They Might Be Giants

A collection of harder-to-find material from stalwart alt-rock duo They Might Be Giants - released on vinyl last year - gets a belated appearance on CD at general retail.  The Spine Surfs Alone: Rarities 1998-2005 includes the balance of two EPs: 2000's Working Undercover for the Man, released only through the early digital service eMusic, and 2004's The Spine Surfs Alone, an early release on the band's own Idlewild Recordings label. The album is balanced out by a few single cuts, compilation appearances (including covers of Paul McCartney and a song from Hedwig and the Angry Inch), material from the mostly live album Severe Tire Damage (1998) and an unreleased instrumental version of "T-Shirt," a song recorded during the sessions for TMBG's 2005 children's album Here Come the ABCs.​