New They Might Be Giants - "Take Out The Trash"
It's been 25 years since They Might Be Giants was born, and we still listen to the quirky duo every night (who do you think recorded the Daily Show theme?). The Johns have always been good about sharing free tunes, and here is our first taste of their latest album The Else. A fairly funky female empowerment jam, polished by the Dust Brothers.
They Might Be Giants - "Take Out The Trash" (MP3 Link Expired)
The Else is out 7/10 on Idlewild/Zoe/Universal; digital early-bird download on iTunes 5/15. Tour dates below.
May 3: Newmarket, N.H. (Stone Church)
May 4: Burlington, Vt. (Higher Ground)
May 5: Northampton, Mass. (Iron Horse)
May 8: Charlottesville, Va. (Starr Hill)
May 9: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Mr. Small's)
May 11: Asbury Park, N.J. (Stone Pony)
May 16: New York (Joe's Pub)
May 18: Las Vegas (Orleans Theatre)
May 19: San Diego (Belly Up Tavern)
Download archived shows in MP3 here.
Posted at 2:29 PM in MP3
Tags: They Might Be Giants
I thought Bob Mould did the Daily Show theme? Or did they change it? I don't watch it anymore, as they're all commies.
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Bob Mould wrote it, TMBG performed it. Good call.
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i likes it.
its no "birdhouse" but i may even like it more than "crazy bastard"
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Nice and buzzy. Curious to hear the ratio of electonic/live instruments on this album. They haven't done a full "band" studio album since John Henry (which had some of the most kick ass bass playing I've ever heard on it). Either way I'm sure it will be innovative. I don't understand how two men can write so many songs and be so consistant with quality and growth. (Not that this is a bad thing of course)
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Hey Alan, if you like the bass playing on John Henry, you'll be wanting to check out the work of Graham Maby, who is also Joe Jackson's long-time bass player.
http://grahammaby.com/home.htm
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More cowbell?
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dude, TMBG has done quite a few full length band albums since John Henry.... oh my..
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The Daily Show theme song by Bob Mould is called 'Dog On Fire'
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I am a huge fan of where they're going with this. I cannot waaaaaaait for this album!
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Yes, Alan, there have been a few full band albums.
Two years after John Henry, they released an album called Factory Showroom. Two years after that, they released Severe Tire Damage, a live album featuring the full band. Then the next year, they released Long Tall Weekend, mostly consisting of outtakes from Factory Showroom. 2001's Mink Car was kind of a hodge-podge of production styles and musicians, so it was less of a "band album" than anything they've done since they made the transition. Then they made the kids album, No!, and their latest full-length "adult" album, The Spine, and then appealed to the kiddies again with Here Come the ABCs.
sorry if that was tl;dr, but i just know way too much trivia about my favorite band.
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I feel bad. I love They Might be Giants, but I haven't bought an album since Mink Car came out. Nothing against Mink Car, it just was unfortunately released on September 11th. The Giants just didn't make sense at the moment, and I forgot about them for a long time, even though I still listen to them at least once or twice a week. Is 'The Spine' up to par? Do I have to ask?
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zayin: the spine is wonderful. get it.
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Actually, I found The Spine to be a big disappointment. Very unfocused and musically pretty dry and tame. I adored TMBG right through John Henry, but starting with Factory Showroom, their music stopped resonating with me. It seemed once they could have any kind of band or arrangements they wanted, they started doing less with more, when they excelled in the early years at doing so much with so little.
Mink Car was a slight return to form, but the other albums have all been dull upon repeat listens. That said, I do like this particular song, and hope it indicates a lighter touch on this upcoming album.
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Reminds me a bit of The White Stripes, do like.
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A voice to join the surprising and welcome amount of TMBG kindness here: Mink Car was their worst record, say I, and The Spine was somewhat real nice. I recommend checking out The Spine if only for all of Linnell's songs.
I'm not gonna listen to this track, 'cause if I don't, this will be the first time in a while that I've heard a new TMBG album without hearing at least one of the songs ahead of time.
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Also, Gordon, Maby's a good bassist but the player on John Henry is Pere Ubu's Tony Maimone. John Henry's got some hella good band work on it.
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This is so well said:
"It seemed once they could have any kind of band or arrangements they wanted, they started doing less with more, when they excelled in the early years at doing so much with so little."
I agree with this completely. John Henry was the start of the slide down for me, although it still had quite a bit of good stuff on it. I disliked Factory Showroom so much when it came out I sold it (although I have since repurchased it.) Only recently have I gone and bought all of their newer stuff (except for The Spine, which I don't have YET). There's always some good on each album, so I will be purchasing The Else.
As for this song- > it does little for me. Could have been done by The White Stripes or Chumbawumba or whatever they're called. There was a time when TMBG did stuff no one could touch. Still, they've done enough good stuff in their career that they're still one of my favorite bands.
PS. John Linell's solo album "State Songs" is the best "TMBG" album they never did. It seems like he's still got some of the magic.
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I always felt that factory showroom was their last real great album. It had some great songs and good production. Spiraling Shape, Metal Detector, How Can I Sing Like a Girl, and Polk are in my opinion some of their finest full band recordings. Mink Car was a big disappointment (although I do wholeheartedly enjoy Man its So Loud in Here and My Man), and the Spine was pretty bland (the best song being Museum of Idiots). No! is a great album, I think it's the most consistent and original album they've done in years.
This song is not great, and I only hope that the Dust Brothers have brought some quirkiness back into TMBG. Some of the stuff in the podcasts (hotel detective in the future, that whirlwind song) is really great and reminiscent of their early work.
Oh yeah, the Spine Surfs Alone EP rocks like a kick in the face.
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I like TMBG, don't get me wrong, but according to this song, they just became Smashmouth.
DwD
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Man I gotta say, Smash mouth? come on, Smash Mouth ain't got nothing on this - and as with all great albums, you can't judge by one song, and especially a TMBG album nonetheless - if there's one thing I know being a TMBG fan, is that an album from the John's is bound to make a ton of turns.
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I agree that Linnell's State Songs are some of their best work. (I also like the Mono Puff albums a lot, but those feel farther from the main TMBG vein, for some reason.) I guess what's mostly changing is the styles that they're experimenting with, because there are still those wonderful gems that are produced every once in a while. And, to be honest, I don't think their early albums are THAT good, either. >.<
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Personally, though they were much more popular back in the days of Flood for some reason, I like all of their albums. Interestingly enough to all of you who dont like Factory Showroom, Linnell said that it's his favorite album that the band has done.
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