Lincoln

Lincoln is probably the best place to start if you want to get a sense of They Might Be Giants. While various aspects of the band’s sound have shifted over time, the basic — I don’t want to say “formula,” but, well, formula — has stayed the same: incredibly hooky and inventive music and unbelievably oddball (but tremendously clever and often hilarious) lyrics. At a very real level, They Might Be Giants are a novelty band — but one with the depth and chops necessary to achieve global popularity. On Lincoln, highlights include “Ana Ng” and the third-person breakup song “They’ll Need a Crane,” but the whole thing is a blast.