The following is the discography of American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. It consists of John Linnell and John Flansburgh and backing artists Marty Beller, Dan Miller, Danny Weinkauf, Dan Levine, Stan Harrison, and Mark Pender.
They Might Be Giants' first release was the 1986 album eponymously titled They Might Be Giants, though the band did not gain commercial success until their 1990 single "Birdhouse in Your Soul" from the album Flood. "Birdhouse in Your Soul" reached #3 on the United States Modern Rock Tracks chart and #6 on the UK Singles Chart and remains the band's highest-charting single in both countries. Their latest release is The World Is to Dig.
Over the last four decades of the band, They Might Be Giants has released a total of 24 studio albums along with 25 extended plays, 20 live albums, 18 compilation albums, and 40 singles.
Studio albums NumberYearTitleChart peaks Certifications(sales thresholds)NotesUSUSAltUS KidsUS IndieUSRockAUS N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.UK1. 1986They Might Be Giants Release date: November 4, 1986 Label: Bar/None / Restless Format: Cassette, CD, LP — — — — — 159 —Debut album2. 1988Lincoln Release date: September 25, 1988 Label: Bar/None / Restless Format: Cassette, CD, LP 89 — — — — 116 —3. 1990Flood Release date: January 15, 1990 Label: Elektra Format: Cassette, CD, LP75 — —— —9914 RIAA: Platinum BPI: GoldMajor label debut4. 1992Apollo 18 Release date: March 24, 1992 Label: Elektra Format: Cassette, CD, LP99 — —— —59—5. 1994John Henry Release date: September 13, 1994 Label: Elektra Format: Cassette, CD, LP61 — ———132—First album with a backing band6. 1996Factory Showroom Release date: October 8, 1996 Label: Elektra Format: Cassette, CD, LP89 — ———116 —7. 1999Long Tall Weekend Release date: July 19, 1999 Label: eMusic Format: Digital download, promo CD, LP— — ——— ——Download-only album, released on eMusic.com First full-length download-only album released by a major artist in history8. 2001 Mink Car Release date: September 11, 2001 Label: Restless Format: CD, digital download, LP134 — ———102—9. 2002No! Release date: June 11, 2002 Label: Idlewild/Rounder Format: Enhanced CD, digital download— —1 — ———First children's album10. 2004The Spine Release date: July 13, 2004 Label: Idlewild/Zoë Format: CD, digital download, LP130 — —— ———11. 2005Here Come the ABCs Release date: February 15, 2005 Label: Idlewild/Disney Sound Format: CD, digital download, DVD, LP— —6 — ——— Second children's album Major label children's album debut12.2007The Else Release date: July 10, 2007 Label: Idlewild/Zoë Format: CD, digital download, LP118 — —— ——— The CD release included a bonus disc, Cast Your Pod to the Wind13.2008Here Come the 123s Release date: February 5, 2008 Label: Idlewild/Disney Sound Format: Digital download, DVD/CD, LP172 —9 — ———Third children's album Their first album to win a Grammy Award14.2009Here Comes Science Release date: September 8, 2009 Label: Idlewild/Disney Sound Format: CD/DVD, digital download91234 — 34——Fourth children's album15.2011Join Us Release date: July 19, 2011 Label: Idlewild/Rounder Format: CD, digital download, LP32 8 —88——First "rock" album since 200716.2013Nanobots Release date: March 5, 2013 Label: Idlewild, Lojinx Format: CD, digital download, LP57 13— 1019——17.2015Glean Release date: April 21, 2015 Label: Idlewild Format: CD, digital download, LP676— 57——Composed entirely of songs from the band's 2015 Dial-A-Song project18.Why? Release date: November 27, 2015 Label: Idlewild Format: CD,digital download, LP18112—615——Fifth children's album Composed largely of songs from the band's 2015 Dial-A-Song project19.2016Phone Power Release date: June 10, 2016 Label: Idlewild Format: CD, digital download, LP1228—1114——Composed entirely of songs from the band's 2015 Dial-A-Song project20.2018I Like Fun Release date: January 19, 2018 Label: Idlewild Format: CD, digital download, LP1088—317——Composed entirely of songs from the band's 2018 Dial-A-Song project21.My Murdered Remains Release date: December 10, 2018 Label: Idlewild Format: CD, digital download, LP— ——9 ———Composed entirely of songs from the band's 2018 Dial-A-Song project Included bonus disc composed mostly of songs from the band's 2015 Dial-A-Song project22.The Escape Team Release date: December 10, 2018 Label: Idlewild Format: CD, digital download, LP— ——10 ———Composed largely of songs from the band's 2018 Dial-A-Song project23. 2021 Book Release date: November 12, 2021 Label: Idlewild Format: 8-track, CD, cassette, digital download, LP887—1410——24. 2026 The World Is to Dig Release date: April 14, 2026 Label: Idlewild Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP———————
Live albums NumberYearTitleChart peaksNotes US AUS1.19904/28/90 Cabaret Metro, Chicago Release date: 1990 Label: Atlantic——2. 1994 Release date: November 1994 Label: Elektra — —Released as a promotional CD Distributed to members of the Hello Recording Club3.1996Kit Kat Acoustic Break Release date: 1996——4. 1998Severe Tire Damage Release date: August 11, 1998 Label: Restless186108First major live album5.1999Release date: November 23, 1999 Label: BMG Special Products — —Condensed version of Severe Tire Damage6.2001TMBG Unlimited - The Flood Show Release date: March 1, 2001 Label: They Might Be Records——7.TMBG Unlimited - The Ritz Show Release date: May 4, 2001 Label: They Might Be Records——8.2004 Release date: August 31, 2004 Label: Idlewild— —Download only; exclusive to the iTunes Store9.Almanac Release date: December 10, 2004 Label: Idlewild— —Download-only album10.Venue Songs Release date: December 10, 2004 Label: Idlewild— —Download-only album11.2012At Large Release date: August 2012 Label: Idlewild— —Distributed to members of the They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club12.2014Release date: July 2014 Label: Idlewild— —Released as a free digital download through NoiseTrade13.2015Release date: February 25, 2015 Label: Idlewild— —Released as a free digital download through their website14.Live in Berlin Release date: July 2015 Released to the members of the They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club15.2016Release date: July 19, 2016 Label: Idlewild— —Distributed to members of the They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club16.20182018 Live Release date: December 4, 2018 Label: Idlewild— —Distributed to members of the They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club17.2020Asbury Park Live Release date: March 10, 2022 Label: Idlewild——18.Live At The Music Hall Of Williamsburg 11.29.15 Release date: November 19, 2020 Label: Idlewild——19.2024Release date: July 15, 2024 Label: Idlewild— —Distributed to members of the They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club20.2025Flood Live in America Release date: November 18, 2025 Label: Idlewild—— Released as a digital download through their website
Compilation albums NumberYearTitleChart peaksNotesUSCurrentUS Indie1. 1989Don't Let's Start Label: Rough Trade/One Little Indian——B-side and rarities collection Released exclusively in Europe2. 1991Miscellaneous T Release date: October 8, 1991 Label: Restless/Bar/None Format: CD, Cassette——US version of Don't Let's Start3. 1997Then: The Earlier Years Release date: March 25, 1997 Label: Restless——Collects the band's first two studio albums and early rarities and B-sides4. 1999 Release date: November 23, 1999 Label: BMG Special Products——Condensed version of Then: The Earlier Years5. Release date: February 1999 Label: Goodnoise—— Shortened version of Disc 1 of Then: The Earlier Years6. Release date: February 1999 Label: Goodnoise—— Shortened version of Disc 2 of Then: The Earlier Years7. 2002 They Got Lost Release date: July 23, 2002 Label: Idlewild, Zoë——Rarities collection, including some songs from Long Tall Weekend8.Release date: September 17, 2002 Label: Rhino——Best-of compilation9.2005 Release date: May 3, 2005 Label: Rhino——Condensed version of Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants10. Venue Songs DVD/CD Release date: November 11, 2005 Label: Idlewild——Collection of "venue songs": songs the band wrote about various venues in which they performed11.2007Cast Your Pod to the Wind Release date: July 10, 2007 Label: Idlewild/Zoë—— Released as a bonus disc with CD copies of The Else Compilation of songs previously released through the band's podcast12. 2011 Album Raises New and Troubling Questions Release date: October 28, 2011 Label: Idlewild——Rarities collection, including five music videos Part of the July 26, 2012 Humble Music Bundle13.2013Flood + Apollo 18 Release date: December 10, 2013 Label: Edsel——14.John Henry + Factory Showroom Release date: December 10, 2013 Label: Edsel——15. 2014Idlewild Release date: May 27, 2014 Label: Idlewild, Lojinx——Contains 17 songs released between 1999 and 201316.201550,000,000 They Might Be Giants Songs Can't Be Wrong Release date: October 16, 2015 Label: Breakaway——17. 2020 Modern Release date: April 15, 2020 Self-released——Download-only release to raise funds for band and crew after COVID-19 pandemic tour postponements18. 2024The Spine Surfs Alone: Rarities 1998-2005 Release date: November 19, 2024 Label: Idlewild—— Rarities collection, including songs from the EPs The Spine Surfs Alone and Working Undercover for the Man, select songs from the live album Severe Tire Damage, and various other rarities
EPs NumberYearTitleChart peaksUS Indie1.1987Don't Let's Start Release date: November 2, 1987 Label: Bar/None—2.1988(She Was A) Hotel Detective Release date: May 5, 1988 Label: Bar/None—3.1989They'll Need a Crane Release date: February 10, 1989 Label: Bar/None/Restless—4.Birdhouse in Your Soul Release date: February 1, 1990 Label: Elektra/WEA—5.1990Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Release date: June 5, 1990 Label: Elektra—6.1992The Statue Got Me High Release date: February 3, 1992 Label: Elektra/WEA—7.I Palindrome I Release date: May 5, 1992 Label: Elektra—8.The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) Release date: July 30, 1992 Label: Elektra—9. 1993 Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas) Release date: September 14, 1993 Label: Elektra Format: CD—10. 1994 Release date: August 16, 1994 Label: Elektra Format: CD—11.1996S-E-X-X-Y Release date: November 26, 1996 Label: Elektra—12. 2000 Working Undercover for the Man Release date: May 16, 2000 Label: eMusic Format: Digital download, limited CD release—13.2001Man, It's So Loud in Here Release date: August 2001 Label: Restless—14. They Might Be Giants In... Holidayland Release date: November 6, 2001 Label: Restless Format: CD—15. 2003 Release date: 2003 Label: Simon & Schuster Format: Book with CD—16. 2004 Indestructible Object Release date: April 4, 2004 Label: Barsuk Format: CD3617. Release date: 2004 Label: Idlewild Format: CD—18.2011 Other Thing Brass Band Release date: 2011 Label: Idlewild Format: Vinyl, download—19.Join Us (Four Advance Tracks) Release date: April 26, 2011 Label: Idlewild—20.2012 Four Covers Release date: August 2012 Label: Idlewild Format: Vinyl—21.2013 Nanobots EP Release date: 2013 Label: Idlewild/Megaforce Format: Download only—22.The Avatars of They Release date: August 2013 Label: Idlewild—23. 2016 Songs for Chop Release date: June 2016 Label: Chop Shop Format: Download only—24. 2021 Release date: 2021 Label: Idlewild Format: Download—25. 2026 Eyeball Release date: January 15, 2026 Label: Idlewild Format: Download—
Singles Number Title Year Peak chart positionsCertifications Album USAlt. AUSAustralian (ARIA Charts) peaks: Top 50 peaks: Top 100 peaks between January 1990 and December 2010: "Man, It's So Loud In Here": ""The Statue Got Me High" : "Ana Ng" :