Factory Showroom - Definition and Overview

Factory Showroom is the sixth album by the band They Might Be Giants. It was released in 1996 (see 1996 in music) through Elektra Records. The songs "S-E-X-X-Y," "XTC vs. Adam Ant", and "James K. Polk" are parodies of types of songs commonly recorded by other artists or groups (songs about sex, the recording industry, and politics, respectively). Factory Showroom was TMBG's last fully original album under Elektra, possibly indicating that the record company was less than amused by it.

Track listing

1. "S-E-X-X-Y"
2. "Till My Head Falls Off"
3. "How Can I Sing Like a Girl?"
4. "Exquisite Dead Guy"
5. "Metal Detector"
6. "New York City" (a cover of a song by Cub)
7. "Your Own Worst Enemy"
8. "XTC vs. Adam Ant"
9. "Spiraling Shape"
10. "James K. Polk"
11. "Pet Name"
12. "I Can Hear You"
13. "The Bells are Ringing"

"I Can Hear You" was recorded at the Edison Laboratory on a wax cylinder phonograph without the use of electricity.

"James K. Polk" is a song about James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States.

There is also a secret "Track 0" on the CD entitled "Token Back to Brooklyn". It is accessible by rewinding from the beginning of Track 1 ("S-E-X-X-Y"), and is not playable on all CD players. It can, however, also be heard on the rarities compilation They Got Lost.