They Might Be Giants: "Join Us"

They Might Be Giants: Join Us (Rounder Records)

After thirty years of musical collaboration, the combined forces of Johns Linnell and Flansburgh remain reliably off-kilter. Following a pair of acclaimed albums for children (2008's Grammy Award-winning Here Come the 123s and 2009's Here Comes Science), They Might Be Giants return with their first album of quirky music for grown-ups since 2007's The Else.

There’s no reason fans of “Birdhouse in Your Soul” shouldn’t love the chiming psychedelia of “Let Your Hair Hang Down,” or the girl making green tea by melting plastic army men during “You Probably Get That a Lot.” Mariachi trumpets and skittering drums during “In Fact” resolve with a bona fide spy-movie break. Linnell uncorks an old-school accordion solo during “Canajoharie.” The split-octave vocals of pop-funky “Celebration” recall Squeeze’s “Take Me I’m Yours.”

Other highlights include the deliciously black humor and tongue-twisting wordplay of “When Will You Die” and “Judy is Your Viet Nam.” The latter channels mod-era Who. “Cloissone” gives voice to a reluctant raindrop. Once again, TMBG bridge the gap between the Flaming Lips and "Weird Al" Yankovic.

TMBG will perform at the Vic Theatre in Chicago on Friday, September 23, 2011.

Link to band website: www.tmbg.com

Link: Tickets for the Vic performance