Not just an amusing subject to a The Onion mock headline, Yo La Tengo have been stalwarts of the college radio scene for more than three decades, mining their dream pop, discordant noise and deeply melodic furrow over numerous releases, with a back catalogue that varies from the luscious to the almost provocatively obtuse, but never dull.
One of the few bands you can go and see without having a clue what they're going to play live, as their sets vary that much, yet remain constantly entertaining, they are still inexplicably overlooked on a far too regular basis.
Click an album below to read a review
Extra Painful, an Album by Yo La Tengo. Released 2 December 2014 on Matador (catalog no. OLE 1063-2; CD). Genres: Indie Rock, Noise Pop. From 'Painful' (1993). Yo La Tengo made a major creative leap forward with 1992's May I Sing with Me, where their yin-and-yang mix of quiet and loud finally began to work as well as it was meant to, but 1993's Painful was where they truly hit their stride, their first album to confirm they were one of the best independent bands extant.
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
- On December 2nd, Yo La Tengo will release Extra Painful, a deluxe 2XLP/2XCD reissue of their classic 1993 Painful LP with a whopping 12 bonus tracks (plus many more via download coupon), in celebration of their 30th anniversary as a band.
- The album marked a creative shift from Yo La Tengo's previous work, blending atmospheric and ambient sounds with their famous noise jams. Painful features a much more melody-driven Yo La Tengo in its hazy, dream-like songwriting.
Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
StreamYo La Tengo - Popular Songs
StreamYo La Tengo - Painful
StreamYo La Tengo - Fakebook
StreamYo La Tengo - There's a Riot Going On
