Rating:  -
It mystifies me that people reckon this is a bad TMBG album. Of the twenty tracks, ten are superb and the rest rather good too. There is a thoroughly entertaining wit to this multi-stranded production. The barber shop quartet singers the Whiffenpuffs, I think, are lampooned for their Republican association on the song "One Thousand Years Old," which is still a skilful rendition of the genre in its own right. I sing it in the shower and would encourage others to do also. "Why Must I Be Sad" features those Cooper lyrics, yes, but also some lovely harmonies, something the Johns do beautifully. And though they do have their darker moments, nothing quite matches the Samuel Beckett bleakness of "A Self Called Nowhere" which pairs the musings of an ancient fellow with the driving flanged noises of guitar and organ. For some reason the song is sung in an upstate New York accent. I suspect the Giants must have seen an actual fellow who inspired the song. You will love this track along with groovy fun like "Thermostat" "Meet James Ensor" and the terrific "Dirt Bike." I can never work out which John sings, but one of them did a fine job on that track. So, to all the naysayers, get real and get this record back on your player. If you don't own it, you really should. It will be for the best, let me assure you.
Rating:  -
When I first grabbed up this CD I was skeptical because of the full band sound. The basic reason I think they went to this was because just around this time Nirvana and the like made it big and rock music in general was changing, and I think they realized that unless they did something different since they were far into their careers by this time, they might not be heard anymore. Thus, they finally gave in and put together a full band. The CD by the way is excellent. I think it was the right move to go to the full band sound, it'll give them something different to fiddle around with. Most people believe this to be the weakest CD in the bunch, but it isn't so...this one is just as enjoyable as the others, though noticably less "out there" so to speak. Nevertheless they continue to put out some interesting and inventive songs. The end.
Rating: -
Even though this album put an end to TMBG's two-man act of using synthetic drum sets and keyboard wierdness, "John Henry"-The first of TMBG's full band era- is still a very good album. Infact, the full band is the only thing that has changed, because their clever and quirky lyrics are still in abundance. Between the alt. rock music, shades of goofy pre-band keyboards and such can still be heard. Songs like "Subliminal", "Extra Savoir-Faire" snd "O, Do Not Forsake Me" are like early TMBG, so the musical sound is not completely lost. Nonetheless, the rock music is still very good and well-performed. Even if you are a bigger fan of their earlier styles like me, you can still like this album. (Hey, they do a remake of the Nyquil Driver ad music on here, and if that isn't TMBG, I don't know what is.)
Rating: -
TMBG has many albums with more creative songs lyrically, but IMHO this is musically their best album. The end of the tour is awesome, as is subliminal. Some think No One Knows My Plan is the best song on here, but I disagree.
Rating: -
It was refreshing when this album came out, the boys hadn't had a decent album in years and many were wondering whether they had lost their touch. John Henry combines the best of TMBG's twisted reality and forever-interpreted lyrics and adds to the mixing pot a good dose of first-class musicianship. Let's admit it people, the Johns aren't exactly Mozarts. One of the things that makes this albums so memorable is that many of the songs translate well to the new 'live band' format without leaving behind the drum-machine sensibility. For the fan who doesn't like their new retro-punk sound but who may not be ready for the mind-bending experiences of the early years, John Henry is a good recent example of the best of TMBG's work.
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