REVIEW
They Might Be Giants
Mink Car
They Might Be Giants à go-go 
Shake Your Groove Thang
By Trev Kelderman
Hip-hop. Bebop. Disco. Techno.
An eclectic mix of musical genres is typical for They Might Be Giants. Their new album, Mink Car, is no exception.
For those of you who are not familiar with TMBG (as they are so affectionately called), it is a Brooklyn-based band with John Flansburgh and John Linnell, who bring in a variety of musicians and instruments to achieve a wide range of sounds and musical styles. Among their diverse fan base, above all else, they are known for their live performances. John and John tour relentlessly and put on an exceptional show for their adoring and loyal fans. "TMBG has built a reputation as one of the most innovative, unique rock bands in the world," lauds emusic.com.
 Since Mink Car is TMBG's first full-length album in five years, it is important to know what they have been up to recently in order to better understand their new album. While they've been away from the studio, TMBG has done several things, including touring all over the country, releasing a two-disc compilation from their early years, launching tmbg.com and supplemental websites, releasing a live album, touring some more, writing and recording the theme to television's Malcolm in the Middle, and releasing an mp3-only EP, Working Undercover for the Man. Even though there's a huge mp3 controversy plaguing the music and online community, TMBG has jumped on the mp3 bandwagon (pun intended), taking complete control of the distribution of their digital music to the online masses.
Each studio album by TMBG is a complete culmination of the years of music before it. Since they embody growth, development, and yet remain experimental, the band reinvents itself with each and every album. Mink Car is a prime example. As a loyal fan, when I first glanced at the track list, I was disappointed to find several songs that had been available through emusic.com during the past few months. Even though I had heard the songs the general public probably had not, I tried to keep an open mind. Upon listening to the album in its entirety, I was glad to find all of the tracks fit into the puzzle perfectly. Oddly enough, half the album finds itself in the dance/club music genre. Among the other half there is still a huge mix of styles and lyrics, typical to TMBG. "Another First Kiss" is an unplugged remake/rewrite of a song from their live album. The title track sounds like John and John's version of lounge music; the only thing missing is a piano and a smoke-filled room. The beginning of "Yeh Yeh" sounds like another dance song but then breaks into more of a retro feel. Most of the tracks have a very full and well-accomplished sound. But not completely gone are the days of accordion accompaniment and strange disconnected sounds and lyrics. Some remnants still remain in songs like "Older" and "I've Got a Fang."
Emusic.com said it best: "Without straying too far from the brilliant insanity, infectious melodies and pop-culture intelligence that made TMBG famous, John and John delivered an album that effortlessly combines the power of their infamous stage show with the spirit of studio experimentation." TMBG stays true to form with Mink Car. They continue to experiment by encompassing their past work and using it to grow musically and lyrically. Not many bands are able to pull it off one time, but John and John do it over and over again. The toe-tapping and hip-shaking musical stylings of Mink Car are a welcome addition to their ever-expanding repertoire.
They Might Be Groovy.
They Might Be Giants will be performing at the Riviera in Chicago on October 19.
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