I first went to the vault listings to see which Yo La Tengo album I owned. That's right, one. I know, I know, one of America's great indie success (critically) stories, yada yada yada... I can safely say I never heard the first note by them until 1997's "I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One." All the Velvet Underground comparisons did not move me to investigate (never a big Lou Reed fan). I heard the next album in 2000 and wasn't impelled to obtain. Completely missed the following record and then while reviving the "PM In The AM" show on WPRK in 2006, got to hear and play some of their eleventh album, the unforgettably monikered "I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass." I vaguely remember sampling 2009's "Popular Songs" shortly after beginning this blog, but again was less than thrilled, yet it seemed there was always enough potential in the noise to pique my interest. When I saw "Fade" released in mid-January, once again I included it on my "investigate" list. Shortly thereafter, I found myself awake in the wee hours of the morning and caught their appearance on Jimmy Fallon's program. Well, it seems that NBC has pulled the video from the 'net so here is the next best performance of the same song, the album's opener...
Oh...my...gawd... Bought the record the next day. Each and every spin since is more enjoyable than the previous. The same multiple, soft, breathy, spoken (a la Roger Waters in a few places) vocals from before. So what is different and why is it working for me now? Horns and strings amongst the guitar drone and loop-like playing? Maybe. I also discovered that they used a different producer for the first time in twenty years, but I honestly can't say that's it. I noted a smidgen of Beatlesque psychedelia and mucho early Church guitar jangle, though most will say it's Byrds-ian. But the record is not all that wild, feedback-drenched racket...
Thank God for non-commercial college radio stations...
"Fade" has made me wonder what I may have missed over the years from this band. Each album since '97 has charted higher than the previous, culminating with this one peaking at #26. Coincidentally, I also realized that 1997 was essentially the end of my music-enhancing activities (let's call it 97%) so maybe that's why I didn't get YLT.
For those of you who still enjoy medicinal/recreational party favours, may I recommend "Fade" for this weekend's Wake-'n'-Bake.
More than seven years of professional radio experience and over twenty years in music retailing have provided many opportunities to introduce friends, family, co-workers and customers to great music in four different decades. Out of the biz now for more than five years, I still seek out new music to add to my enormous collection. Most in my age group gave up on finding new music years ago. To quote a line from Crack the Sky, "Why don't they make music for us anymore?" Well, they do, and I share my discoveries in a manner that is intended for those who know me, but can be appreciated by you who do not. I am not a reveiwer paid to have a piece available upon a recording's release, I write only after several listens and sometimes several weeks of spins. Feel free to comment, suggest, and enjoy!
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