They Might Be Giants To Reissue Deluxe Version of No! (Plus Free mp3!)

Yes, I'm excited and I'll use a few more exclamation points!

It is not hyperbole to call They Might Be Giants' 2002 album No! a seminal album in kids music, one of a handful of albums that actually altered the direction of the genre.

It was also a darn fine album.

So am I geeked to hear that the band is reissuing the album with bonus tracks to celebrate its 10-year anniversary?  Darn tootin' I am!

On June 26, 2012 exactly 10 years (and, er, 15 days) to the day after it was originally released, you can pick up No! in all its glory along with seven bonus tracks.

The bonus tracks include some live recordings ("Robot Parade" and "Clap Your Hands") as well as a brand new extended studio recording of "Alphabet of Nations."  (I can confirm that this new version is no less excellent than the original.)  The rest of the tracklisting I'm not at liberty to reveal at the moment, but I think TMBG fans of all ages will be pleased.

Anyway, I am pleased as punch to offer a download of "Clap Your Hands," one of the live bonus tracks, courtesy of the band (or feel free to simply stream it below).  If that doesn't merit an exclamation point or four, I don't know what does.  Yeah!

They Might Be Giants - "Clap Your Hands (Bonus Live Version from No! Deluxe Reissue)"

Monday Morning Smile: "New York City" - They Might Be Giants

The They Might Be Giants version of the song's been around for more than a decade, and even this video isn't particularly new -- it was originally made in 2006 by animator/designer Joshua Hester as a grad school project.  But for those of you who are Readeez fans, and even those who aren't (though I'd have to wonder about you types), the detail here is pretty awesome.  Everything in the video -- from the telephone cord at the beginning to the Brooklyn Bridge at the end -- is based on a typographical element.

They Might Be Giants - "New York City" (video by Joshua Hester) [Vimeo]

Monday Morning Smile: "When Will You Die?" - They Might Be Giants

A meditation on mortality from They Might Be Giants.

Also, a kick-butt rock tune (it's from their fine 2011 "adult" album Join Us).

And a celebration of life.

All of that in a two-and-a-half-minute video. Unless you think the phrase "when will you die?" will prompt questions from your kids that you just don't want to deal with (and, hey, I'm not judging) totally appropriate for the kiddos.

They Might Be Giants - "When Will You Die?" [YouTube]

Video: "Electric Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" - They Might Be Giants

So a couple months after I post a video for "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" from They Might Be Giants, the band decides to release another version of the song and a video to match. It's "Electronic Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" and as you might expect, there are enough bleeps and bloops for an entire season of Bobby Knight basketball and major league baseball. I think I prefer the original song (and video), but this one's got its own zip.

(And, yes, I'm still singing the song to Miss Mary Mack.)

They Might Be Giants - "Electric Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" [YouTube]