'This Stupid World', Yo La Tengo's 17th album, is a title that I think we can all get behind...in fact if anything it's far too mild a descriptor for the present day state of the planet. Work initially commenced on the record back in 2020 before being interrupted by the pandemic. Following further sessions in late 2021 and throughout 2022, the LP was finally released a couple of weeks ago. The band visit these shores in April for three dates as part of their world tour. The London Palladium on the 14th sounds enticing to me if anyone else is up for it.
Impervious to fad and fashion, Yo La Tengo continue to deliver engaging music after 27 years together. Their
last album, 2009's 'Popular Songs', was an
varied cocktail of Motown influenced
pop, Sonic Youth-style angular alt-rock,
funk, avant-noise, Krautrock and all points in-between.
Word is that their new LP 'Fade', due any day, won't be quite so diverse as it's
predecessor, however the three tracks that
have 'leaked' ahead of release show the
band's quality control is still impressively
high at the tail-end of their third decade.
At the risk of having severe abuse
hurled in my direction, can I just
say....it's too hot! I realise I'm in
the minority here, but the
temperatures of late have been perfect for me - it's just the biblical
quantities of rain that I've had an
issue with. Now though, after just a
couple of days of non-stop sunshine,
i'm wilting!
So today I took a drive with the
windows down in order to get some air
movement going on. The mp3 player was
on shuffle, as it always tends to be
in the car, and up popped this - as
the little repeated piano figure eased
it's way into my brain I swear I
actually felt a little cooler and more
comfortable.
The track is 'Let's Be Still' from Yo
La Tengo's 2003 LP, the appropriately
titled 'Summer Sun'. The band have
released a dozen albums and a plethora
of singles, EPs and compilations since
the mid-1980s. They're also known for
their eclectic range of cover versions
and make an annual appearance on New
York's WFMU radio station fundraising
evening where, in exchange for a
pledge, they'll turn their hands to
any tune the listeners request. The band even released a limited edition compilation LP of these one-offs entitled 'Yo La Tengo is Murdering the Classics'!
It's a hot and humid evening. Let's spin this one more time.
