Hi I'm Dean, not a music reviewer, just a huge TMBG fan, so here is my The World is to Dig review :)
Important things! I'm not really gonna go over the lyrics, my first couple listens through where purely about the whole music experience, not necessarily lyrics! Tmbg has some great lyrics that i love, im just not focusing on that right here. Second thing is that im not a music reviewer so a lot of my opinions are vibes based. I love music and love tmbg. Enjoy!
Overall rating of the album for me was a 8.5/10, if I had to rank it with other tmbg albums I'd say it's my 3rd fav behind Glean and Phone Power.
Back in Los Angeles 10/10 - I think this is a perfect way to start an album. The strings and the drums stood out the most to me, It felt like the start to an old movie about a big adventure.
Wu Tang 8/10 - I really liked this song when it first released! It's very upbeat, I love the beginning of the song a lot with how it builds up into linnell singing (wow I could've worded that better). Its a fun song that I have to knock points off of because I dont really see how it fits into the album. I wish it was after sleeps older sister, maybe it wouldn't feel so jarring after Back to Los Angeles that way.
Sleeps Older Sister 9/10 - I absolutely love this song and was so excited for what this album would sound like when I first listened to it. I think this one out of all the early releases showed the vibe of the album the best. This is another song that feels like an adventure to me, this song is so soft and fantastical sounding, im a huge fan. Very magical!
Je when Ai Pas - 5.5/10 - I go back and forth on the song from 5-6/10, its an okay song that I want to like more. I liked the guitar in it quite a bit but otherwise it is kinda forgettable to me.
Outside Brain 6/10 - This was my least favorite of the songs they released early. I just dont have very opinions on it. Its a fine song just non very memorable to me. This song as well as a couple others reminded me of Mink Car which I enjoyed .
Let's Fall in Lava 7/10 - I enjoy the softer sounding songs on this album a lot, this one was very fun to listen to and I like it even more every time I listen to the album again.
Telescope 10/10 - This is one of my absolute favorite songs of the whole album. Very space suit, very i hear a new world. I really enjoy the weird choppiness of this song!!! This song is awsome!!!
Garbage In 10/10- Another of my favorites from this album. I loved this song on my first listen and it's stuck out to me every time I listen to it again. It feels like taking a stroll trying to distract yourself from something. I love flans voice here!! So much!! I wish I could pinpoint why, I think he sounds a little dreamlike on certain lyrics.
Get Down 9/10 - VERY FUNKY!!! I love how the music stops when he says get down. Always love when tmbg songs have horns, immediately makes me love the song.
New Wave Will Never Die 8/10 - Very spooky and mysterious, felt like I was in a mystery book. I dont have much to say about this song its just great!
Overnight Sensation 1/10- I've listened to these songs multiple times while writing my reviews, but i refuse to relisten to this one. My notes say it sounds like a weird song from the 80s, im oretty sure its a cover but im not looking it up because I hate this song. I think this song sucks and it feels so out of place on the album. Im sorry to everyone who likes it but on every relisten I have to skip it half way through.
Character Flaw 10/10 - this was another song that stuck out a lot on my first listen. One of my mutuals ( @tmbgpilled )said this song reminded him of The Main Character by Will Wood and i also thought the same thing. I think its sarcastic in a really fun way. The beginning of the song reminded me of Your Moms Alright.
Hit the Ground 10/10 YESSSS!!!!! Im in love with how funky this song is. The synths call to me I LOVE THEM!!! The BASS!! This song felt like rolling over and accepting that you gotta just let something go. I love this song I love it so much. I listened to the song twice and learned most of the lyrics.
What You Get 6/10 - This was another song that reminded me of Mink Car. I think this song is good, and that's about it!
Slow 10/10- I lovveeee the distorted discordant bits. I think its awsome and unique, what I come to tmbg for. Unfortunately I have to keep skipping it cus it stresses me out.
In the Dead Mall 7/10 - This is a fun old sounding song that im a fan of. I love the contrast of the fun upbeat music with the lyrics.
What the Cat Dragged In 7/10- I think this song could be on almost any of their albums. A TMBG sounding song i think. Sounds like things they have made before, doesn't make it bad but isn't super memorable either.
They Might Be Feral 8/10 -You could never replace They Might Be Giants off of flood āļø. I did actually like this song though! I think its a good way to end the album, upbeat and fun and a little funky.
Overall I think this album is really good! I really love newer tmbg which I know isn't everyone's thing, but it is definitely MY thing. One of the things I kept noticing is alot of these songs have really good intros, i didnt know where to add that into this review so im adding it here. I think some of the songs are placed in weird areas on the album (wu tang and sleeps older sister) but otherwise I think it had a consistent vibe. I love how interesting and unique some of this stuff was!! I've been looking forward to this album since they announced it and they didn't disappoint. Thank you for reading, and if anyone has anything to add or you want to give your own review I'd absolutely love to hear it.
