They Might Be Giants “I Like Fun”
Over the course of their 30-plus year career, prolific pop experimentalists John Flansburgh and John Linnell have always been a little obsessed with death and the macabre, but on I Like Fun, it’s an overt theme – and every track touches it. Starting with “Let’s Get This Over With” a piano rhythm and pounding bass drum, sets up the bouncy lyric ”Even when you’re out of work/you still have a job to do.” It then jumps into the big single “I Left My Body” which is classic TMBG (the album was even recorded in the same Manhattan location as their classic 1990 LP Flood,) with its harmonies and catchy melody.
The band can still rock out “An Insult To The Fact Checkers” and the power pop of “The Bright Side” proves the guitar riffs still belongs on a TMBG album. But there is plenty of weirdness here, from the classical piano stylings of “Mrs. Bluebeard” to the nerdy dance pop “Push Back The Hands.” And while some of it sounds gimmicky (“The Greatest”) there are more than enough memorable songs like the “Last Wave,” a final statement on the subject; “We die alone, we die afraid… and the grave is the loneliest place.” In another artists hands, this album could sound like a funeral dirge, but with the Johns you get a lively party.
Daniel McGeever “Cross The Water”
McGeever is a pop singer/songwriter who builds perfect dramatic song structures using classic tools of the trade: guitar and piano. The opener “Julia” builds a mid-tempo love song that recalls Elton John or Paul McCartney with a chorus brimming with sweet harmonies. The emotional appeal of McGeever’s music also reminds me of Graham Gouldman or Gilbert O’ Sullivan. The album starts out hopeful, “Life’s A Game” has McGeever belt out the chorus, and it leads to the wistful “Wedding Day,” with its nostalgic feel.
On tracks like “Return” the piano takes on a slight baroque quality, but as the album continues the compositions are more classical folk like “For Violet.” Most of the album is love balladry, but the best romantic gem here is “Our Love Will Remain” and McGeever’s double-tracked harmonies are especially good. “It’s Not Over All Yet” finishes our story with a six-minute epic Billy Joel meets David Gates flourish, dramatically stating “in the face of adversity there is always a little hope.” A great romantic album that stands up to multiple listens, and highly recommended.
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