They Might Be Giants’ John Flansburgh Names 15 Essential New Wave 45s He Bought at 17

Crate Digging is our recurring feature series where artists explore music history in search of records everyone should hear. In this edition, They Might Be Giants’ John Flansburgh takes us through a collection of 45s that prove new wave will never die.

There is a lot that goes into the sound of They Might Be Giants. Be it classic tunes that showcase their musicality (“Birdhouse in Your Soul” famously features a whopping 18 key changes) or new cuts paying tribute to acts that, sonically, seem miles away from the celebrated duo’s work (“Wu-Tang”), one thing is clear when listening to John Flansburgh and John Linnell play: These dudes have definitely listened to a whole lot of records. With love, they’re music nerds.

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Their well-listened nerddom has resulted in an impressive, idiosyncratic catalog and a live presence that commands a cult-like fanbase. Most recently, the band showcased their musical obsessions on their wonderful new album, The World Is to Dig, which features cuts like the aforementioned “Wu-Tang,” a cover of the Raspberries’ “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” and “New Wave Will Never Die.” Hell, their January EP, Eyeball, also had the track “The Glamour of Rock.” Just try and stop these guys from writing songs about their listening habits.

“I’m a bit of a crate digger,” Flansburgh tells Consequence. Hey, that’s the name of the show!

Well, isn’t that lucky for us. To celebrate the release of The World Is to Dig, out now via Idlewild Recordings, Flansburgh sat down with us for a little game of show and tell — one that took us through a very specific moment in time, when punk rock splintered into the various modes of new wave. “Somebody pointed out that new wave was a unique musical movement because the actual rhythms and the textures of the music were not consistent to one another,” he explains. “There were many different kinds of punk rock bands and new wave bands.”

From Patti Smith to Talking Heads to Elvis Costello, join Flansburgh as he talks through 15 new wave 45s that he bought when he was 17. Along the way, you may just learn a thing or two about the genre’s development or find a new favorite deep cut. Read his stories and check out each of his selections below.

Additionally, you also listen to The World Is to Dig here and/or pick up a physical copy here. They Might Be Giants are also taking their acclaimed live show back on the road this spring. Check out the dates and pick up tickets here.

Patti Smith — “Piss Factory”

I’m a bit of a crate digger, but I was hard pressed to find a really good theme. My records are split up, but I do have all my 45 RPM records where I am. They’re very much like a snapshot of a very specific time when I was buying 45s and when 45s were still active.

My theme is “New Wave Will Never Die,” because these are all, basically, records that came out at the dawn of the punk rock moment, which then turned into this slightly confusing thing. Because, punk rock didn’t have — and I don’t know if it was Greil Marcus or who thought of this — but somebody pointed out that new wave was a unique musical movement because the actual rhythms and the textures of the music were not consistent to one another. There were many different kinds of punk rock bands and new wave bands.