Long Tall Weekend

This album proves that They Might Be Giants closed out the vigor and quirky songwriting ability to equal the unparalleled days of "Don't Lets Start" (Bar/None, 1987). Along with comparable originals as "Token Back to Brooklyn" (featuring Soul Coughing's Yuval Gabay on drums) and "(She Thinks She's) Edith Head" they offer up their unique versions of such material as Lesley Gore's "Maybe I Know." They Might Be Giants continue a tireless tradition of factory-style, creating one-after-another, the world's best novelty alternative pop songs. All 15 tracks are new studio recordings, and some of these songs have already lived in the group's live set or on their dial-a-song service. The Dilbert-spin on office boredom in "Operators are Standing By," the light handling of the serious in "Reprehensible," and the humorous observations on the Samurai movie genre in "Certain People I Could Name" are unforgettable and entertaining. But, all things evolve. As the accordion becomes less prominent, the guitar is more so. More jocular than hip, more crazy than cool, They Might Be Giants groove fresh in their comedic relief as other guitar bands work a deeper rut. ~ Tom Schulte