Yo La Tengo - Summer Sun (2003) (eac-log-cover)

Yo La Tengo - Summer Sun (2003)
indie, alternative, rock | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 380MB

Matador OLE 548-2

AMG:
Three years after 2000's brilliant And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out, Yo La Tengo returns with Summer Sun, an album that's as settled and smooth as the previous one was inventive and eclectic. Musically, Summer Sun continues the band's progression away from intricate, guitar-based pop both loud and soft and toward an arguably more sophisticated sound. This move resulted in masterpieces like I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, which balanced their roots and their ambitions perfectly; on Summer Sun, it feels a little bit like a retreat. This time around, the post-rock, Krautrock, and jazz influences the band introduced on I Can Hear the Heart and perfected on And Then Nothing dominate Summer Sun, giving it a hushed, polished feel. Sometimes, this approach works, as on the lovely opener "Beach Party Tonight," which sounds appropriately warm and full of possibilities, and "Tiny Birds," a droning, spiralling track that sounds a bit like a fusion of post-rock and Pet Sounds. However, the fusion-inspired instrumental "Georga Vs. Yo La Tengo" and the jammy, ten-minute "Let's Be Still" veer dangerously close to noodling and bloat the album's length to over an hour; unfortunately, there's not quite an hour's worth of interesting music here. Much of this is due to Summer Sun's arrangements and productions: tracks like "How to Make a Baby Elephant Float" and "Don't Have to Be So Sad" are based on lighter-than-air guitars, drums, and synths and topped with whispery vocals. Individually, their understated prettiness works well, but collectively, they're slightly too understated for their own good. When the band does get a little livelier, they deliver some memorable moments, such as the percolating "Little Eyes"; the cute, poppy "The Season of the Shark"; and "Today Is the Day," a Georgia Hubley song that's nearly as gorgeous as "Shadows" or "Nowhere Near." A little more variety in volume and tempo could've made this album great instead of pretty good; for the first time in years, Yo La Tengo doesn't break out the feedback and distortion anywhere on an album. Summer Sun is so mellow and pretty that it feels uncharitable to call it one of their weakest albums in recent memory; many bands would kill to make music this accomplished. But, even though Yo La Tengo can still run circles around other groups even when they're running in place, compared to their best work Summer Sun is merely pleasant.

Tracks:
-01. "Beach Party Tonight" — 3:06
-02. "Little Eyes" — 4:18
-03. "Nothing But You and Me" — 5:13
-04. "Season of the Shark" — 4:27
-05. "Today Is the Day" — 5:33
-06. "Tiny Birds" — 5:07
-07. "How to Make a Baby Elephant Float" — 3:29
-08. "Georgia vs. Yo La Tengo" — 3:56
-09. "Don't Have to Be So Sad" — 5:53
-10. "Winter A-Go-Go" — 3:21
-11. "Moonrock Mambo" — 4:49
-12. "Let's Be Still" — 10:22
-13. "Take Care" — 2:32 (Big Star cover)

Sample & buy: Summer Sun

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One (1997) (eac-log-cover)

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One (1997)

indie, alternative, rock | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 430MB

Matador OLE 222-2 

AMG:
Functioning as a virtual catalog of mid-'90s indie rock trends, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One is an astonishing tour de force from Yo La Tengo, establishing their deep talents as songwriters and musicians. Although the album may run a little long for some tastes, there are very few throwaways on the record — even the shoegazer cover of the Beach Boys' "Little Honda" is a revelatory gem. But what truly impresses is the way the songs, ranging from hypnotically droning instrumentals to tightly written and catchy pop songs, hold together to form what is arguably Yo La Tengo's finest and most coherent album to date.

Tracks:
-01. "Return to Hot Chicken" – 1:38
-02. "Moby Octopad" – 5:48
-03. "Sugarcube" – 3:21
-04. "Damage" – 4:39
-05. "Deeper into Movies" – 5:23
-06. "Shadows" – 2:27
-07. "Stockholm Syndrome" – 2:51
-08. "Autumn Sweater" – 5:18
-09. "Little Honda" – 3:07
-10. "Green Arrow" – 5:43
-11. "One PM Again" – 2:25
-12. "The Lie and How We Told It" – 3:19
-13. "Center of Gravity" – 2:42
-14. "Spec Bebop" – 10:40
-15. "We're an American Band" – 6:25
-16. "My Little Corner of the World" – 2:24

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Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000) (eac-log-cover)

Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000)

alternative, rock | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 490MB

Matador | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
After years as one of indie rock's standard-bearing groups, Yo La Tengo surpasses itself with And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out. A culturally literate, emotionally rich album, on songs like "Let's Save Tony Orlando's House," "The Crying of Lot G," and "The Last Days of Disco," it alludes to The Simpsons, enigmatic author Thomas Pynchon and independent films while exploring the comforting, confining, complex aspects of relationships. "Our Way to Fall" sets Ira Kaplan's recollection of falling in love to a dreamy, down-to-earth backdrop of gently brushed drums, luminous organs and vibes; "The Crying of Lot G" transforms the syrupy sweetness of '50s ballads into a monologue about a relationship's shortcomings. "Madeline"'s shimmery indie bossa-nova and the countrified ballad "Tears Are in Your Eyes" showcase Georgia Hubley's buttery, empathetic voice; her singing makes these vignettes universal as well as personal. Like mature indie rock records such as Pavement's Terror Twilight and Jim O'Rourke's Eureka, And Then Nothing... favors mellow songwriting, detailed arrangements, and eclectic influences, such as the Silver Apples-like drum machines and doo wop backing vocals that adorn many of the songs. The wintry, implosive "Everyday" uses both of these elements, along with a plaintive guitar and hushed, hypnotic vocals, to begin the album on a surprisingly somber note. Similarly, the off-kilter beats, odd piano bursts, and harmonies on "Saturday" add to the song's awkward, uneasy beauty. Finally, nine songs into the album, Yo La Tengo breaks out the whammy and feedback action on "Cherry Chapstick," their most incandescent song since "Sugarcube." Easily one of 2000's most accomplished albums, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out isn't as immediate as some of the group's earlier work, but it's just as enduring, proving that Yo La Tengo is the perfect band to grow old with.

Tracks:
-01. "Everyday" – 6:31
-02. "Our Way to Fall" – 4:18
-03. "Saturday" – 4:18
-04. "Let's Save Tony Orlando's House" – 4:59
-05. "Last Days of Disco" – 6:28
-06. "The Crying of Lot G" – 4:44
-07. "You Can Have It All" – 4:36
-08. "Tears Are in Your Eyes" – 4:35
-09. "Cherry Chapstick" – 6:11
-10. "From Black to Blue" – 4:47
-11. "Madeline" – 3:36
-12. "Tired Hippo" – 4:45
-13. "Night Falls on Hoboken" – 17:42

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