TMBW:This Might Be A Zine/Issue 7

From This Might Be A Wiki

Welcome to Issue 7 and the first 2026 issue of This Might Be A Zine, where you can get caught up on all the latest TMBG news and things, hosted on this very website, TMBW!

New tour dates[edit]

The band has put out multiple tour dates for multi-night stands in seven cities in late spring: Woodstock, Indianapolis, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Boston.[1] Tickets go on sale today. John Flansburgh has also noted that upcoming shows may feature song highlights from Lincoln, Factory Showroom, and the band's upcoming 24th album, which is set to release in early spring.[2]

It's Fun To Steal LP Sampler found[edit]

It's Fun To Steal LP Sampler

Last month, Mono Puff's rare It's Fun To Steal LP Sampler tape was finally ripped, so we can now listen to Backstabbing Liar (Demo), along with the original mixes of Creepy and Dedicated!


Forest/Trees public release[edit]

Forest/Trees

Also last month, John Flansburgh's solo EP, Forest/Trees, was publicly released for the first time. It's available to download for $4.99 on the TMBG Shop!


Flood Live In America released[edit]

Flood Live In America

The band released a new live album in November, Flood Live In America, recorded during Flood's 30th anniversary tour from 2022 to 2023. It's available on the TMBG Shop!


New Eyeball EP released![edit]

Eyeball

The first new EP in over four years, Eyeball, is now available on streaming and the TMBG Shop!

Here's what people have to say about the new EP:

Lappy486:

i really like Eyeball! it's a solid release to hold us over until A24 comes out :) my favourite song is definitely The Glamour Of Rock, it's such an earworm!

TheyKuiperBelt:

The Eyeball EP is really cool i definitely enjoyed it, my favourite from it has got to be Eyeball itself.

SunshineMar

I’m really enjoying Eyeball! Every song on it is great, from Linnell doing what he does best in recent years on Eyeball, to Flans’s awesome vocal performance on The Glamour Of Rock, to the instrumental Peggy Guggenheim, which sounds like something straight out of a spy TV show, gunshots and all! But my favorite is definitely the Elegant Too remix of Eyeball. It just sounds super good, arguably better than a lot of what TMBG has put out in recent years, and the instrumentation is super fun. Would love to see more of that in the future! Overall I love this EP, and it’s gotten me really excited for album 24.

Titanosuchus:

Eyeball EP is a wonderful four-song journey into TMBG bliss. If I could listen to nothing but Eyeball for the rest of the year, I would be happy. This is likely a popular opinion, but Eyeball was my favorite song from the release. Every time TMBG writes a song about blame-shifting due to some unexplained thing (evil twin that is also probably you/something is controlling your mind, etc) it becomes an instant favorite for me.

Lukehennisch:

I really really dig the new EP. I liked it upon first listen, but after listening about 10 times now, I’ve really grown to like it. It’s a really refreshing release—all solid tunes (muuuch better than their previous EP). My favorite track is the Elegant Too remix of Eyeball. Takes the original song, which is already a classic Linnellian pop tune, and spices it up a bit more.

DonutEater:

I LOVE THE EYEBALL EP!!!!! my favorite would probably be the title track with glamour close behind rn but they're all so good

SomeAsker:

I really liked it! I would say a lot but I'm just too darned happy over new TMBG music! My favorite parts of the EP are when they showcase the horns on tracks like Glamour and Peggy. And while I was disappointed that the remix didn't change much of the original song, it kinda grew on me. Favorite track: Peggy Guggenheim

Waymu:

New EP's great, makes me excited for the eventual album considering they're still able to make interesting sounding songs that don't sound like retreads of stuff they've already written like a lot of bands that go on as long as TMBG have. My favorite track's probably just plain old Eyeball.

Sam:

I am so happy to see some new music from TMBG!!!!!! Eyeball EP is awesome — Peggy Guggenheim is my favorite track. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for the next album!!!!!

MoroboshiAtaru:

I thought the new EP sounded pretty good! I wasn't taken by it as a whole, but the things the band has been doing recently are quite fun. The two vocal tracks are classic TMBG, and the new instrumental "Peggy Guggenheim" is a nice feature for the horns. While I don't think it's anything special, I'm glad the band has given us a taste for what's to come on album 24!

Wildstorkmel:

The Eyeball EP is a really fun little appetizer! I will admit I felt numb when I first listened to it, because it feels like I've waited so long for them to release new music that it didn't feel real. As I was listening to it, I thought, "yup! These are songs". I came around on it, though. The title track Eyeball is good. I like a good JL song with rollicking JF backing vocals. The Elegant Too Remix was a lot more subtle than I was expecting it to be, but I am inclined to prefer it over the original for its heartier beat and for my bias towards pedal steel guitar twangs.

I find it really funny that A) The Glamour Of Rock started as a ditty flans sang as he did his laundry in 2022 that I bet most people thought nothing of that later debuted as a complete song, B) that they only played it live 9 times in 2024 as of writing this, likely due to lukewarm reception, and C) the fact it was the only confirmed track for the next album for nearly TWO YEARS before being demoted to the preceding EP, possibly because of point B.

Currently, though, my favorite of the tracks is Peggy Guggenheim. The horn section and gunshot percussion are absolutely ROCKIN'. It makes me want an instrumental track or two for the forthcoming 24th album.

Alan Probe:

I absolutely adored it! It came out right in the middle of an incredibly turbulent time in my life, and it really hit home for me. The studio recording of The Glamour Of Rock has to be my favourite out of the entire EP. I had not heard it before now as I have not attended any live shows (yet!)— but it absolutely blew me away. I’m really hoping to hear more like it on A24!

Cremetangerine:

I LOVE EYEBALL!!! It's everything I could've wanted. I forced myself to wait to listen to Glamour of Rock, even though there were recordings available, and I'm so glad I waited. What a gorgeous song. It really feels like Flans has finally become the sort of singer he used to reference back in the early days of TMBG. I love every track on the EP, but I really can't get over the feeling of "Peggy Guggenheim." It has gravitas; it has bravado; it has swagger. "Peggy" is definitely the standout for me. BUT! Let me not forget the titular track and its remix. Linnell is a master of writing lyrics that convey a frantic desperation that makes my chest ache. The original is fantastic, and the Elegant Too were able to even elevate it with its more stripped down instrumentals. It feels like a true conclusion, like a track that would play while credits roll.

Ruddy:

I really loved Eyeball! I think these are all quite great songs. My favorite is Peggy Guggenheim, very fun song and one of their best instrumentals. This EP gives me high hopes for the album.

A conversation with the Elegant Too[edit]

The Elegant Too are a band consisting of Phil Hernandez and Chris Maxwell and are one of TMBG's most frequent collaborators. Most recently, they've put together a remix for the new Eyeball EP.

1. How did The Elegant Too start?

Chris:

Phil actually met in the late 80’s when he was playing in Brave Combo in Denton TX and I was in a band called the Gunbunnies and booking a club there called Juanita’s. We both moved serendipitously to New York around the same time in ’94. It took a couple of years but we connected when he did a remix for my band Skeleton Key. That blew me away and knew. I wanted to work with him. From there, we started doing remixes for Diddy’s studio. That led to producing Indi bands in the East Village. After that, things started happening.

2. What’s the story behind the name Elegant Too?

Chris:

It’s not very interesting. I had a girlfriend at the time who came up with the name, but she intended it to be Elegant Two. One of our first releases which was for Heroine Sheiks listed us as Elegant Too. We just thought that was funny at that moment. So it goes….

3. How did you first learn about and meet They Might Be Giants?

Chris:

Phil was playing in Mono Puff which, I’m sure you’re aware, was Flans’ side project.

4. How did the song Mr. Xcitement come together?

Chris:

That was mostly done in our studio which also happened to be my apartment on Canal St. I feel like it started as a cue for Malcolm in the Middle which we wrote a bunch of of cues for under Flansburgh’s direction. It started with that bass line and he dug it and said let’s save that for a song. He came back not long after that with an idea to finish it.

5. What’s it like working on a TMBG remix after nearly fifteen years?

Phil:

It’s always a fun challenge to work with TmBG. We never know what to expect. They’re great at letting us do our thing though. They’re always bringing us interesting songs!

6. How do you tackle remixing a song and how do you avoid making it too similar to the original song or to previous remixes you've done?

Phil:

We usually get all the stems of the song and a reference mix. We usually pop all the stems in the session and start muting things that we don’t feel we are going to use. Then reimagine a different groove and bass. And from there we try adding back elements of the original. Usually chopped up or processed heavily.

7. Do you have a favorite They Might Be Giants song?

Chris:

Hhmmmm that’s a tough one. I really love “older”. It’s so damn clever!!!

What is the best TMBG EP?[edit]

This month, I asked TMBG fans this question: What is the best TMBG EP and why?

Here's what people have to say:

Lappy486:

my favourite EP is and will always be The Spine Surfs Alone (2004), i can't even describe why i like it so much!!!! it's just excellent!!

TheyKuiperBelt:

My favorite EP is The Spine Surfs Alone, its just really really good.

SunshineMar

My favorite TMBG EP to date has been Back to Skull. Eyeball has given it some tight competition, but I think I need a little more time since the release of Eyeball to say much more on that. Back to Skull has some of my favorite TMBG songs in Ondine, She Was a Hotel Detective, and Mrs. Train. Snail Dust is another great remix, so that only leaves Snail Shell, which I’ll admit isn’t as good as the rest here for me, although I do like it a lot. Just a really solid collection of songs from the John Henry era.

Lukehennisch:

It is admittedly a challenge to settle on a favorite EP, there’s too many good ones. But I do think the unbridled champion of TMBG EPs is “The Spine Surfs Alone,” it’s almost like a mini album. A lovely, halloween sounding release with some of the best “deeper cuts” of all of the band’s discography.

DonutEater:

that's a tough one, I suck at picking favorites. other than a favorite band (my autism tells me that tmbg is my favorite band). though, possibly due to recency bias, my favorite tmbg ep might be Eyeball! could also be back to skull cuz I love ondine and SWAHD and mrs train

TitanicFog:

Absolutely the first Instant Fan Club EP from 2011. With the exception of the Tesla demo, all of those songs are really really good, it's crazy to know what they held back from Join Us when Join Us is already one of their best albums.

SomeAsker:

The Spine Surfs Alone EASILY. So much killer songs in that one, and the variety of songs in that one! So many of my favorite TMBG songs come from this EP alone. Also, bonus points for Robin being in two tracks. I love her voice! :D

Waymu:

My favorite TMBG EP is Working Undercover for the Man. Working Undercover's a great song obviously but that EP is absolutely carried by Rest Awhile and On the Drag. I wish they leaned into that more punky sound way more than they have.

Sam:

My favorite TMBG EP is Istanbul Not Constantinople. Stormy Pinkness is one of my favorite TMBG songs so it is really special to me! Also the album art is so great!!

Redemptus:

Back To Skull because Ondine. Simple as that.

MoroboshiAtaru:

It's really hard to choose just one, so I think it'd have to be a tie between the S-E-X-X-Y or They'll Need A Crane EPs. The former has the some of the best songs TMBG never put onto a studio release (Sensurround and Unforgotten) along with a great cover of an old number from a Jerry Lewis movie (We've Got A World That Swings), and the latter is just one of the prime examples of what makes TMBG so good, from the songwriting to the packaging. All of them are great though!

Alan Probe:

The Spine Surfs Alone has to be my favourite EP to date. I absolutely adore the sound of it, as it is much more traditionally rock music, and it has a bit of a spooky vibe to it which I adore. It also contains my favourite instrumental by them to date, The Other Side Of The World!

Cremetangerine:

As far as EPs go, I haven't listened to many of them in their original form, except for Back to Skull, which is the whole reason I got into TMBG in the first place. That Hotel Detective will always be my #1 of the three.

Ruddy:

The Spine Surfs Alone for sure. It has this unifying Halloween-y feel to it, especially on Sullivan and Now is Strange. Fun Assassin is my favorite of the Non-John songs. Jonny Cragg from Spacehog has a great voice that compliments Robin's really well.

YouTube Video of the Month![edit]

Today's TMBG-related YouTube Video of the Month is from the channel OK GLASS and is a cover of John Linnell's New Hampshire in the style of hip hop circa-2012. Check it out!

YouTube
NEW HAMPSHIRE by JOHN LINNELL played by OK GLASS



Community's Top 10 TMBG Album Closers[edit]

Below is a list put together by the TMBG subreddit of the best closing tracks on a TMBG album.

  1. End Of The Tour
  2. Less Than One
  3. Space Suit
  4. Kiss Me, Son Of God
  5. You Don't Like Me
  6. Road Movie To Berlin
  7. The Bells Are Ringing
  8. Rhythm Section Want Ad
  9. Sleepwalkers
  10. Last Wave

Puzzle Page[edit]

That's the end![edit]

See you next time!

Have a great rest of your January, and thanks for reading This Might Be A Zine! Tune in next month for more neat TMBG-related things!

This Might Be A Zine is written and assembled by Sadsack07.

Issue 7 art drawn by Sadsack07.

This Might Be A Zine name by TitanicFog.

Retrieved from "https://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php?title=TMBW:This_Might_Be_A_Zine/Issue_7&oldid=365843"