They Might Be Giants 'The Else' to be iTunes exclusive
I am a big They Might Be Giants fan, and I make no qualms about it. They are, without a doubt, my favorite band therefore I will take any opportunity to write about them. Luckily for you, dear TUAW reader, this bit of news is relevant to our favorite computer/electronics/media company.They Might Be Giants (TMBG to their friends) are releasing their newest album, 'The Else,' 2 months before the CD hits stores exclusively on iTunes. Not only is this a boon to TMBG fans, but Apple is sure to make a little money off of this (though, to be fair, TMBG aren't as popular as they once were).
The CD will contain a bonus disc that won't be available on iTunes, so all the hardcore fans will still have to pick up the CD if they want the complete set (I'll be buying both, sadly).
This is a slightly odd announcement because TMBG actually run their own digital download service that offers their music in high quality, and sans DRM. One can only assume that when the CD is available on July 10th, DRM free tracks will also be available via TMBG's own website.
[via Macenstein]
Update: With all the excitement I neglected to mention that the album will be available on May 15th.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Trent Pekkala said 7:13PM on 5-07-2007
So what is the exact date that the album will be available on iTunes?
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scott Rodgers said 7:32PM on 5-07-2007
i have been lurking this site for a long time, and have never posted a comment, but TMBG is also my ALL TIME FAVORITE BAND.
my students love them now too.
-scott in haddon heights NJ
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matthew Dugal said 7:45PM on 5-07-2007
i have never ... ever heard of this band .... i dont even think i have seen them anywhere on the UK iTS
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Adam said 8:03PM on 5-07-2007
What's funny about all this is that the album was leaked days ago.
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derek said 8:05PM on 5-07-2007
they suck. they are for little kids
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Stuart said 8:19PM on 5-07-2007
They're a brilliant band, and the best live band I've ever seen, whenever they're in the UK I'm there doing the mexican wave or the conga.
Au contraire, Derek
Quite the opposite, in fact
As it happens, au contraire
Au contraire, mon frre
They're more than just Birdhouse and Malcolm.
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Andrew Cunningham said 9:59PM on 5-07-2007
We were waving our arms out the window
Of a fast moving passenger train
Acting in an irresponsible fashion
Until the engineer whose back had been turned
And who we thought would find us highly amusing
Quickly swiveled his head around
And his face which was a paper-white mask of evil
Sang us this song
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jason said 10:16PM on 5-07-2007
aren't they the guys who sing the theme song for malcom in the middle?
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Charlie said 10:27PM on 5-07-2007
Calling TMBG a kids band is like calling U2 a Christian band -- it uses one element of their personality to completely miss the point. They are without a doubt one of the smartest, funniest, and most entertaining bands out there. They deserve a much bigger audience, but I'm amazed at how many people born after their platinum years are fans.
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Casey said 11:25PM on 5-07-2007
I don't know about some of these people, but I'd buy a big prosthetic forehead and wear it on my real head.
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Joel Housman said 12:05AM on 5-08-2007
I'm actually seeing TMBG in concert tomorrow in Charlottesville Virginia :)
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schmod said 1:01AM on 5-08-2007
Seems to me like they're shooting themselves in the foot, considering that they reap a near 100% profit on sales through their own store.
I'd by from TMBG direct any day of iTMS. No DRM, Higher Bitrate, Lossless Option, and the knowledge that the artist is actually getting my money. It's a no-brainer.
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trainwrecka said 10:09AM on 5-08-2007
"particle man" and "instanbul" are my favorite tracks.
offering an incomplete product on itunes seems kinda gimpy. and offering non-DRM'd tracks elsewhere seems kinda gimpy as well. smart for the band though. they will probably get a lot of "front-page-love" in the iTS.
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Steve in Denmark said 2:29PM on 5-08-2007
Aren't they a novelty act? With that 'birdhouse for my soul' kids thing a while ago? I thought they'd given it up as a lost cause.
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marcosmalo said 11:52AM on 5-09-2007
TMBG has been around since 1982. That's 25 years!! Impressive!
However, I think that if they're still not giants after 25 years, they probably won't ever be giants. I'm sorry, TMBG fans, it had to be said. I suggest you start calling the band TMNBG for the sake of accuracy.
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marcosmalo said 12:05PM on 5-09-2007
12. -- They're likely to get more exposure, which hopefully translates into more ticket sales when they perform. Also, they might actually sell in much greater volume to more casual fans, who wouldn't intentionally go to the site to purchase TMBG music. Never underestimate the power of impulse shopping. I'm more of a casual fan. I might pick up a tune or two sometime on iTunes on impulse.
14. -- No more novelty than Jonathan Richman. Maybe they are more geeky than Richman, but not by any means a novelty act. I lived in San Francisco in the late 80s/early 90s and they were a pretty big deal back then.
5. -- Derek, I don't think of them as a kid's band. I think of them more as an anti-Emo band. So cheer up!
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John S. said 1:07AM on 5-15-2007
I have had The Else for about a week now, and under no circumstances should children be allowed within ten metres of this album. They haven't rocked this hard, well, ever. Stunning.
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