The vinyl cover of BOOK
New York’s original alt-rockers John Flansburgh and John Linnell return with their 23rd studio album of clever, whimsical, absurd and amusing songs, part of a project with an 8-track tape, another EP, and a bumper book of lyrics set in concrete poetry by Paul Sahre. The 144-page cloth-bound hardcover is styled on an early 70s IBM Selectric typewriter and includes photography by Brian Karlsson. But back to the songs - and they just as any fan would hope - inventive, meta-songs, inverting the genre, but mainly just playfully ironic and full of infinite jest. Standouts include Synopsis for Latecomers, Moonbeam Rays, Part of You Wants to Believe Me, the existential I Lost Thursday, I Can’t Remember The Dream, pet dinosaur subject and ongoing evolution metaphor in the form of Brontosaurus, and the wonderfuly eccentric If Day For Winnipeg, which feels like electronica in acoustic form, with possibly a flatulent sub-bass tuba, various unconventional forms of percussion, brass, woodwind and xylophones. The two Johns started TMBG forty years ago next year, and it’s clear that they remain the best of friends, have endless fun as independents, and are also hugely influential. Out on Idlewild Recordings.
From the book of BOOK
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