33 years ago I stood in a record store and decided to check out a couple of new releases which were advertised on the wall with headphones dangling from the wall to give them a quick listen.
The first album was a bland hard rock affair which I can't even remember and the second one was Flood by They Might Be Giants.
It took a few minutes for me to realise that I was listening to something very special and one minute more to make my purchase.
Over the next few months I played Flood constantly and I added Lincoln, their album from 1998, to my listening routine. Lincoln was almost as good as Flood, but I soon realise that these two guys were different and incredibly innovative in terms of lyrics, melody and what they could do with their instruments.
33 years and 32 more albums later and They Might Be Giants still sit only below Queen as my favourite band. They continue to release bizarre and wonderful creations, and continue to own a hugely dedicated fan base, but for me and many others it is Flood that represents the pinnacle of their achievements.
This year I will finally get to see them live and I will be taking my 20 year old daughter who has also found something in They Might Be Giants that far too many people don't appreciate. I hope that she develops as much love for the band as I did when I was 20, and that we get to enjoy a night that neither of us will ever forget.
I didn’t know you liked their music. They’re so unique.