yo la tengo

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

anyone heard the new album? is it worth buying it?

― Sandra Georgijevska (san), Friday, 27 June 2003 00:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

it's not catchy

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 27 June 2003 00:25 (9 years ago) Permalink

remember how on the last album Ira said that when Georgia doesn't want to talk he can't shut up? This album is basically her not talking and him not shutting up. It's all about how he WANTS things to be better (though doesn't actually seem to be DOING shit) and she'd rather they just made an instrumental album.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 27 June 2003 00:27 (9 years ago) Permalink

my fave song is probably James McNew's cuz I like his voice the most. It's a pleasant album but easily their least essential since New Wave Hot Dogs.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 27 June 2003 00:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

oh yeah, and it's long as a mutherfucker. Vinyl-wise it's their third or fourth double album in a row. They need an editor BAD.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 27 June 2003 00:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

It's pleasant but way too easy-listening despite the assistance of some free-jazz players. I've heard they've been listening to Brazilian music but Ira's narrow range and whispery vocals aren't up to the task. They're on the cover of a recent issue of Wire. In the story Ira talks about wishing he had broader array of instrumental skills so as to be less predictable(his roaring guitar solos live). While you don't need a great voice to sing rock, I wish he'd learn to do something with his vocals, since he does most of the singing and his voice has become more predictable then his playing. He buries any pop hooks that are present. It's disappointing because they're such nice friendly people and have very interesting tastes in music. Christgau raved about it in the Voice but I'm with the others above in not being too crazy about it.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Friday, 27 June 2003 03:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

Bittersweet heartbreak true-love-always comfort drones from a pastorial purgatory.

The best of their third phase.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 27 June 2003 03:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

i have a hard time agreeing when after the fourth listen i still can't remember a note (cf. "I can hear the heart" -> was singing the whole record in my head after one or two listens)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 27 June 2003 03:57 (9 years ago) Permalink

not saying it has to be 'catchy' per se but it shouldn't just drift through my ears either

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 27 June 2003 03:57 (9 years ago) Permalink

Brilliant album. Just lovely. Get it.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 27 June 2003 04:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

Phantastic album. So warm and cosy. It flows perfectly. I wrote something here in my blog. In the top 3 this year up to now together with HTTT and Cat Power's "You Are Free".

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 27 June 2003 04:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, it's lovely, but I'm with electric jim. I could hum you half of I Can Hear the Heart right now (my personal fave of Phase Three), but when listening to the new one I still have to look at the titles on the back of the CD to remember which song I'm on.

― Lee G (Lee G), Friday, 27 June 2003 13:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

Well this is how I felt about "And then nothing...". Pleasant but un-memorable.. Any point for me to get the latest then?

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Friday, 27 June 2003 13:18 (9 years ago) Permalink

it's awful...stay away. !!!!!BREAK!!!!!UP!!!!!!!NOW!!!!!YO LA TENGO!!!

― ddb, Friday, 27 June 2003 14:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

all i own is "painful" what should i get next?

― kephm, Friday, 27 June 2003 16:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

I don't understand the name. If I'm not mistaken, the literal translation is "I have it/her". Uh, great?

― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 27 June 2003 16:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

kephm, get either "i can hear the heart..." or more importantly "yo la tengo for president/new wave hot dogs"

― Felcher (Felcher), Friday, 27 June 2003 19:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

it's something spanish footballers yell, apparently.

I downloaded the album and haven't gotten around to buying it, so that says something. the least necessary of their recent albums.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 27 June 2003 19:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

More like Spanish-speaking baseball outfielders, as I understand it. The rough translation is "I've got it."

Oh, and I misspoke: My fave Third Phase work is And Then Nothing . . . . Still ready to hum.

As for recommendations beyond Painful, President Yo La Tengo is great, as is Fakebook, their mostly covers album.

And I don't know if I'd say they should break up, but on evidence of Summer Sun, I'm probably wanna hear the next one before I buy it.

― Lee G (Lee G), Friday, 27 June 2003 19:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

Richie Ashburn used to call for balls that way

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 27 June 2003 19:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

backstory

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 27 June 2003 20:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

the new record is very good. it's somewhere between "i can hear the heart..." (their best album) and "and then nothing"...

i found "...nothing..." to be lacking killer pop songs like, say, "sugarcube". the new one is sort of a balance between the soft atmospheric stuff and the pop stuff - quite jazzy in places, too. the lyrics are a problem: it's like when your friend is banging on and on about how great his girlfriend is, and how perfect their relationship is. it's sweet and you're happy for them, but you still want to tell them to shut the fuck up!

"season of the shark" is one of the year's best songs, though...

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 27 June 2003 21:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

" And then nothing..." had "Cherry Chapstick" which is a killer on the hook and guitar skronk front, almost worth the price of admission right there. "Let's save TOny Orlando's House" and one other I can't remember now were also good, but I kind of agree with you on the rest.

― nickn (nickn), Friday, 27 June 2003 22:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

I loved "I can Hear" and "And then nothing" equally and for different reasons. "And then nothing" is almost the perfect late night post-party wind-down record and I can relate to the lyrics since they're about being married mostly. I can't think of many records that are about the middle of relationships, as opposed to the rose-colored beginning, and that's cool.

That said, "Summer Sun" is a bit disappointing. I wanted to love it but like someone above said it isn't sticking. It's either too much of the same or just not as good song-wise. I'll still continue to listen to it though, hoping it's an acquired taste, as they're a band aging gracefully.

― scott m (mcd), Saturday, 28 June 2003 00:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

I was under the impression that 'yo la tengo' meant 'hold it'. I don't know much about baseball, but this would make more sense wouldn't it? Since they have to make quick decisions when people threaten to steal bases... or something.

― Tim Stewart (Tim Stewart), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

Oh, and it's a lovely album. I think 'and then nothing...' has better tunes for the most part though. I'm going to see them in August!

― Tim Stewart (Tim Stewart), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

but this would make more sense wouldn't it?

It's not up for discussion. It's basic Spanish.

Yo = "I" or "me." La in this phrase is a direct object meaning "it," feminine. Tengo is a verb mening "have" or "possess." End of story.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

I see. Still, it seems like there are too many syllables in there for it to be very useful. I mean by the time you've said Yo La you've run into the other fielder haven't you?

― Tim Stewart (Tim Stewart), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

good lord Tim you really don't know anything about baseball

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

Or Spanish. Spanish is fast. Really fast.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

it should be noted that people who don't understand baseball are never going to understand Yo La Tengo

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:50 (9 years ago) Permalink

I love Yo la Tengo, but I could give a flip about baseball. I suspect this will have to change when I get to Chicago.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 28 June 2003 05:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

"it should be noted that people who don't understand baseball are never going to understand Yo La Tengo"

Ah, so their name isn't the only link eh? And also James, if they don't use 'yo la tengo' to decide who's going to catch a skied ball, when DO they use it?

― Tim Stewart (Tim Stewart), Saturday, 28 June 2003 10:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

I love baseball and YLT. The new album is good but not essential. A few stand outs, some that take some time to grow on you, and maybe one or two that ain't that hot. I have to admit I kinda miss the guitar freakouts heard in their earlier work. Still, a decent album.

― William R Henderson (Cabin Essence), Saturday, 28 June 2003 16:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

You have to like basketball, too.

― scott m (mcd), Monday, 30 June 2003 01:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

Electropura ownz j00! Better than "I Can Hear...", IMHO.

Summer Sun is aight. Not a must-have. Still, I don't think they've EVER made a bad album. Honest!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 30 June 2003 01:30 (9 years ago) Permalink

It's very nice, one of my favorite of the year. Similar to "And Nothing...", so if you don't like that one, ya probably won't like this one. It took me awhile to hear the greatness of "And Nothing..", but now every song make me smile or cry like a baby.

― Bob McCarthy (Hecklerspray), Monday, 30 June 2003 19:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

in Spanish you wouldn't say 'Yo la tengo'. you would say 'La tengo', instead. just like the translation of 'I love you' is 'Te quiero' or 'Te amo', and not 'Yo te quiero' or 'Yo te amo'.
whatever. now it's the name of a great band.

― joan vich (joan vich), Monday, 30 June 2003 19:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

actually, when i played team sports we yelled 'mía' ('mine'). that is shorter and more functional.

― joan vich (joan vich), Monday, 30 June 2003 19:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

joan - you realize richie ashburn doesn't actually speak spanish right?

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 00:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

The new one is OK, but after the Painful/Electr-O-Pura/I Can Hear The Heart... hat trick - three of my favorite albums ever, really - this is the second YLT album in a row I listened to a few times and then put away.

― mike a (mike a), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 14:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

7 years pass...

THIS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG

― markers, Monday, 13 December 2010 20:07 (2 years ago) Permalink

I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU AND I WILL BEAT YORU ASS

― markers, Monday, 13 December 2010 20:08 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

revisiting i can hear... and it's still as beautiful (crackly, glowy) as i remember it. they really struck gold in the '90s.

― choucrüt (get bent), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 01:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

i vividly remember seeing them on that tour -- i was standing at the back of the 9:30 club in dc, leaning against the wooden wall that separated us from the sound dudes, and not just hearing but *feeling* 'deeper into movies' <3

― mookieproof, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 01:44 (1 year ago) Permalink

Yeah, I have a friend-compiled best of through 2000 and it's just strength to strength. I wasn't into their wankfest live shows, though, but when they nailed a groove they were unassailable.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 02:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

I started to lose interest in YLT live around "Heart" - saw some great shows, saw some eh shows, though nothing as good as seeing Ira sitting in with Eleventh Dream Day in '93 - but then I saw them do an awesome show with Susie Ibarra sitting in, supporting "And Then Nothing ..." Since then I've been pretty indifferent to the band live, though I did see them as the Condo Fucks last year, opening for EDD.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 02:13 (1 year ago) Permalink

(Want to say one of the "Heart" shows I saw ended with a cover of Grand Funk's "We're an American Band." When the band came back for an encore, they picked right up with the song at the chorus and played it for another five minutes.)

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 02:15 (1 year ago) Permalink

they do have an original called 'we're an american band' -- guess they'd really mess with ppl by doing both

― mookieproof, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 03:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

Unfortunately I never got to see then live until after Summer Sun (which was and is still probably their worst album), but I've always thought they slayed on stage. The run from Painful through And Then Nothing... is pretty much perfect and can't be fucked with. I thought Beat Your Ass was a step back in the right direction and Popular Songs was good but suffered from horrible sequencing.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 03:37 (1 year ago) Permalink

I lost interest in them soon after the excellent Summer Sun. The soundtrack stuff was still good but from Beat Your Ass on they sounded uninspired to me. Too much repetition, too few ideas. What I heard of the Condo Fucks (what a moronic name) just underlined that they basically seem to be on autopilot. Maybe they will astound me again but my hope is very slight.

― alex in mainhattan, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 08:43 (1 year ago) Permalink

dunno, i'm pretty much willing to go anywhere with this band. i remember being disappointed in summer sun when it came out, but whenever i play it now, it sounds pretty classic. last few recs have been all over the place stylistically in a sometimes good/sometimes bad way, but I've never actively disliked any of them.

i do think their live show has suffered a bit from trying to do to many things in the space of a single night, but there have still three or four moments of total bliss at any given show. when i first saw them in 95 on the electrapura tour they were on fire, just blasting off on every song.

loved that condo fucks record, totally fun.

― tylerw, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:18 (1 year ago) Permalink

What I heard of the Condo Fucks (what a moronic name) just underlined that they basically seem to be on autopilot.

How is a retro side project that is completely distinct from their main catalog the band on "autopilot"? Weird complaint.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:20 (1 year ago) Permalink

the Condo Fucks (what a moronic name)

let me tell you about Hoboken

― Dr Morbois de Bologne (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:29 (1 year ago) Permalink

when i first saw them in 95 on the electrapura tour they were on fire, just blasting off on every song.

I first saw them in 1994, and watching "Sudden Organ" rise out of the sprawling, gargantuan heap of smoldering feedback wreckage that was the "Out The Window" breakdown is an experience I will always treasure.

― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:32 (1 year ago) Permalink

xp haw, i've always thought it was a hilarious name, even before it became a "real" band. that whole insert with I Can Hear The Heart is classic.

― tylerw, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

Yeah, I thought it was a great take on hardcore punk. Can totally picture the angry young punk muttering, "can't stand those condo fucks over on that side of town".

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 02:15 (14 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^^ this is great btw

― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:45 (1 year ago) Permalink

How is a retro side project that is completely distinct from their main catalog the band on "autopilot"?
In a way Yo La Tengo is a retro band. Not only did they make Fakebook, to me they always sounded like a kind of perfect mixture of Velvet Underground, The Feelies, the Modern Lovers with a grain of the melodies of The Kinks. They have distilled the best of independent and pop music and made it their own. That side project may be fun for them, just rockin' out and going for feedback and the likes but for me as a listener it is unsatisfactory. I have followed them for a long time, saw them first on the Electro-pura tour where they were on fire as tylerw already pointed out. Tuneful drone monsters like Blue Line Swinger totally ruled my world. But what I have heard recently sounded stale and dispensable.

― alex in mainhattan, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 17:23 (1 year ago) Permalink

fair enough -- i found it entertaining, if not some sorta masterpiece.
it is too bad they won't do another record a la Fakebook -- whenever Dave Schramm shows up to play with them at one of those hannukah shows (like here: http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=8510) it's wonderful. dude is kind of a magical guitar player.

― tylerw, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 17:48 (1 year ago) Permalink

I think my problem with the Ass Beating record is that it should have been called Cookbook; it sounds to me like a band rehashing the things that made them quasi-famous and much loved, the first formulaic record of their career (Summer Sun isn't formulaic, just a bad misstep). A greatest hits without the hits, so to speak.

― EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 17:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

Tyler - I would love another Fakebook too. It would be interesting to see what they'd choose now and how they'd come out.

― EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 18:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

I think my problem with the Ass Beating record is that it should have been called Cookbook; it sounds to me like a band rehashing the things that made them quasi-famous and much loved, the first formulaic record of their career (Summer Sun isn't formulaic, just a bad misstep). A greatest hits without the hits, so to speak.

I agree with this assessment of Beat Your Ass...; while there are some good songs, most don't resonate with me very strongly. Songwriting feels a bit watered down.

Summer Sun, though, was a slow-burner for me. Full of great songs. "Little Eyes" might even by my favorite YLT song...if that was a thing I could equivocally state.

― dronestreet, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 18:08 (1 year ago) Permalink

idk I'm listening to "Pass the Hatchet" right now on Spotify, and it's totally bombing my ears with l<3ve

― incredible shrinking man on euphonium (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 18:35 (1 year ago) Permalink

the epics that open and close that record are classics. some spottiness in between, but a couple great ones -- "the race is on again" "room got heavy" "the weakest part"...

― tylerw, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 18:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

I'll concede the opener is a corker, but should have been called "Pass The Hatchet So I can Free Myself From All The Flotsam Of This Album"

― EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 18:43 (1 year ago) Permalink

hahaha

― pass the hatchet i think i'm godhead (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 18:45 (1 year ago) Permalink

hee hee

― tylerw, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 18:47 (1 year ago) Permalink

4 months pass...

Matos piece on new yLT book

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/06/6007231/jesse-jarnow-wrote-book-yo-la-tengo-and-metro-areas-early-80s-indie-

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Monday, 11 June 2012 19:38 (11 months ago) Permalink

sorry... this should work:

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/06/6007231/jesse-jarnow-wrote-book-yo-la-tengo-and-metro-areas-early-80s-indie-?music-bucket-headline

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Monday, 11 June 2012 19:41 (11 months ago) Permalink

really enjoyed this book. don't know if anyone who isn't already a serious YLT fan would be interested in it, but what kind of monster isn't a serious YLT fan, after all?

― tylerw, Monday, 11 June 2012 20:27 (11 months ago) Permalink

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.