Since their early albums "Lincoln" and "Flood," John Linnell and John Flansburgh, the self-appointed supercilious music nerds of They Might Be Giants, have displayed a remarkable talent for straddling the fence between disdain for and celebration of the pop tune. Usually sweet and upbeat on the surface, their lyrics contain a level of sarcasm that becomes the spoonful of medicine to make the sugar go down.
They have continued this practice on their latest Restless Records release "Mink Car." Songs of despair and paralysis play out as cheerful as a breakfast-cereal commercial, while other tracks evidently relish exactly what they rag on. In the track, "Man, It's So Loud in Here," the vocalist rolls his eyes at the fate of electronic music, while singing to a background reminiscent of a late '80s new-wave dance party.
On the track "Another First Kiss," TMBG attempt a love song. They pull it off, but it's hard to tell whether they're serious. The tune is followed by the the delightfully inane "I've Got a Fang," which describes in few words the unsuccessful love life of a poor soul burdened with an overly protruding incisor. Guitars crank as the protagonist states glumly: "Glistening white triangular tooth/open up a can of tomato juice."
Flansburgh and Linnell's nasally Poindexter voices croon over their "Band of Dans" (Dan Hickey, Dan Weinkauf and Dan Miller), who play through an encyclopedia of instruments. Along with the obvious drums, synthesizers and guitars, one can hear flugelhorns, cellos, rauschpfeife and contrabass sarrusophones. (Don't ask.)
"Mink Car" is as catchy as it is cynical, leaving the listener to interpret it themselves. But whether you think it's earnest, facetious, or both, you'll inevitably find yourself humming along.