They Might Be Giants are neither new or under appreciated, but I've been with them since Lincoln, which is a key to my age. Many many will know Birdhouse In Your Soul, one video show included it in a One Hit Wonders show, what fools!
Formed in 1982 with releases since 1985, it is 36 years since Birdhouse, yet the duo have a Sparks like quality to still be original over such a long period. When they extended into a band in 1992, they got even better. There is not one duffer in their back catalogue.
They are currently on tour with an 8 piece band that includes a 3 person horn section. The pair remain incredibly inventive, a key force in Intelligent Indie. The World Is To Dig is all over the place, which is TMBG's strength. Who else could come up with a song like Character Flaw.
It is a song that shows how left field TMBG are and how lyrically adept. But expect to be taken on a journey that takes in Power Pop, Lounge, 70s Pop Rock (there's even a Raspberries cover), Psych Pop overtones, 80s New Wave and 90s Slacker.
They can also be incredibly melodic on the likes of the Ben Folds like Piano Pop on What You Get. Slow is great Psych Pop and the closer, In The Dead Mall is totally Andrew Gold, you just sit back and marvel at the lyrics.
Sleep's Older Sister is wonderful Slacker Pop mixed with Rock and Roll, Outside Wave is ace UK New Wave. I'm also not sure that you will hear a better Power song this year than Wu Tang. There's even a song sung in perfect French. As wonderful as ever and oh those lyrics.
You can listen to the full album here. You can buy the digital album and listen to 4 songs here. You can buy the Vinyl, CD, Cassette and download from the TMBG shop here.
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