Content Management Powered by CuteNews

Guess what? Yo La Tengo is not afraid of you and they will beat your ass. Considing the (pretty hilarious) title, this release is certainly not as aggressive as it sounds. That being said, holy crap, Yo La Tengo. They’ve done it again. 15 songs of glorious musical bliss. After their sort of best-of release, Prisoner’s of Love, I mostly expected them to cool down, but apparently no way. This Jersey threesome - Ira, Georgia and James - just continue to bring the rock and redefine my passionate love affair for them. And while, unlike in the 90s, they are no longer redefining rock, they deserve to be as silly as the ‘single’ “Mr Tough” let’s them be.

This album crosses genres, weaving between shoegazery fun poppy keyboards and incredible guitar jams of such proportions. Trust me, just cause they put the keyboard front and center with falsettos, tambourines, and horns does not mean they can’t play guitar better than you. (The opening and closing tracks each consume 10+ minutes of pure guitar-love.)

You will be quite content to headbang, jump on your bed, lay in the grass/stare at the clouds, and play air guitar while walking down the street within one listen. If anything, I think this album has moved their sound open to more fans enjoying the New Pornographers/Sufjan generation of indie rock. I couldn’t decide if I respected the guitar insanity more than the perfectly catchy wonderful pop songs (which I would argue put the above parties to shame). “The Room Got Heavy” is remiscent of early Stereolab with its synthy bloops and female vox. While other tracks like “Watch Out for Me Ronnie” bring in influences from the retro sounds of rockabilly. And even covers the mellow attitude we saw them on Fakebook (I was thrilled to hear the Georgia-fronted ballad “I Feel Like Going Home”).

It truly proves no great band should ever fizzle out. But moreover- that truly brilliant artists can really take years of experience, and instead of becoming a science formula for a hit, can craft beauty across any genre.

It’s not going to change the rock world forever, but it’s damn good.

Listen if you like: New Pornographers, Superchunk, Stereolab, the Velvet Underground

Sample: Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind, Beanbag Chair

by Kelseytron

---