They Might Be Giants (TMBG) has always stood out among other
alternative bands that broke ground in the mid- to late- 1980s.
Although they are not a band I necessarily feel comfortable putting in
a specific genre – I would probably describe their unique sound and
somewhat off-the-wall with sophisticated lyrics as a mix of alternative,
rock and indie.
Although the band hasn’t been churning out albums, they certainly
have had a presence in a variety of interesting places. Their song "Boss of Me" served as the theme to the Fox Television Network comedy series Malcolm in the Middle and earned them a Grammy Award in 2002. They have also contributed theme songs to a number of television programs, including Comedy Central's The Daily Show and Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Higglytown Heroes, along with a commercial for Space Ghost Coast to Coast. In addition, the band contributed the song “Dr. Evil” to the 1999 film, Austin Powers, The Spy Who Shagged Me.
TMBG fans of old (and likely, some new fans, too) will surely revel in their newest offering, The Else.
The band doesn’t disappoint, which is a
return to their catchy, upbeat tunes and lyrical prose that educates
and pokes fun at the same time. This bi-coastal effort that was more
than two years in the making, is a collaboration between TMBG, the Dust
Brothers from Los Angeles – known for their work with artists, such as
Beck and the Beastie Boys – and Patrick Dillett, of New York City,
famous for his work with Soul Coughing, David Byrne and Mary J. Blige,
among others.
Don’t let the silly song titles, such as “Upside Down Frown” and
“Bee of the Bird of the Moth,” fool you. These guys have produced
an eclectic collection of songs that are both fun and
thought-provoking. The track “Bee of the Bird of the Moth”, points to
the damaging effects our lifestyles have wreaked on the environment.
Another track on the album, “The Shadow Government", satirizes the
government’s monitoring of its citizens.
Although The Else is currently available on iTunes, the CD
will actually be released July 10th, 2007, under the band's own
imprint, Idlewild, through Zoë/Universal.
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