Album Review: They Might Be Giants - Nanobots

They Might Be Giants' Johns Linnell and Flansburgh are lucky buggers. They've had a couple of massive top 40 moments (1990's Birdhouse In Your Soul; the Malcolm In the Middle theme), have consistently skirted US college radio playlists, indulged in children's albums and other whims, yet still manage to pull crowds and sell records. Their Cool Point-o-Meter still rings defiantly after three decades.

The Brooklyn duo's 16th offers no surprises whatso-flippin'-ever to anyone, but still delivers wry smiles. Most of the conventional material is found in the first six songs, which average just under three minutes each. You're On Fire is like the B-52s holding back the campness and Circular Karate Chop is primed to be another sitcom theme song. Then there's the awesomely saxed-up Call You Mom, which signals the end of what is essentially a mini-album of single material. What follows is essentially a second mini-album of semi-conventional pop spliced with nanosongs over 19 more tracks. There is a poignant power-soul statement (“You're the borderline right between two countries”). It lasts just nine seconds. Or the NY street theatre claim that “If it wasn't for that tick we would not be in this predicament that we're in” (Tick, 12 seconds) while the lethargic Replicant and swingin' Icky are worth pottering through the sketches for.

Producer Patrick Dillett has shepherded Tegan & Sara's tweeness as well as some of David Byrne's avant-gardism, which makes him the ideal choice for Nanobots. It neither breaks molds nor disappears up any art-pop orifices. But like the best pop music, it's designed to be consumed and disposed of responsibly.