They Might Be Geeks . . .

. . . but I dig 'em. I know I said I didn't think They Might Be Giants' new album was top-shelf, but they've done great stuff over the years. Excellent live shows, and a wealth of two-minute songs to enjoy on each record. (The Ramones & TMBG, two of a kind.) Best TMBG songs, thought up right here and now off the top o' the noggin':

"Hits" (ha):
- Ana Ng
- They'll Need a Crane
- Don't Let's Start
- Istanbul
- Snail Shell
- Why Does the Sun Shine? (live)
- Boss of Me

Digging Deeper:
- She's an Angel
- Dinner Bell
- Twisting
- Mr. Me
- Meet James Ensor
- Thermostat
- AKA Driver
- and, of course, Shoehorn With Teeth, if only for the line "people should get beat up for statin' their beliefs" -- meaning the world of blogs like this one would have a lot of shiners

Just as the song "James K. Polk" led Ethan to a greater knowledge of the president, because of "Meet James Ensor" I dragged D-Pave Pellicane into the James Ensor exhibit at the Belgian National Art Museum in Brussels a couple of years ago, and it was well worth the stroll through the paintings. Lots of strange works involving scary masks. Weird dude.

For anyone with even a mild interest in the band, They came out with a brilliant documentary a couple of years ago, "Gigantic." Rock 'N' Russell and I saw it in the theater, and it's highly recommended. Also, listen to their random odds and ends at www.dialasong.com.

Unrelated drivel: has anyone seen the movie "They Might Be Giants" from thich this band took their name? Its cast is intriguing: George C. Scott, Mrs. Paul Newman, Grandpa Munster, the slutty Golden Girl, Bentley from "The Jeffersons," Fletch's Dr. Jellyfinger, Marty McFly's principal, and Solieri.