Some things are an acquired taste. Coffee, beer, marshmallow sandwiches and, undoubtedly, New York based duo They Might Be Giants. They’re just not a band that everybody gets.

Those murmuring “who the flock?� should think of the theme to hit weirdo sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. Yep, the catchy as all anything “You’re not the boss of me now…�, that’s the Giants. Hardly a modern day phenomenon, however, they’ve been peddling their inconsequential yet curiously vital wares on the outskirts of the mainstream since the early ‘80s. Are they pop, rock, polka, disco, country? Well, yes, they are – and it’s this scattershot unpredictability, coupled with a lyrical bent that defies rational description, which has converted legions worldwide to the Giants’ cause. This ‘rockumentary’ sets out to investigate why, in what is, appropriately, a higgledy-piggledy but intimate study of the two Johns.

I don't want the world; I just want your half...

Careening all over the place like a spilled barrelful of eyeballs, we’re privy to all manner of fragments of the life of the Johns. At various times taking in live performances, animated bits, celebrity lyric readings, lessons about lesser known U.S. presidents, interviews with the men themselves and many in their wonky-shaped orbit (plus many more outside it), studio footage, talk show appearances, really early stuff, snips from promo clips, coffee addiction and smelling each other, this is not your standard band documentary, and nor should it be.

As this feature ably points out, ultimately it’s They Might Be Giants’ complete originality that has ensured their survival through the changing musical landscape over the years – here’s to many more.

Careening roughshod through 20 years of history, video quality varies accordingly in this 4:3 presentation. Grain pops up here and there, as do film defects and the like, but it’s never intrusive or, more importantly, inappropriate.

The standard Dolby Digital stereo sound is hardly sensational when it comes to the many wonderful musical interludes; however it does its damnedest (and succeeds) for all the interview kind of stuff that features.

A decent bag of extras is led by a commentary delivering entertaining chit-chat over the main feature from the two Johns, director AJ and author/TV person/super-fan Sarah Vowell. Adam Bernstein’s video clip masterpieces for five tracks follow, including the indelible Ana Ng and Birdhouse in Your Soul, complete with special intros, three clips from TV’s Brave New World (highlighting the dumbfoundingly brilliant Older) and three live tracks.

Next on the bonus trail is a selection of raw footage and interviews, basically equating to eight bits and pieces ranging from sound checks through to taping radio station IDs. Rare stuff will have Giants aficionados wetting themselves, delivering nine chunks of assorted other TMBG paraphernalia with TV appearances, fan interviews, in-stores and even the cutesy original version of New York City by CUB. The extra stuff is wrapped up by two deleted scenes (with optional commentary), a trailer and a ten-page colour flyer featuring poster art and a bio type thing. Two Easter googies are also easily tripped over…

In all this is one of the best music documentaries ever stuffed inside a camera, pulled out, edited, then released to the world, based around a couple of visionary nutballs responsible for some of the most entertaining music of the past two decades AND featuring enough extras to keep you perpendicular on the couch for many an extra hour. This is a must for anybody who loves original, inventive songwriting more than fudge.