They Might Be Giants
Nanobots
Idlewild Recordings (2013)
When I first heard these guys in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, there wasn’t really a name for this. Now, I guess it would be called indie pop. The band, led by songwriters John Linnell and John Flansburgh, has long been on the quirky side with a touch of novelty, but it’s their strong sense of melody and that off-kilter pop sensibility that has kept their fan base loyal throughout the years, not just the wit. Entering 2013, I hadn’t listened to anything new in probably a decade. Has the band shifted directions with Nanobots? No.The twenty-five tracks here take up about 45 minutes and all play in that familiar range of emotion: playful, whimsical, and a touch scientific and historic for good measure. What defines this record in terms of their discography is the use of several short songs. It’s not “Fingertips”—the shorties here run 10 to 30 seconds and feel like full creations. Also, they’re mixed throughout the record in a splendid piece of sequencing, and they are more hit than miss. Closing on the 0:24 “Didn’t Kill Me,” for example, is a brilliant move.As for the rest of the record, the eighteen songs that top a … Read more
The Strokes
Comedown Machine
RCA (2013)
The Strokes have paved way since brushing the scene in 2001 with their instant garage pop classic, Is This It. … Read more
Altar Of Plagues
Teethed Glory and Injury
Profound Lore (2013)
Often an album comes along that defies all genre constraints and challenges your own perception on life and reality. Sometimes … Read more
The Scutches
Ten Songs, Ten Years
Bright & Barrow (2012)
The Ramones were, and still are, such an influence on music. These days, they’re garnered as a genre all on … Read more
The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation
Egor
Denovali (2012)
As the sister group of The Kilimanjaro Doomjazz Ensemble This group treads similar waters. While not a new group by … Read more
