Bearded Magazine interview They Might Be Giants
14 May 2015TMBGs John Linnell chats about the band’s new LP Glean, which features tracks from their Dial-a-Song project.
TMBGs John Linnell chats about the band’s new LP Glean, which features tracks from their Dial-a-Song project.
TMBG’s Dial-A-Song, Week 19 is ECNALUBMA, with video by Paul Sahre and Todd Goldstein.
Get Glean: Direct | iTunes | Amazon | Spotify | Dial-A-Song Direct
well it’s a good thing that I brought a napkin
I knew that this would happen
why does this always happen?
that a day of impulsive fun becomes an evening
of injury, blood and grieving
injury, blood and grieving
make way make way and stand aside
the crowd takes up the cry
he comes he comes
bow down bow down and lower your eyes
before the litter borne by men in fancy uniforms
a chariot from which a siren warns
the regal flashing lights and royal horns
behold the great one comes
you’ve got an electric knife
and I’ve got the need to spite my face
I’ve got a nose, I know what to do
hand me that electric knife
marry me and be my wife
be by my side in the electric parade
help me out I can’t seem to get this window open
never mind now it’s open
I think my hand is broken
25 years after Flood, I’m pleased and surprised to discover that their latest three could stand as the same. Their recent albums are their best, freshest, most surprising, and most representative since their first few, which seems like an impossibility in our peak-early popular culture.
They Might Be Giants perform “Answer”, from their new album Glean, live on Conan. Watch it here.
Dial-A-Song week 17! Impossibly New
Get Glean: Direct | iTunes | Amazon | Spotify | Dial-A-Song Direct
walking through a world so dated
made of bones and wood so ancient
bitter dudes throwing rocks and flipping birds
in this town of rude deceivers
please make way for two believers
they can’t lie and their arms are open wide
the corner phone booth
in it’s youth
loved burning leaves and morning suits
it’s true
the only smokestack coming back is me for you
with love that’s impossibly new
as we gather round the campfire
telling tales of local vampires
don’t get scared of the shadows over there
two for once
we’ll have a ball
run thru the sodium pentathol
it’s true
the only smokestack coming back is me for you
with love that’s impossibly new
impossibly new
From TMBG’s upcoming album Glean which arrives tomorrow!! Video by Paul & Mike Swiatek with help from Joshua Swick, Joe Cuomo, Peter Eaton, Thomas Platt, PJ Germain, Joshua Steffes, Victor Treviqo, Thomas Moore, Chad Carlstone, Corey Glenn and Matthew Baker
Get Glean: Direct | iTunes | Amazon | Spotify | Dial-A-Song Direct
begin again begin again
wake up the lazy boyfriends
begin again begin again
we can start at the end
push your hands in your pockets. spaced out and sleepless
put yourself on the docket. get ready to go
got a brand new day planner still snug in the wrapper
and the weekly to-do list as white as the snow
so who’s good for nothing?
after you’ve run through your personal time
you still got some Wite-Out
enough to erase all the previous line
did you say out loud that YOU THINK YOU’VE LOST YOUR EDGE?
man, you never lost your edge
all the lazy boyfriends are preparing to change
they’re standing in the kitchen and preparing to change
all the lazy boyfriends are preparing to change
this American splendor spreads out before you
from basements to attics, garages to sheds
who needs a vacation? who needs a direction?
who needs motivation when you live in your head?
so who’s good for nothing?
so hard to finish
there’s nothing to force
you’ve still got some Wite-Out
and all of the girlfriends’ buyers remorse
did you say out loud that YOU THINK YOU’VE LOST YOUR EDGE?
man, you never lost your edge
all the lazy boyfriends are preparing to change
they’re staring at the ceiling and preparing to change
all the lazy boyfriends are preparing
begin again begin again
wake up the lazy boyfriends
begin again begin again
we can start at the end
2015 is already a landmark year in two-time Grammy winners They Might Be Giants‘ illustrious career. With the return of their Dial-A-Song service, the band have been posting a new track and accompanying music video every week to unanimous exclamations of joy from fans old and new.
In celebration, the band is releasing GLEAN on 20th April via Lojinx in Europe and on 21st April in the US on their own Idlewild imprint. It includes 16 songs direct from these first weeks of their Dial-A-Song service. The range of these recordings is truly staggering. From the manic violin-driven ‘Music Jail, Pt. 1 & 2‘ to the bluesy grinding of ‘Underwater Woman,’ Glean comprises some of They Might Be Giants’ most vital work of their 30+ year career. With the album, TMBG’s sound is in equal turns as rocking, surprising, effervescent, and truly original as they have ever been. The highly anticipated album is produced with long-time collaborator Pat Dillett (St. Vincent, Mary J. Blige, David Byrne, Donald Fagen, etc), and comes hot on the heels of 2013’s fan-favourite Nanobots.
From TMBG’s upcoming album Glean which arrives 20th April. Video directed by David Cowles and Jeremy Galante.
iTunes | Spotify | Dial-A-Song Direct | get Glean
tape has brightening arm connect
wait that didn’t make sense
self-paint lever itching does
that made even less sense
shaving copter anymore
that’s not even a sentence
weld crat tonsil speep enact
some of those aren’t words
what does it mean?
what does it mean?
I’ll put it in my thinking machine
uncle fourteen marching flame
don’t know what you said
sleep expensive cloud enjoy
still not following
gurb long trom flom dim fim lim
pretty sure that’s gibberish
dog dog dog dog dog dog dog
now you’re just repeating the word “dog”
what does it mean?
what does it mean?
I’ll put it in my thinking machine
cash fog ansel adams mouth
what?
green grape gravy grateful grab
what?
skeleteleteleton
what?
the word for word is word
what does it mean?
what does it mean?
I put it in my thinking machine