The Else
by They Might Be Giants

Album details

US: 10 July 2007 on Idlewild / Zoe
UK: IMPORT ONLY

The Dust Brothers produced the duo’s first rock (i.e., non-kids) album in three years. Some versions come with a 23-song bonus disc.

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The critical consensus

The first track off the new TMBG disc is "I’m Impressed," and so is Amazon, calling The Else "another collection that ranks with any in their memorable discography." In fact, PopMatters says "It’s hard not to be impressed with The Else." Billboard declares it is "arguably their best since 1994’s ‘John Henry’," and Alternative Press labels the disc "a funky adventure in deliberate awkwardness," while Lost At Sea uses the word "wonderful." IGN notes that the Dust Brothers bring something new to the table for the Johns, resulting in an album "as good as any that TMBG has released," although lacking "soon-to-be classics in the same vein as ‘Birdhouse in Your Soul’ or ‘Ana Ng’." The Onion concludes that "the technical trickery is as interesting as any of TMBG’s other many, many experiments over the years." Stylus also enjoys the Dust Brothers’ production, finding that it compensates for the songs being "only sporadically funny."

On the other hand, Pitchfork wishes that the album were only sporadically funny, concluding that "TMBG are failed by their soft spot for musical humor and gimmickry." Filter notes that "several tracks suffer from dwindling energy or just mundane musicianship." Artist Direct likes the first and last tracks best; overall, the album is "a solid, if slightly undercooked" addition to the TMBG catalog in their book. All Music Guide also makes it clear which portion of the album they enjoy: "The second half of The Else is so good that it’s a little frustrating that the entire album isn’t this solid." Treble agrees with that assessment; overall, their take is that the disc is "not horrible, just not what hardcore TMBG fans … have been waiting a long time for." Only Prefix brings the hate, finding that "most of these songs are only pleasant for thirty seconds or so" (although they, like most, enjoyed "I’m Impressed").

The Else is surprisingly — and at times, a little disappointingly — straightforward.

- All Music Guide

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. I’m Impressed
2. Take Out the Trash
3. Upside Down Frown
4. Climbing the Walls
5. Careful What You Pack
6. The Cap’M
7. With the Dark
   
   
8. The Shadow Government
9. Bee of the Bird of the Moth
10. Withered Hope
11. Countrecoup
12. Feign Amnesia
13. The Mesopotamians

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• John Linnell interview (PopMatters)