After an incredible year of creativity, posting 52 new songs over the course of 2015, They Might Be Giants release of their new album Phone Power, through Lojinx. The LP continues the all-killer, no-filler tradition of the band's current efforts...

Last year (2015) we reviewed They Might Be Giant's album Glean. I mentioned at the time that I hadn't really followed their output since the '90s - and in fact was surprised that Glean was their 17th studio album.

The way I normally review an album is to listen to it over the course of several days, put it aside for a while and then play it again for several more days. This, I find allows me to give a much fairer review, as some of my all time favourite albums I wasn't overly fond of on a first play through. Some LPs take time to get under your skin.

With Phone Power, I really loved it from the first play through - and I knew it would give me weeks and months of listening pleasure. The album contains 18 songs (44 min, 54 sec).

The disc includes 'I Love You for Psychological Reasons', the standout track that will be lodged in your head with barely a second listen, and a reworking of Destiny’s Child’s 'Bills, Bills, Bills'.

This is a well rounded album with something for everyone. The band hasn't lost their quirky edge, nor their ability to pen songs that lodge in your skull. Personal favourite tracks include 'I Love You for Psychological Reasons'; 'Trouble Awful Devil Evil'; 'ECNALUMBA'; 'It Said Something'; 'I'll Be Haunting You'; and 'Shape Shifter'.

If you've not been following the band's output since the '90s then be prepared to blow your next pay cheque on picking up their back catalogue.

10

Nick Smithson