new Yo La Tengo CD/LP, 8 April 2003

[Gerard]

the album is called 'Summer Sun' and shall be available on April 8 (April 7 in Europe). More details in the next news update.

[dthomas]

Any hints on what sort of record it's going to be? Nuclear War jazzyness? A record of love like 'Inside Out'? Some old-school noise perhaps?

[Gerard]

as you might expect, the new Yo La Tengo album is a bit all over the musical map. It won't sound entirely out of place alongside 'And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out' ...a subtle stylistic shift, I'd say. Swinging stuff. You'll be hearing it soon.

[dthomas]

they're never easy to define, so cool!

[ChickenTenders]

how about those songs they recorded with Ray Davies last year?
did anything ever happen with those?

[Gerard]

those songs were for Ray's on-again/off-again Capitol album. So we'll probably find out about the same time you do.

[ChickenTenders]

can't wait to hear it.

thanks Gerard!

[bitterfruit]

Pitchfork had this to say about GC in reference to his post describing the new YLT album:

Implications that he concluded by stroking his goatee, stuttering "da-da-daddio," and returning to the comforts of a fresh-lit jazz cigarette are as yet unconfirmed.

They are annoying sometimes, but this is actually pretty amusing.

[johansen smith]

since PitchFork clearly asserts it gets it's info from the Matador Board, I suspect the folks at PF cry a little everytime someone bitches about 'em on the board.

[bitterfruit]

I would imagine that they get off on it. That's why they do it.

[Gerard]

...I haven't had a goatee for at least 3 weeks. So much for Pitchfork's timely news!

In the past week, Pitchfork's top daily stories have included Interpol, Cat Power, Stephen Malkmus and now, Yo La Tengo. Could there be greater proof that the site's owner's and contributors aren't nearly as petty as you'd make them out to be? Rather than allow themselves to be baited by my immature gibes, they go WAY out of their way to support this label's endeavors on a regular basis. If only there were more music journalists like this, perhaps we'd live in a happier world that wasn't so divided by hate and misunderstanding.

GC

[bitterfruit]

Hope you don't misinterpret, though I sincerely appreciate their support of Matador and others, I do feel that they deserve and practically ask for the attention that they receive, whether negative or positive. It's all part of the process and wouldn't be the same if everyone agree that they're great just for supporting a label.

All I was pointing out here was that though I disagree with their reviews and articles sometimes, I do find their impish humour to be funny.

No gibe intended.

[Ladt]

Ok, here's a challenge for you. Describe the band to someone who's never heard their music before (IE me).

[johansen smith]

Originally posted by Ladt
Ok, here's a challenge for you. Describe the band to someone who's never heard their music before (IE me).

well, let me just say this: Yo La Tengo may be the only universally acclaimed band. literally everyone likes them. I can't believe a regular poster to the Matador board isn't already a fan!

[bitterfruit]

Here are a few words to describe YLT:

creative
unabashed
unpredictable

"And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out" is a must have. If someone would cry at a Sigur Ros show, I can't imagine what they would do at a YLT show.

They're very brave people for experimenting the way they have. A lot of bands would be afraid to try different approaches. I think it's safe to say, without disrespect, that a band like Interpol probably won't experiment the same way that YLT does. But on the flipside, I wouldn't think twice to hear YLT doing something in the vein of Interpol or anyone else for that matter.

The beauty of YLT is that they do whatever they want and their fanbase is willing to listen and try to appreciate it. Their music seems very sincere, but very diverse in nature.

[Longsleeve]

I'm putting on Summer Sun for the first time as we speak. Thoughts later.

[johansen smith]

this is maybe the best Yo La Tengo album yet. it's a little mellower, but for God's sake, Ira name-checks the Simpsons' Professor Frink adn Jill Taley in one of the songs!

[Longsleeve]

Originally posted by johansen smith
this is maybe the best Yo La Tengo album yet.
That's a bold statement, cowboy.

[earl grey]

Maybe not the best ever, but I'm a few listens in and I think it's pretty great - definitely up there with the best.

Summer Sun is the perfect title. It's a fun record with the same basic vibe as Inside-Out, but a little quicker and more upbeat - almost instantly familiar. Catchy melodies, tight grooves, lots of washes of sounds, great production - a noisy rocker a la "Cherry Chapstick" would have been nice but no real complaints when the rest is so well done.

[johansen smith]

I may have mis-spake: maybe not the best Yo La Tengo yet, but definitely the most consistent album they've released. good sequencing, very soft, and once you accept that there are no "rockers" on the album, you start to enjoy the small touches.