Yo La Tengo
Most of us fans have a silly tendency to look at our favourite musicians as being the smartest people in the world. Within their lyrics we know we’ll find the answers to everything, if we just look hard enough. In truth, most musicians are no smarter than any of us — often much less so. But Georgia, Ira and James of Yo La Tengo are exceptions, and Popular Songs, their 12th (or 14th) (or 19th, depending on what and how you count) album is the proof. Because when this new and dramatically unimproved world puts the hard questions to Yo La Tengo, they go Socratic as hell, swaggeringly, reassuringly, honestly telling us that all they know is they know nothing. They do not know why that sunbeam comes through the window when you are determined to sulk; they do not know just how are we going to make it, anyway? But Yo La Tengo are nothing if not attentive: They do know that, if you are hearing this record and reading these words (preferably both), you are still here, and they are too, and so — Popular Songs, to resanctify us and all our foibles and goodnesses. They might’ve called it Manual for the People, or perhaps even Carry On, Oy! But it’s good they didn’t.
This annum ridiculus isn’t even half over and Yo La Tengo have: placed a song on the widely liked Dark Was the Night benefit compilation; released that Condo Fucks record of covers (Fuckbook); composed the score to the film Adventureland; taken their Freewheeling Yo La Tengo tour to selected lucky European locations; performed their umpteenth request-any-song three-hour set for WFMU’s annual marathon; compiled one of Merge Records’ anniversary CDs (Georgia); played on the forthcoming A-Bones album (Ira); brought Dump back to the stage (James). Down to their fingernails, Yo La Tengo understands that the dichotomy has never been love and hate—this life is about love and fear. And fear makes you run and hide, sit on your ass, do nothing but be consumed by fear. To restate the obvious, Yo La Tengo is not afraid. They walk confidently forward, into the unknown, hand in hand. And 12 (or 14) (or 19) albums in, they may just be hitting their stride.
Yo La Tengo are not afraid. The walk confidently forward, into the unknown, hand in hand.