the fictional setup for the Venue Songs DVD, a musical travelogue from arguably one of the most creative music machines in pop/rock music. And while there was no magical artifact genuinely at stake, the band met the challenge and created 30 unique songs for 30 different shows, each night performing a new song written specifically for that venue.

For this DVD, They Might Be Giants entered the studio and committed their 11 favorite venue songs to tape then shipped them off to some of independent film and animation’s freshest faces. The result is “The Story of Venue Songs,” a musical travelogue narrated by the very deranged millionaire who posed the band with their challenge.

Venue Songs is impressive in a variety of ways. Of course, the songwriting is impressive; each song was written in one day, and somehow they avoid feeling as such. Even the studio versions of the songs stay true to the original performances, no extra choruses or added bridges, just better recordings. This project showcases the Giants’ talents as songwriters without being pretentious and without lacking any of the fun for which TMBG is known.

Similarly, this project showcases a great deal of unknown talent in the fields of film and animation. You won’t find high-budget glitz and glamour, but you will find small-house productions presenting ideas in exciting and unorthodox ways. These are the filmmakers hidden in the nooks and crannies of art schools. They’re not the next Spielberg, nor do they want to be. The videos for each of the songs are fresh and interesting, and even if you don’t like them, you can’t help but appreciate them.

The DVD features bonus videos for other TMBG songs as well – most notable is the outstanding video for “Ba***rd Wants to Hit Me” – and the companion CD is loaded with all 30 of the original venue songs recorded live as well as a host of other rare nuggets.

They Might Be Giants is a band that appeal to many and annoy many more. But even dissenters, given the chance to see this whole project, should agree that it is nothing short of delightful.