Super Cactus

How did you get into the band?

As a kid, I’d hear their songs and jingles on TV a lot, like that stuff they wrote for Cartoon Network, and also the Particle Man and Istanbul videos. I would end up knowing someone who owned Severe Tire Damage, but I didn’t really recognize the band as really awesome until they’d won their Grammy for the Malcolm in the Middle song. My parents told me that they had seen them live in Central Park a long time ago, and by the time Doctor Worm started to air on Comedy Central, I was hooked beyond belief.

Five Favorite Albums

1: John Henry

Full band? Am I okay with this? Oh, the band has a horn section? Yeah, I’m okay with this. This album consistently impresses me, and it has a number of my absolute favorite songs. 

2: They Might Be Giants

Interchangeable with John Henry, frankly. I don’t want to say that all of the Giants’ best material was at the beginning of their career, but I really love the early sound, and the writing is superb. 

3: Lincoln

Not as amazing as the Pink Album, but only slightly. So many good songs, and with the same amazing sound as the Pink Album. Wondrous stuff here, really.

4: Apollo 18:

Okay, just so you know, Flood isn’t on this list, but if it was, my top five favorite albums would be their first five. Deal with it. Apollo 18 kicks ass on so many levels, and Fingertips stitches together a very well executed album. 

5: They Got Lost/The Spine: 

Yes, a tie. Yes, the rarities compilation. Yes, I’m serious. I love this album, and it showcases some of the best in obscure, modern TMBG. Incredible stuff.

The Spine is fanfucking-tastic, no two ways about it. It sets the stage for The Else (also incredible, but not as incredible as The Spine.) Includes a lot of my favorite songs.

Five favorite songs:

1: A Self Called Nowhere

Somehow John is able to sing in a Bostonian accent without making the song ridiculous. It’s dark and claustrophobic, but it’s also got the feeling of falling down stairs and into an abyss and it’s beyond awesome. 

2: Doctor Worm

Probably the song that cemented the opinion that this was my favorite band ever. The horn section is phenomenal, the bass is great, the lyrics are unforgettable, and what the fuck yes the video guys oh my god the video yes yes.

3: Nothing’s Gonna Change My Clothes

There’s so much I love about this song, and it’s definitely one of the best songs on the Pink Album. 

4: It’s Not My Birthday

Song that could be about an intervention, the weather, suicide, failing to grow up to be what you wanted, and all of them at once. I’m more than okay with this.

5: Narrow Your Eyes

Gotta show Flans some love here. The accordion here is so incredible, it’s stupid, and it’s such a beautifully sad song. Good stuff from Apollo 18, but who was surprised?

Random article’ing on Wikipedia and found the list of LGBT rights by state. Seriously disappointed that felons get protection from discrimination by the state, but gay people don’t. 

(Also disappointed by the banding together of four terms to make them politically correct.)