I was just listening to "Painful" earlier today when it struck me - I love YO LA TENGO. They are the gentle giants of Indie Rock. Yes indie rock - 12 LPs into their career and this band is on Matador.

I also wonder how a band can pull of such incredible songs so late into their career: "I am Not Afraid of You" is 100% on par with their great works from a decade ago!!!!

I think it's the soft, lovely vocals, mixed with edgy guitar psych-outs and jazzy accompaniments that make Yo La Tengo a perfect soundtrack to good times in life.

This thread is just an appreciation for one of the greatest bands still making great music.

I would have posted earlier, but I just finished watching that "24" episode. Yo La Tengo is definitely one of the greatest bands I have ever had the immense joy to love. I'll admit that some people don't get 'em. Hell, I don't get half the bands which are venerated right here on our wonderful forums, but I really would love to have ONE thread which was actually all about LOVE. I LOVE Yo La Tengo!! Now, no I haven't heard everything they've ever done, but I haven't heard anything which they've done, which a lover of MODERN/ROCK/similar such stuff-type MUSIC wouldn't get into, at least, if they were paying as much attention to their music as they were the traffic lights. I guess that means if you have some tix for running red lights, you may not love Yo La Tengo. Maybe we can do a poll on that one!

I'll check back later, but I'll admit that the two YLT albums before last year's return to form had me worried. Not that they weren't both beautiful music, but they seemed to dote on the most mellow beautiful music only. The key to YLT's awesomeness is that they can be intense, mellow, beautiful and intelligent, all within a two-minute song, and most obviously throughout an hour-long album.

If you know nothing of YLT, give them a shot. I realize that's a cliche. No, I won't be giving too many "strange" albums shots, but maybe you can be a better musicologist than I am. Hey, if you want, just think of yourself as higher-evolved musically. That might work for a few of our best wankers. (No, I'm not related to the English...wait a sec, I'm Anglo-saxonish!) YLT! Feel the love.

its impossible not to love that band.
genious+love=yo la tengo

interesting that you mentioned 24. i was doing a 24 marathon with some friends, and in the first season, they play the song "saturday."

I too love Yo La Tengo. I recently revisited their vid for Tom Courtenay on Youtube. Still cracks me up. Also, the fact that they've been around forever has allowed me to meet fans that span a startling variety of demographics/musical tastes. Really cool.

That reminds me. My recent vacation was full of random happenings. For one thing, I saw my best friend in New York at the airport! Then I realized we were on the same flight back to San Diego. Then I realized we had seats right next to eachother.
Anyway, I bought "I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One" at the huge Virgin Record store in NYC because I had passed Hoboken on the subway and was reminded of them. I was pulling the album out to show my friend, when a random guy on the airplane walking down the aisle stopped and commented on how he loved Yo La Tengo. He was about 50 - proof that Mark F isn't the only oldie with good music taste.

On the inside of the album it says: "All Rights Reserved...All Wrongs Reversed". I thought it was kinda neat.

I think Fakebook will do it for me today; it makes Calc homework slightly more bearable.

Wow! I wonder how old you'd think I was if you saw me and didn't know I was me. Won't happen, but just a thought.

I wrote about this in the live shows thread, but seeing them live gave me an entirely new appreciation for them. They truly love playing together. The last half-hour of the show was requests from the crowd. They have a playful, fun banter between them live that is so genuine. I'll echo what Mark said above... they can switch from the most violent, loud music to delicate and gentle with such natural ease. And when they combine the two like on "Sugarcube" or "We're an American Band" its freaking sublime. And Ira Kaplan plays a better guitar solo than anyone alive.

I know exactly what you mean! For some bands, it feels like "OK, once we repeat the chorus too much we can give our guitarist a solo for some relief, and so he can show-off and look badass".

With YLT, the guitar-solos are an integral part of the song, and moreover, a natural progression. Rather than <insert guitar solo here>.

I also LOVE Yo La Tengo... Unfortunately, I've never had the chance to see them live.

Probably my favorite current band. Excellent live, and "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out" is maybe my favorite record of the 2000s so far.

i appreciate people who appreciate Yo La Tengo

I love, love, love Yo La Tengo. I just saw them play an acoustic set tonight in fact. And it was incredible, simply put. It was advertised as Around the Campfire with Yo La Tengo, and that's sort of what it was, if campfire sing-alongs were sometimes punctuated by loud fuzz-box guitar freak-outs. They played Our Way to Fall( my favorite!), Tom Courtenay, Nowhere Near, Stockholm Syndrome( when the fuzzbox came in here it was particularly awesome), Max 2000( don't ask me, apparently it's a split 7" they did with a bunch of jazz musicians), Speeding Motorcycle( their last song, where they all traded places, Georgia played guitar, Ira on bass, and John on drums). And they told stories, answered questions, and all in genuine good humor and there was some genuine hilarity. John especially is a funny guy. Georgia was the sweetest, too. God, I LOVE THIS BAND!

Damage (off I can hear the heart beating as one), is definately my amongst my favourite songs ever.

Deeper into Movies is probably one of my favorite songs ever. The song almost sounds cathartic in the way that all the noise and tension gets relieved eventually in the "oooh ahhh"s of the female vocalist.

I'm listening to Painful right now, which is anything but.

Yup, one of the most important American bands ever. I spent a summer long ago with Painful and it was the first album that made me realize that 'quiet' could be just as powerful as 'loud.' I think my favorite song by YLT, is the Georgia sung version of "Tom Courtenay." Bliss. And more recently, "Season of the Shark" is close second.

I have been a real late comer to Yo La Tengo, i loved 'I Am Not Afraid....' and have got 'And Then Nothing..' which i also love. Where would people recommend i start after these?

Okay guys, after over 2.5 years on this forum, I have finally been converted. My knowledge of Yo La Tengo was of a few songs which I had heard and disliked. I just downloaded "I am Not Afraid..." and the very first track converted me. Then the second track came on and was awesome. Then, the third track rolled around and I was stunned. You win, I have missed out on these guys for years and now I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks guys!

quote:

Originally posted by Mike:
Okay guys, after over 2.5 years on this forum, I have finally been converted. My knowledge of Yo La Tengo was of a few songs which I had heard and disliked. I just downloaded "I am Not Afraid..." and the very first track converted me. Then the second track came on and was awesome. Then, the third track rolled around and I was stunned. You win, I have missed out on these guys for years and now I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks guys!

Better late than never, welcome aboard!

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Harrison:
I have been a real late comer to Yo La Tengo, i loved 'I Am Not Afraid....' and have got 'And Then Nothing..' which i also love. Where would people recommend i start after these?

Next try I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One then Painful then Fakebook.