The World Is to Dig
| The World Is to Dig | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 14, 2026 | |||
| Recorded | 2025 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 44:28 | |||
| Label | Idlewild | |||
| Producer |
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| They Might Be Giants chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The World Is to Dig | ||||
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The World Is to Dig is the upcoming 24th studio album by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants that is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2026. The band has released the singles "Wu-Tang", "Sleep's Older Sister", and "Outside Brain".
Background
They Might Be Giants released the EP Eyeball in January 2026 as a "warm-up" to The World Is to Dig.[1][2]
Recording and production
In October 2021, John Flansburgh stated in a Stereogum interview that They Might Be Giants was working on The World Is to Dig even before Book came out.[3]
In March 2023, John Linnell stated that ten songs had been recorded or tracked for the album as part of what Creative Loafing described as their regular process of "recording 20–30 tracks and later selecting the best ones to include".[4]
The band recorded the final version of The World Is to Dig over the course of a year. The Crimson stated that the band replaced songs from earlier versions of the album with more up tempo ones for the release.[5] In December 2025, Flansburgh stated that The World Is to Dig was almost finished and complete, though they were still continuing to work on the album.[6]
Style and composition
Talking about the lead single, "Wu-Tang", Linnell stated that he had earlier envisioned creating a song about another band. He also stated that he wrote "Wu-Tang" as a celebration of the Wu-Tang Clan but in the form of a completely unrelated genre from the hip-hop collective.[7][8] Consequence described the song as "the first glimpse of what fans can expect" and that "Wu-Tang" has a "60s-esque sound".[1] The Music Universe described the song's lyrics as "celebrat[ing] the power of Wu-Tang Clan over a fan as a transformative force".[9]
The other singles explore different genres. Spill Magazine said that "They Might Be Giants move[d] into some new territory with a dreamy slice of neo-psychedelia with 'Sleep's Older Sister'".[10] The Music Universe stated that "Outside Brain" is "propelled by John Flansburgh's smooth vocals as he unfurls a lyrical panic attack, all backed by Dan Miller's rip curl guitar and Danny Weinkauf's fluid bass lines".[11] Flansburgh stated that "Outside Brain" is about "mania and panic, and is as much about the feelings of those twisted emotions as it is about any real storytelling in the lyrics".[12][13]
The World Is to Dig includes a cover of "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)" by the Raspberries. John Linnell stated that although they never had a big hit in the U.S., he wanted to cover the song.[14]
Title and cover art
The title of The World Is to Dig is inspired by the 1952 children's book A Hole Is to Dig written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.[5]
In March 2026, John Flansburgh stated about his vision behind the album's title:[5]
I was trying to think of a title that would be positive. We live in this terrible political moment that I think is frightening everybody, and I didn't want the title to be reactive to that, but at the same time, I also sort of wanted to spread a little bit of positive, just sort of immediate positivity.
They Might Be Giants found the cover art of The World Is to Dig from a sinkhole photo from The Washington Post of Yosemite Valley.[15]
Release
The album's lead single, "Wu-Tang", was released on February 9, 2026, alongside the announcement of the The World Is to Dig and the reveal of its title.[1][2] On March 3, 2026, They Might Be Giants released The World Is to Dig single "Sleep's Older Sister".[10][16] They Might Be Giants released the single "Outside Brain" on March 16, 2026.[11]
The World Is to Dig is scheduled for release on CD, LP, cassette, as a digital download, and via streaming on April 14, 2026.[10][17]
Track listing
All tracks are written by They Might Be Giants, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back in Los Angeles" | 2:41 | |
| 2. | "Wu-Tang" | 3:09 | |
| 3. | "Sleep's Older Sister" | 2:29 | |
| 4. | "Je N'en Ai Pas" | 2:13 | |
| 5. | "Outside Brain" | 2:01 | |
| 6. | "Let's Fall in Lava" | 2:06 | |
| 7. | "Telescope" | 0:59 | |
| 8. | "Garbage In" | 2:39 | |
| 9. | "Get Down" | 2:47 | |
| 10. | "New Wave Will Never Die" | 2:36 | |
| 11. | "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)" | Eric Carmen | 3:30 |
| 12. | "Character Flaw" | 2:51 | |
| 13. | "Hit the Ground" | 2:30 | |
| 14. | "What You Get" | 2:48 | |
| 15. | "Slow" | 2:21 | |
| 16. | "In the Dead Mall" | 2:07 | |
| 17. | "What the Cat Dragged In" | 2:05 | |
| 18. | "They Might Be Feral" | 2:36 | |
| Total length: | 44:28 | ||
Personnel
- John Flansburgh – vocals, guitar
- John Linnell – vocals, keyboard
- Dan Miller – guitar
- Danny Weinkauf – bass
- Marty Beller – drums, percussion
- Patrick Dillett – production
- They Might Be Giants – production
References
- ^ a b c Alston, Trey (February 10, 2026). "They Might Be Giants Announce New Album, Unveil New Single "Wu-Tang"". Consequence. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ a b DeVille, Christopher (February 9, 2026). "They Might Be Giants Announce New Album 'The World Is To Dig': Hear "Wu-Tang"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^ "We've Got A File On You: They Might Be Giants". Stereogum (Interview). October 18, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "Interview: John Linnell says They Might Be Giants already has about 10 songs tracked for the new album". Creative Loafing (Interview). March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Artist Profile: John Flansburgh of 'They Might Be Giants' On the Band's Latest Updates | Arts | The Harvard Crimson". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "WNCW's Bart Trotman interview with John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants". WNCW (Interview). Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ Stickler, Jon. "They Might Be Giants Announce New Album 'The World Is To Dig' With Lead Single Wu-Tang - Stereoboard". Stereoboard. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ^ Glide (February 11, 2026). "They Might Be Giants Announce New Album 'The World Is To Dig' - Share Lead Single "Wu-Tang" - Glide Magazine". Glide Magazine. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ^ Iahn, Buddy (February 10, 2026). "They Might Be Giants announce 'The World is to Dig'". The Music Universe. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ a b c Spill News (March 4, 2026). "Spill News: They Might Be Giants Release Single "Sleep's Older Sister" | Spring Tour Dates". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ a b Iahn, Buddy (March 17, 2026). "They Might Be Giants share 'Outside Brain'". The Music Universe. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ^ "They Might Be Giants Share Single + Visualizer "Outside Brain" | New LP Out 4/14 + Tour Kicks Off Next Month". US1 Campaign Archive. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Fu, Eddie (March 17, 2026). "They Might Be Giants Drop Panicked New Song "Outside Brain"". Consequence. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Graff, Gary (November 19, 2025). "They Might Be Giants hits town for two nights, two different venues". Cleveland. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ^ "Ep538: John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants Returns!". | The Vinyl Guide podcast | Interviews for Record Collectors & Music Fans. March 16, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "New Songs Out Today". BrooklynVegan. March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
- ^ The Rockpit (February 16, 2026). "They Might Be Giants Announce New Album 'The World Is to Dig' Out April 14 + Share Lead Single 'Wu-Tang'". The Rockpit. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
External links
- The World Is to Dig at This Might Be A Wiki