Crucial Track for January 30, 2026

"Boat of Car" by They Might Be Giants

Listen on Apple Music

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#365songs (30 / 365)

On some days, my favorite song on They Might Be Giants' self-titled debut album. (Other days it's "Don't Let's Start" or "She's An Angel.") This song has so much of what is weird and appealing about TMBG in its short 75-second runtime and none of it seems to make any sense. Smashing up a three-word Johnny Cash sample against a Nintendo-y synth lick? Sticking in those weird four measures where the only accompaniment is beep-boop double stops? Not a drum to be heard anywhere, of course. And the — to my ear, completely incongruous to the fairly ominous lyrics — shift into a warm major key for the last 15 seconds? What is going on in this song and why can't I stop listening to it?

Note: You can't sample this song on Bandcamp, but you can buy it here.