Personnel: John Linnell (saxophone, piano, organ, synthesizer); Dan Hickey, Brian Doherty (drums).

John Linnell is one half of the duo known as They Might Be Giants (though their ranks have grown over the years, Linnell and John Flansburgh are the mainstays and leaders). His first solo album is a collection of 16 songs devoted to 15 states in the United States of America--the sixteenth, "The Songs of the 50 States" sings the praises of the project as a whole. Some of these songs first emerged on an EP in the mid-'80s. They run the gamut one expects from his regular band, and all are eminently singable. Who else could have created such catchy ditties for "Montana," "West Virginia," and "Maine?" This is a loopy hit parade with dashes of pop, rock, polka, folk, Broadway, and anything else that popped into the inventive musical mind of John Linnell. STATE SONGS is an offering full of melodic delights and brimming with good cheer from a veritable American ambassador of goodwill.

Alternative Press (12/99, p.104) - 4 out of 5 - "...a head-scratchingly unique sound...It all stays afloat on the merits of our hero's goofy charm....Giants devotees will dub it genius..."