They Might Be Giants

The Else

[3.5/5]

As the 12th proper studio record and 7,098th overall release since They Might Be Giants’ 1982 inception, the intentions behind The Else are irrevocably earnest. After all, this is the band that brought us classics like “Birdhouse In Your Soul,” “Particle Man” and the brilliant Apollo 18. Yet after 25 years, TMBG seem to spend more energy writing music for television shows than they do reaching out to actual music fans. While this might make the band into something of an island, they seem to be doing just fine. The Else is prime geeky Giants, complete with the kitsch and aural clarity fans expect. The Dust Brothers’ treatment on the feminist anthem “Take Out The Trash” treads dangerously close to Smash Mouth territory, but overall The Else is a funky adventure in deliberate awkwardness. Kids beware-this is not emo in the least; recommended for people who were reading AP 15 years ago. (IDLEWILD/ZÖE/UNIVERSAL) Ronen Kauffman