Ok, so you said it's not very good, and then said nice things about most of the individual songs. Did it grow on you without you knowing it?

Well, Kyle, some of the songs are okay, but a huge chunk of the album - the middle seven songs - fall by the wayside.

Interesting. My impression was that I'm Impressed and Take Out the Trash were only lead-ins to the album's most fun and inventive songs, The Cap'm, With the Dark, and especially Bee of the Bird of the Moth.

As for the supposed bell curve, having listened extensively to all their albums, this one shows quite possibly the best flow and album unity of all of them.

The thing with They Might Be Giants, even moreso than with other bands, is that some listeners will hate it and others will worship it. Lyrics that are "too enigmatic to be bothered with" for some are pure genius for others for that same reason.

Even though I obviously fall into the latter group, I do not envy anyone trying to review their music with parity.

Understood. Do you think you'll listen to it again in part or in whole?

I've got to agree, as this isn't my favorite TMBG album, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it awful. It's got some signature catchy songs, but nothing that, I believe, can ever even compare to their older songs of the John Henry, Flood, or Factory Showroom days.
They're an old band; they're just experimenting with new sounds now to see what works and what doesn't, and while this new sound may work for some, it's definitely not going to satisfy everyone.

Kyle - of course. I've listened about a dozen times and I'm sure there still isn't stuff I've picked up on.

I ask because for me, this album was really a grower. My first impression was similar to yours, but I found it rapidly growing on me. Its certainly not one of their more user-friendly efforts. It came as a bit of a shock after the very comfortable The Spine, which became, and stayed, one of my favorites. I'd be curious to see what you think of this album in a month, but it sounds like you really did your homework.

It's like you took the words right out of my mouth, even though I don't think Contrecoup is the best song... although maybe I'm just tired of hearing it.

That said, I've never gotten tired of songs like Lucky Ball and Chain or Sleeping In The Flowers. Some songs are just that good. I'd even say that up until Factory Showroom, 99% of every album was worth playing on repeat. I never found myself having to skip more than one song. But, with The Else, I'm already planning on never listening to a few tracks again... and that never happens to me with TMBG.

I'd say that from FS on, I've only really liked about 1/2 of every album, with the exception of The Spine, which is one of my favorites.

Hm. Anything else I want to get out?

I guess another possibility is that John and John are just singing about things I don't care about on The Else... but it really just feels weak.

Odd. I find myself most enjoying the songs you mention disliking, and I'm lukewarm to some of your favorites. I find this is often the case with people who don't loooove TMBG: they like the songs we TMBG fans had initally to suffer through. Sure, we eventally fell in love with them, but Contrecoup? Maybe it's the fact that I've been hearing it for a year now, but I can't see how Contrecoup is the best song on the album, while Feign Amnesia is a mistake. I'd put money on TMBG fans agreeing with me, and casual listeners agreeing with you.

It's a strange phenomenon that seems to repeat over and over: TMBG half-fill their albums with songs that rabid fans will like, and the other half are for recruitment to the fanbase.

Yeah, it's interesting how completely opposite my feelings on the album are from yours, while still agreeing with you that it's not their best work. I've been a TMBG fan for about 16 years, so maybe that's the difference. Either way, I was just telling someone that I felt the album had a weak beginning and end but a great run of 7 songs in the middle... to me, Careful What You Pack is one of the best songs John Flansburgh's written, and The Cap'm is a close second favorite. The rest of the middle songs from Climbing the Walls through Withered Hope are worthy additions to their catalog, as is The Mesopotamians.

I think Upside Down Frown is the worst song on the album, followed by the underwritten Feign Amnesia and the overworked Contrecoup. I'm Impressed and Take Out The Trash are fairly boring. Those are the songs that drag it down to a good, not great album... most of the ones you hated are in my plus column.

This is an absolutely fascinating phenomenon. I look forward to hearing from more of you TMBG die-hards.

Trouble a-brewin'

I have been a massive TMBG fan since I first heard S-E-X-X-Y about 11 years ago. I have to agree with most of the comments here. On first listen, I didn't think much of it but after a few more listens it's growing on me quite nicely - the same thing happened with The Spine. To date, my favourite songs on this album are probably The Cap'm, With The Dark, Bee of The Bird of The Moth, Withered Hope and Feign Amnesia. I quite like I'm Impressed and Take Out The Trash, but they are fairly weak openers compared to previous albums. I agree with Mander that they haven't been as good since Factory Showroom - personally I think their first 3 albums were their greatest and they've been on a very slow decline since then with the odd brilliant song but still better than just about anything else out there

As a long-time (15 years) TMBG fan, I do like this album. Maybe not as much as "The Spine" but this one is definitely growing on me. "I'm Impressed" and "Take out the Trash" are fairly boring but, in my opinion, they do lead into some great songs and set up the mood fairly well. "Climbing the Walls" is one of the finest on the album, along with "Withered Hope," "With the Dark," and "The Mesopotamians." My problem with TMBG now-a-days is that Flansburgh only seems interested in writing these rock'n'roll rave-ups whereas he used to write much stranger stuff. "Feign Amnesia" is practically "Prevenge" all over again. He still pulls out a few strange ones here and there, but...

I personally think "Mink Car" was the band's low point. "The Spine" was a definite improvement, and though this one may not be much of an improvement over "The Spine," it's still quite good.

I think "The Mesopotamians" is easily the best track on this album and IS an instant classic. Bee of th Bird follows closely behind. Much of the stuff on this album is complex and heavily produced and will take some time to digest. Sometimes when I listen to it, I am blown away and other times I am like "this ins no John Henry". I think it will take some time to know where it will settle among their albums.

What I really miss on the stuido version of ''Bee of the Bird of the Moth'' is the keyboard sound they use live. On the album, its more of a bass/square wave kind of sound.

I'm at work after hours, fighting a deadline and listening to The Else on repeat. After 4 cycles, which songs are shaking me from my stupor?

Climbing the Walls. Bird of the Bee of the Moth. Withered Hope. The Cap'm. With the Dark. Contrecoup. The Mesopotamians.

In my road test, these are the standouts. None of the album strikes me as awful, but my song skip finger IS beginning to itch when "Careful What You Pack" starts yet again. I agree with the comment that it's reminiscent of "Prevenge" - another song that at first seemed just innocuous but became too saccharine on repeat. Overall though, I think the album will weather well - and that it's their best overall effort in a while. Can't wait to hear the new songs live!

for reference, i'm a fan since apollo 18ish, seen them live since john henry, and think they've been amazingly consistent for most of their career, including their last few albums. i also tend to be more of a linnell than flansburg fan, song-wise, but whatever.

i had to go back and listen to it again to make sure i wasn't insane - i think "upside down frown" is great! granted, i don't really care about the lyrics. i also think "climbing the walls" is one of the better linnell hooks i've heard in awhile.

basically, my first impression of "the else" is amazement that the johns (particularly linnell) can still crank out the sweet, catchy melodies so relentlessly.

What strikes me most about this album is that it sounds the most like Them than some of their other albums lately. Mink Car's "Man It's So Loud In Here" and The Spine's "Stalk of Wheat" mostly had me thinking that They were trying to copy some other genre or sound. This entire record sounds less like them trying to sound like something they're not and more like themselves. I can see how this album makes sense in their progression.

I do generally like Linnell's songs better than Flansy's, and I agree with Scott's comment about Flansy's songs lately.

Have to admit, the first two times I heard this album I was disappointed. I kept listening for songs to grab me like "Experimental Film" did the first time I heard it. By about the fourth time around, the entire thing was starting to grow on me -- and now twenty times later (I have a loooong commute) I can't turn it off. The last four tracks always have me diving for the back button to hear them all again.

The Else is an excellent album.

Wow, I'm pretty shocked at the reactions so far. I've been a fan since FLOOD, and I have to say this is their best album since John Henry (which I also love, though it seems to get trashed a lot). I'm even more surprised that some of you loved the Spine, which I found to be really flat. I think the over-abundance of Linnel tunes makes this album a real keeper. It seems like he's leading 75% of them.

I'm a hardcore TMBG fan, but I've only recently delved into all of their music. I agree with DJ Sloofus, John Henry is a great album and it has at least four heavy-hitting songs. Mink Car was really bad (and contains Flansy's worst song, "Cyclops Rock") but The Else seems like a better overall effort.

I've been a converted Giants fan since my home country, England, first encountered the two Johns when they released Flood. Since that happy occasion, I went out and bought their entire back catalogue (not always easy in a land where they are not very well known) and have seen them on several tours over here where they never fail to rock! [Except that they don't seem to be coming over here for this album, the swines!]

Anyway, back to The Else.
Whilst I agree that it is not their most immediate of albums, like many above, I certainly found it growing on me.

If I had their whole catalogue on my MP3 player can't think of any tunes I would delete and even the "Take out the trash" would be played. Although I think it's the weakest song on the album it is growing on me.

One of the things I like about TMBG's music is that their songs could only be sung by them.
If any other band tried to educate you about the ancient civilisation of the Mesopotiamians, obscure Belgian painters or 19th Century presidents, you'd laugh in their face, but Linnell and Flansy get away with it, mainly cos unlike many other straight faced and serious bands TMBG have a sense of humour. (Sorry for the inclusion of the second 'u' in that word! Doesn't look right without one.)

And even when they do songs about relationships, they are generally from an off the wall view or they use unusual symbolism, such as cranes, beards and ball and chains. But, returning to The Else, "Take out the trash", could be done by another band. Ah well. Must try harder John and John!

To conclude this waffle, I think it's another great album with enough top tunes to ensure it remains in my car for a long time. But it's no Flood or John Henry.

it is very interesting to see that there's a lot of difference of opinion among fans concerning all the full band albums (john henry on). I think JH was awesome, I think Factory Showroom was their best full-band album so far (why doesn't everyone love that album?). Mink Car and The Spine were really weak in my opinion, but each had a couple great songs that almost saved them.

The Else is definitely way better than the last two, with much more consistent songwriting (and maybe it's fresher sounding because of the new blood from the Dust Bros.) I think Withered Hope is really great, also The Cap'm is pretty amazing. Shadow Gov't is probably my favorite Flans song on this one.

Its a great cd

i've been a fan since 1988, and this is easily their best album since "john henry." harmonies are excellent, words are excellent, melodies are excellent (as always). it doesn't suffer from the kitschiness/cutesiness that has plagued their albums since the mid-90s. each song is distinct and well-worth repeated listens. i'm not surprised the reviewer picked "contrecoup" as the best track, as it's probably the most conventional, an inoffensive mid-tempo ditty. this album is a thousand times more imaginative than anything i've heard this year. "i'm impressed," "climbing the walls," "withered hope," and "the mesopotamians" are all among tmbg's best work. also worth noting is the relative brevity of each track and the album in general. all killer, no filler, so to speak.

I remember thinking "John Henry" was very dark when I first got it. Actually I still think that. Anyone else? Sort of off topic...but oh well...

Still liking The Else. There's a video for "with the dark" up on youtube now. It's pretty cool.

And, Shane, "Factory Showroom" is one of my favorites too. Definitely overlooked and under rated.

This is the best album since lincoln.

I have to agree. and I'm one of those crazy fans who make people like them but if I tried to influence anyone into liking them based on this album, I may as well not bother, it really is quite disappointing. Still, they've done such other great work, I'm sure they'll bounce back.

Clearly people (fans or not) cannot agree on what they think of TMBG current or past albums; I think this is a good sign for the band remaining fresh even after so many years.

I've been a two-Johns fan since "Ana Ng" 900 years ago. I had no idea who Ana Ng was, but she sure sounded like a catchy young lass.

My reaction to THE ELSE was completely different: It's their freshest work in years, a vast improvement over the uninspired THE SPINE, which should've been buried at the bottom of a FRESH AIR tote bag during an NPR pledge drive. IMHO, the INDESTRUCTIBLE OBJECT EP gathered that album's best material into one consistent collection and offered a sweet "Caroline, No" cover to boot. An EP should never be an improvement over its full-length counterpart.

Interesting read, nonetheless. Keep up the good work.

I bought this album and HATED it!!!!!!!!!

Then I listened again, just because I'm a fan... and found that it began to grow on me.
I actually made a mix of the album that excludes "Take out the Trash". It just has none of the cleverness that TMBG is known for, and felt like pop crap.

Mesopotamians is the song that hooked me, initially, and along with Bee of the Bird of the Moth, Contrecoup (which took some digging to understand what he's talking about) and I'm Impressed, I was pleasantly surprised.

Overall, the themes on this album seem really dark! We have a broken social relationship song in Upside Down Frown, a futile insanity song in Climbing The Walls, a cautionary song in Careful, a song about insecure inanity in Cap'm, With the Dark and Shadow and Withered speak for themselves, Contrecoup and Amnesia are both about head trauma, and Mesopotamians is a song about a band no one knows about. Yet, they mostly pull it off with catchy melodies.

With their usual wink and a nod in songs like Cap'm, I'm Impressed, and Climbing the Walls, I think TMBG has made a spectacularly fun album, and I can't wait to see them on tour in November.

Oh, as an aside... nice review.

Also, this album felt like a return to the 90's TMBG, with horns and such. It didn't feel as fresh as The Spine, which did feel a bit uninspired nonetheless.

I am glad artists don't read comment threads, and just do what they want to do.

The reasons I like The Else seem to be the same reasons why the reviewer dislikes it. The reviewer's favorite song, Contrecoup, seems simplistic and repetitive and doesn't hold up as well as other songs after several listens. Meanwhile, deciphering the lyrics of a song like Climbing the Walls and Cap'm are part of what keeps me coming back for more.

Also, most people have been saying this is their best album since John Henry, which seems to be another way of saying that people didn't like Mink Car or The Spine. Don't forget though about No! and Here Come the ABCs. Many of us who were listening to Lincoln and the pink album years ago are buying those for our kids now. And while they may be written for kids, they are great albums and fun to listen to.

I'm quite surprised at nearly across-the-board praise for John Henry, my favorite TMBG album. That one always seems to divide fans, but some serious love going on here. Also seems to be a lot of support for The Spine, another great divider. My kind of people. ;)

Anyway, while TMBG fans are quite diverse, there has always seemed to be two kinds to me (for the most part). The first is the kind of fan who fell in love with their early material and are attached to that sound. Which is perfectly understandable because their first few albums are absolutely inspired. But no matter how strage they get, there truly is a consistent sound throughout their first albums. Almost none of the songs could be done by any other artist.

Starting around John Henry, they got a much more diverse sound. And while each song is undeniably TMBG, there's less of a twisting of other sounds into their own and more of a branching out into other sounds.

That's where the second kind of fan appears. They love TMBG not for the unique sound they burned into alternative music, but for their craft. John and John are magical songwriters. When staring down a whole album or an entire era or catalog of their material, it's easy to overlook the fact that almost every single song is fantastic. Obviously, I fall into the second category of fan. I don't think this kind of fan is superior or anything. Their first albums are admittedly fresher and more eye-opening than any of their other work. But if you are less in a "sound" mode and more receptive to great songs, I think it's easier to appreciate their later material.

Factory Showroom has some massive classics like Pet Name and Spiraling Shape. In fact, almost every song is wonderful, and the only thing missing is force. If it were a high quality live album or had a big band, I think it would be regarded as one of their best (notice they started releasing live material around this time...probably not a coincidence). Mink Car was a major grower for me (Hopeless Bleak Despair, I've Got a Fang, Wicked Little Critta...man, the more I think about it, the better that album is), and I immediately loved The Spine. Even if you aren't a fan, the accompanying EP, The Spine Surfs Alone, is AWESOME. And that's where I think The Else is born. With the Dark, The Shadow Government, and Climbing the Walls are incredible. Some of the songs are a bit more forgettable than others. But I think that's because it's so continually solid AND because it consistently rocks. Without a change of pace, some very good moments get lost. So put it on shuffle or listen in chunks in order to digest it better, but the whole album is very good.

Some people here say that the album grew on them and I'm one of those people. When I first listened to it I was slightly disappointed. But after a while I started loving songs I initially didn't like all that much (Bee of the Bird of the Moth). I've been a fan ever since I was 6 and it's great that they keep shelling out great songs all these years.