On their major-label debut, Flood, They Might Be Giants exchange quirky artiness for unabashed geekiness and a more varied and polished musical attack. Although the album contains two of the group’s finest singles in “Birdhouse in Your Soul” and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” the overall record is uneven, since the group’s hooks aren’t quite as sharp as before and the humor is either too geeky or leavened with awkward social statements like “Your Racist Friend.” Even with its faults, Flood has a number of first-rate songs, and it’s a strong addition to their catalog, even if it isn’t as weirdly intoxicating as its predecessors. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine