10/16/24 - State Songs by John Linnell

    Aside from The Beatles, They Might Be Giants are the most important band in my music-listening journey. I discovered them in early 2020, and they opened the door to me finding so many amazing new wave and nerdy artists since then. (Many of which will be discussed here in the near future!) For the uninitiated, the core of They Might Be Giants is made up of two people named John - John Linnell and John Flansburgh. The album I’m covering today is the, depending how you count, first or second solo project by John Linnell, State Songs.

To my knowledge, there is only one pressing of State Songs on vinyl. It was released for Record Store Day: Black Friday in 2019 and it comes on a beautiful multi-colored green marbled vinyl. I got my copy in around 2022, since there were a few copies still sitting around in one of my favorite record stores, Spin Me Round Records in Easton, PA. I would definitely check them out if you’re ever in the area, they have TONS of cool stuff!


At first glance, State Songs seems like a concept album. It kind of is, in a way - as fifteen out of the sixteen songs on the album are named after states (and this was released before Sufjan Stevens’ fifty states project!) The songs aren’t about their respective states, but they all incorporate the state’s name in their lyrics. This is where the “concept album” themes end, though, as the songs don’t connect together in any way, nor tell one continuous story.


As for the music itself, this album is WEIRD. It opens with Illinois, an instrumental comprised of, according to the liner notes, only a Wurlitzer 103 Band Organ, which is the strangest looking instrument I have ever seen (look it up, that thing is WACKY.) I think that fact alone sets the tone of this album pretty well. Every song has something different going on, most of it being really cool. The only exception being the closer Nevada - which is a 30 second long jingle about the state, followed by EIGHT MINUTES OF PARADE NOISES! I'm not sure if Mr. Linnell actually wanted us to listen to all 8 minutes of the song, since nothing happens at the end of all that. It's a pretty anti-climatic end to an otherwise super interesting and cool album, and it makes it so the bonus track, Louisiana, wasn't included on the record! It's a shame.


In the end, State Songs has some pretty cool stuff going on, and although not every song will be something you love - you're guaranteed to find something you dig here. Highlights for me are South Carolina, Oregon, Utah, and Iowa.


Thanks for reading!

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