Lunch of Champions

They Might Be Giants | Here Come the 123s

So, I’m starting to get old enough that my friends are spawning. I’ve celebrated a few first birthdays over the past couple years, and when I see what adults get children for their birthdays, I cringe for their parents. Barney the Dinosaur is an insufferably happy over-sized sock puppet, and you can only take so much Elmo before you start contemplating the potential sales figures of a Muppet-themed punching bag. But the worst of all has got to be the records. Sorry Cheech, kids may love your album, but it’s got to be tough for an adult to get up every morning and hear “MY NAME IS CHEECH AND I AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER!”

In the past few years, They Might Be Giants have been working to restore the sanity of parents. Here Come The 123s, their third children’s album, has a lot of selling points; educational value, kid-friendly lyrics, a supplementary DVD with the deluxe 2-disk edition filled with a lot of fun animation and puppetry. But the biggest reason for a parent to buy this album for their kids is that it’s not just kid-friendly, it’s a good record.

The album is just a really well-produced pop record. Fans of They Might Be Giants will already be accustomed  to the whimsical nature of their music, so the transition is pretty easy. It’s witty and cleaver as always, and sounds like the parts of Sesame Street that make parents willing to sit and watch TV with their kids. Don’t be surprised if you start singing along yourself.

Those of you who don’t have kids may be reluctant to openly listen to a children’s album, but, well, get over yourself! This may not be the most profound music you’ll ever hear, but it’s fun! Hey Mikey, you’ll like it.