Then: The Earlier Years by They Might Be Giants

Then is quite a collection. Encompassing the realm of TMBG's untainted 80's work, before 1990's Flood, both their biggest commercial success and most mainstream-oriented (and most hardcore fan-hated) album. So here we have Then, which compiles Their self-titled '86 release, '88's Lincoln, '89's Miscellaneous T, and an eclectic assortment of unreleased songs, mostly from the band's Dial-A-Song service.

Those who have only listened to the radio-pop of Flood should probably sample this material before making the purchase; just because you like "Birdhouse In Your Soul" won't necessarily translate to an appreciation of Then's "Become A Robot" or "The Big, Big Whoredom."

It's big, and it's expansive. TMBG and Lincoln are both fine albums, and worth the purchase price alone to get both. The rest, depending on your particular tastes, is truly a mixed bag; some do seem like throwaway tracks ("Mainstream USA", "Fakeout In Buenos Aires"), but some are true gems, like "Nightgown of the Sullen Moon," "Weep Day," and the intro tracks, used to introduce the band at early concerts.

This is an essential compendium for any TMBG fan that doesn't have one or both of the early albums and doesn't mind a little nerdy wackiness. You probably won't listen to it all the way through very often, but it can make you happy even in small doses. Oh, and the CD's are gorgeous.