They Might Be Giants
The Else
Zoe Records





New York's They Might Be Giants are not only one of the quirkiest bands to grace the music scene, they're also one of the most consistent. The Else is the 12th album for the ever-morphing group who have cranked out everything from kiddie pop to alternative hits like "Birdhouse In Your Soul" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)." This time around, the duo of John Linnell and John Flansburgh are trying out a harder sound. The guitars have garage rock riffs and the vocals almost snarl at times on songs like "Take Out The Trash." Their silly side comes out on the romp of a song called "The Mesopotamians" but the overall tone is steeped in such a gloomy shade of gray that you can't help but wish that the old merry pranksters would come out to play.

--Amy Wagner