What do you think of the new album?

[Dayne1234]

Honestly, I didn't care for it too much. I just bought it yesterday. It does have its moments ("Little Eyes" "Don't Have To Be So Sad") but the rest is just filler. Unfortunately, I thought the new Malkmus album and Yo La Tengo would be some of the best releases this year...but I shouldn't of assumed that. I wish they were better...more focus and effort, but they both miss the mark.
Chan's album was right on and still stands to be the best Matador release since Interpol's CD. And the White Stripes amid all the media have pulled out a classic. Wow!

What does everyone else think of the new YLT album?

[johansen smith]

listen again. it's their best album yet.

[Longsleeve]

Most of the reviews I've read have been right -- Summer Sun lacks the sound progression that, well, every album since Painful have had. They found their own sound with I Can See The Heart Beating As One, perfected it on And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out and are now putting the perfected sound down on the new record. I think it's a great album, but I can also relate to the dissapointment in that Yo La Tengo has done nothing but flex muscles they already had. As for the majority being filler, I don't read into that at all.

[mr. chips]

YLT have been my favorite band since "Electr-o-Pura." They (along with Pavement) are the band that got me into indie rock back in 1993. "Painful" and every album since has been the top of my year end list. So it was with great anticipation that I waited to hear this album.

I've had a promo for a month now, and I think it's there least impressive album on Matador. On first listen I was very disappointed and I've grown to like the album more but still don't love it (it hurts to say that). I can deal with the fact that there's no "rock", but some of the songs simply are treading water to me. It seems like a revisit of some of there best work in the past. There is no progression to me. I think one of my biggest problems with the album is the lightweight drum machine sound (such as "Season of the Shark"). Why do they keep downplaying Georgia's drums? I like some of the jazzy aspects, but "Let's Be Still" is just plain boring jazz-rock lite. It's far too long, and I thought that "Night Falls On Hoboken" was too SHORT, so...

That being said, this album is good, just not their best (by a long shot). There are some amazing songs ("Tiny Birds", "Winter A-Go-Go", "Beach Party Tonight", "Moonrock Mambo" and "Take Care" specifically), some real duds ("Don't Have To Be So Sad" sounds like a bad outtake from the last album, "Let's Be Still", "Season of the Shark") and the rest are decent but sound too much like other tracks they've recorded.

Given their past greatness ("The Sounds of the Sounds of Science" was far superior to this album even), this album is a disappointment (the first YLT album where I've ever been compelled to skip tracks). But it's still better than most of the other indie rock junk out there.

I still can't wait to see them live in a few weeks though! They always put on the most amazing live show.

Also, I think they should get into the studio with some of these NYC jazz cats and put together a kick-ass instrumental album (a possible "Blue Series" thing?). The Other Dimensions 2x7" and the "Nuclear War" collaboration were great. That would be interesting!

[johansen smith]

the first time i heard the album, i hated it. the second time, though, it was magical. just listen all the way through, it'll take you.

[mr. chips]

I've tried that. I've probably listened to it over 25 times in the last month (at least). I still can't feel strongly about it. I'm very ambivalent in my feelings towards it, it's just "decent". Maybe I've grown to expect too much from YLT, but it doesn't do anything for me. I actually want to skip tracks, which I almost never do. Like I said, it's not bad, but it's not great. It's just there and I don't have strong feelings about it. I've tried to find greatness in it, but can't. There is no way that I can say it's there best. I would probably say it's their second worst album. "Painful", "Electr-o-Pura" and "I Can Hear The Heart" were all in my Top 15 of the '90s. I don't get an ounce of the feeling I got from those records from this one. There are 5 great songs, but the rest I can't get into.

[anagrama]

Originally posted by mr. chips
I've tried that. I've probably listened to it over 25 times in the last month (at least). I still can't feel strongly about it. I'm very ambivalent in my feelings towards it, it's just "decent". Maybe I've grown to expect too much from YLT, but it doesn't do anything for me. I actually want to skip tracks, which I almost never do. Like I said, it's not bad, but it's not great. It's just there and I don't have strong feelings about it. I've tried to find greatness in it, but can't. There is no way that I can say it's there best. I would probably say it's their second worst album. "Painful", "Electr-o-Pura" and "I Can Hear The Heart" were all in my Top 15 of the '90s. I don't get an ounce of the feeling I got from those records from this one. There are 5 great songs, but the rest I can't get into.

I've got to agree.

I know this will sound very predictable...but its just too quiet, the lulls.....are too much. I've always loved the quiet, calm prettiness of certain YLT songs (pablo and andrea, the hour grows late, saturday, you can have it all, etc)...but Summer Sun is just too lifeless. There is just no momentum to it, no consistant balance or anything...its this long murmer of mumbles and soft percussion that just doesnt really impress me. Summer Sun is...in its essense a soft little summery haze album, the only problem...its just plain dull. It's quiet but not...the dreamy quiet that YLT does so well. I really really respect the band and thats the hardest thing to swallow...how could they make a bad record. I think the Pitchfork review got it spot on...read what they wrote, although I might have given it a lower rating than a 6.0 :(

[stewrat]

I've listened about 10 times and like various cuts at various times. I haven't figured when I'm supposed to listen to it though? Not in the car - maybe on the train or in my office. Help me figure out when's the right time to listen

[yojimbo]

Stewrat - there shouldn't have to be a right time, in my view, and that's the problem. I haven't listened to summer sun that much yet, but it's still a little bit, um, flat. When I got Sounds of Science I lsitened and went, Uh? about half way through, but now it's an absolute fave. With Summer Sun there's hardly even any sense of intrigue about it, it's more, oh, OK. Nice. Too nice? I mean, there's the stuff about YLT getting all quiet and relationship-like in their material. But And Then Nothing, at times, made me feel uncomfortable, as if you were listening in on a couple's argument, or a couple's, um, smoochy talk. On the other hand Summer Sun just feels too comfortable. More listens, me-thinks, but if it's a grower, it's so far lichen-like.

[neil]

i heard the band say that they left out some of the harder stuff to make the album seem more like an album and less like a bunch of songs, ya know?
but i have heard those harder songs live and i think they are better than some of the stuff on the album, right?
so i think they should have just used all of the best material, regardless of how it fits, because the dynamics of the best records are fine, one song loud, next one soft and so on...

[johansen smith]

I've listened to this all day and night, and I stand by my assertion that this is YLTs best album yet.

[anagrama]

.........thats your subjective opinion, we all have ours. You obviously lean towards the softer side of YLT. I prefer the balance, thats what made I Can See The Heart... such a ridiculously perfect record...it had a great balance between the many moods of YLT. And then nothing...also had a cool balance.

If Summer Sun sounded more in the vein of "saturday" or "everyday" "tears are in your eyes"...........I would be utterly pleased...but its not. Those songs are the "soft" angle that YLT does so well, those songs are amazing. There's a lot of Summer Sun that just sounds like filler...its just so painfully soft and slow. Georgia's songs are alright, but....everything just feels redundant for YLT.

As the...venerable pitchfork review said...it lacks innovation, something that can not be said of any Yo La Tengo album since Ride the Tiger.

[interrust]

it took a few good listens to really get into it.

at first, songs weren't really clicking with me. it was just this drawn out album that almost sounded like it just kind of kept going on and on, and i was just waiting for it to get somewhere. "beach party tonight" is absolutely amazing: definitely one of the greatest songs ylt have ever written in their career. stands up there [for me, at least] with "detouring america with horns" as the best opener of all their albums. the melodies, harmonies and horns crashing together, making a beautiful sound.

after that, you kind of just have to hope you find a good spot. "little eyes" and "nothing but you and me" are alright. "season of the shark" is another of my faves. lite pastel drums, harmonies, frail guitar. amazing.

"today is the day" is cool .. nice hawaiian guitar lick, but the vocals kind of bore me. and the change to another melody kind of annoys me. altogether, the song seems reminiscent of "nowhere near" ...

"tiny birds" james gets to sing yea! i've grown accustom to his style, and love this song. the music, the abrasive intro effects, the pedals, loud keys, bursting through the speakers. and just when you think this song might just lash out and be the sonic boom of the record, you're whisked away by maracas and acoustics. beautiful.

"how to make a baby elephant float," meh its ok. really not a big fan at all of "georgia v. ylt." and i agree with the masses on how "don't have to be so sad" sounds like a leftover from ATNTIIO. especially with that fade-out of the drum machine in the end, reminds me of "saturday."

the final section is probably the best. "moonrock mambo" is alright, but "winter a-go-go" is definitely my favorite song. ira rapping about how he just wants to get next to his girl. so cool. big fan of "let's be still," but wished the album would just end there. "take care" is nothing i'm real fond of.

so overall, it's a decent album. there's nothing loud and abrasive like "cherry chapstick" on the last album, but that would be considered cheating. to give you an intermission like that, and steer away from the idea of a completely quiet jazzy-ylt record. i agree with how there were more drum machines and lots more percussion as opposed to a live set/track. makes me wonder how they'll perform some of the songs live. hopefully i'll be able to get down to towson sunday for my first ylt show.

and i forget where i read, maybe this thread, but, they did/have been playing outtakes from Summer Sun? the "loud" songs? what are the titles? are they out there somewhere?

-- rusty

[DefenderOfPants]

i heard it playing when i was at a record store today. i thought it sounded nice. they usually play crap music in there. unfortunately i don't have any money to buy it.

[Longsleeve]

I'm still somewhere in between all of these opinions. I like the album a lot, but there is no question that it's treading water. A mediocre Yo La Tengo album will still end up in my Top 10 of the year. In fact, as of today, it's in the top 3.

[bitterfruit]

I'm just getting around to paying the attention to the album that it deserves, and I think so far "Little Eyes" seems to be at the top of my list. I'm sure that will change.

[gravitywinz]

Summer Sun is yet another YLT album that one can come back to time and time again. They just can't seem to do wrong. I've read some of the other opinions and I'm quite surprised to find that no one has mentioned the actual quality of the recording. YLT and Alex the Great obviously spent a lot of time capturing what is in it's essence a near perfect recording...despite whatever objections there may be over the content. Speaking of content, I've always found it a little strange to constantly compare an artists work relative to their previous pieces. Each album should really be considered on it's own...evaulated in this way, one finds that each YLT album really is a completely different thing. I Can Hear the Heart and And Nothing are more unalike than alike...the same goes for Summer Sun. This album treads on new territory. I cannot for the life of me believe that they are "flexing muscles they already had" (to quote another fan's post). It's a new ball game with this album...something many will realize if they really sat down, TV off, cup of tea, phone turned off completely, etc... and listened to it. Yes this is all subjective...but it just annoys the shit out of me to hear people say how it lacks in comparison to [fill fav album here]. This seems to be the common thread and accepted method of evaluating said work... So I guess I'm saying I loved the new material and at the same time asking everyone to redefine how they evaluate music...is that asking too much? :) Again...listen to the recording...the sheer physics of it is something to behold. Fantastic work guys...you've made my summer.

[mr. chips]

It's one thing to appreciate the recording quality of a good album, but I've never listened to an album full of sub-par content just for the recording quality. Give me a break, the last album (whoops - shouldn't compare them) sounded just as good.

As far as new territory, there are 5 songs on here that tread into new territory, and 4 of them are my favorite songs on the album ("Beach Party", "Tiny Birds", "Moonrock", and "Winter") while the other is one of the worst jams I've heard in my life ("Let's Be Still" goes absolutely nowhere, which isn't a bad thing, but it's stuck in contemporary lite-jazz hell and is enormously disappointing considering who plays on the track).

As for the rest of the material, it is hard not to compare when the songs sound exactly like previous material. You even compare the past two albums to one another! It's very true that those two sounded nothing alike, but this one sounds soooo similar to the last one comparisons are bound to occur.

To make it worse, they've replaced Georgia with that $10 drum machine on many songs. The drum sounds are so weak on some songs it sounds like someone beating on paper towels. Why? Georgia is one hell of a drummer and isn't utilized on half the album. Given the amount of overdubbing that went into this album, it doesn't make sense. Live, she plays drums on nearly all the tracks that feature a drum machine, so waste her in the studio.

As far as listening, trust me I have. More than you I guarantee. I've listened to it over and over, trying to convince myself that it's not boring, but alas it is. And I'm not just comparing this to previous work, if this were the debut from some new band I would feel just the same way.

It seems to me that they wanted to duplicate the success of the last album, but it's not working so far. I highly doubt this will sell nearly as well as the last album.

I also don't buy the argument that all the rock songs were cut to make the album shorter. If they wanted to make the album shorter, why not cut off some of the tracks that duplicate other work on the album ("Baby Elephant" and "Season of the Shark" are too similar, as are "Don't Have to be So Sad" and "Nothing But You and Me") or trim some of "Let's Be Still". Why trim off some great rock songs for what made it on there?

[gravitywinz]

Mr. Chips...

Hello...thanks for the reply. While I can appreciate your comments some of them I feel are off center. Just to clear up, I wasn't advocating listening to albums just to hear the recording quality...I simply mentioned it as an aside, an "extra" if you will to an already fantastic album. It stands out on this album more for some reason...at least to me...and for those of us interested in recording and the engineering aspect thereof, it's an exciting thing to mention...alas, this wasn't worth mentioning in your opinion. Also, I only randomly mentioned 2 albums as an example of what others were comparing in this very thread...However, I'm glad you agree that the two I did mention were both very different albums. And finally, I must have pushed form over content...make no mistakes, I think this is a beautifully realized album...lovely to listen to. I won't go through each song in the entire album and say which "suck" and etc... Suffice it to say I think the whole thing works on every level...and you don't, and that's poop...but you gurantee you've listened to it more than me so maybe you know better (can I get that gurantee in writing?). Sorry Mr. Crisps, your reviews are just too scathing and negative for my tastes even if you didn't like the album. Ta.

[gravitywinz]

I forgot the most important part!

Mr. C,

The idea that YLT are up in their rehearsal room trying to duplicate the success of their previous album is laughable! First of all, they don't even sound alike and second, how much can YLT really care how much an album sells? I mean, it's not like their about to go platinum is it? I also don't get your drum machine argument...just because Georgia is a fantastic drummer doesn't necessarily mean she has to play on every single song...besides I like the drum machine stuff and think they've made some judicious choices on how to use it....so yeah.

[mr. chips]

Did I attack your mother or something? I don't understand why you are taking it so personally and attacking me. I just stated my opinion, just like you stated yours, we just happen to disagree here.

I don't think anything I said was scathing, it's just the most disappointing album I've ever heard. I don't really hate the album, it's better than all the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, White Stripes, etc, but it's still not great.

I don't think they are driven by the sales, but when the last album has sold more than 115,000 copies (way more than any previous album) that is a lot for them to live up to sales-wise. I also think that they are one of the few indie bands able to live off their music and that does play a part whether you want to admit it or not.

My argument with the drum machine is that it is overused. Too much drum machine. In addition, the drum patterns sound like presets and are extremely "weak" sounding. The drums on the new Dump album exhibit a far superior use of the drum machine. But, they also want to downplay Ira's guitar work but I'm not complaining there. More power to them for expanding their sound, but why do they have to avoid all of their strengths. That's like saying, John & Paul were great songwriters, but they really should have put more Ringo songs on the albums. There needs to be more balance with the drum machine I feel, as it overwhelms this album.

My problem is that YLT has been my fave band since "Painful." Every album has amazed me, until now. I always loved the fact that they took chances and no two albums sounded alike, until now. The songs just aren't there on this album. It sounds like they played it safe. Most of the material can directly be mapped back to other songs, there are few new ideas on this album. Trust me, this was highly anticipated by me and I've tried so hard to find what you (and others) see as brilliant in the album, but I can't. It's too predictable and lifeless, it doesn't go anywhere, even when not comparing it to other albums.

But what do I know, apparently you are the correct one! Damn me for having an opinion that differs from you, even though I feel that your opinion is "poop", "off center" and "not worth mentioning."

BTW, you should buy the album instead of downloading it, Alex The Great didn't record the album, that's the name of the studio.

[gravitywinz]

Hello...this is the last one I promise!

Your first paragraph said it all!!! We just disagree...I actually thought saying "poop" would be funny...I mean, can you really take that word seriously? I appluade you for being objective about the drum machine stuff in your last post...I just didn't share the zealousness of some your other statements (something about lite-jazz hell) were just too much. Hey, we all love the same band...that's the most important thing whether we disagree or not. This is a place to share your opinions and in my very first post I stated that "this is all subjective"...I mean do you really think any of this is more than people just saying whether or not they likey? I know you know...and if you read my words again I don't pretend to have an all-knowing perspective or anything. I'm truly sorry that you can't dig on the album save for a few tracks. I don't know what to say...maybe give it bit more time and come back to it just every now and then. Perhaps over time it might grow on you or maybe not....hey, you've always got their next release (knock on wood...I hope Take Care wasn't some sort of farewell or anything!). Anyway, talk to you soon...hopefully on better terms! Oh yeah, and thanks for the clearing up the studio thing...I thought it was a person named Alex the Great. Downloading my favorite bands album???...please! Could never miss out on the cover art!

[mr. chips]

I agree that I hope this isn't their last album!! I don't think that it will be. They have more amazing music in them I'm sure, I just wish some of it would have made it on this album :)

My comment about lite-jazz hell refers only to "Let's Be Still." It's seriously one of the worst songs I've ever heard. This is just my opinion. It sounds like Kenny G getting down with Phish for crissakes. I always loved the lengthy song that is found on each album, in fact, they tend to be my favorite songs on the album ("Night Falls On Hoboken", "Blue Line Swinger", etc), but this song hurts my ears. I can't listen to it in its entirety anymore, it wears out its welcome after 4 or so minutes. There was no need for it to be so long, except to fill the lengthy song on the album slot.

I wasn't try to be a jerk, but your first post did come off as pretty pompous if you reread the last part.

[gravitywinz]

Hey Mr. Chips,

Hello again. I was gonna ask you what your fav album was...I mean if you HAD to pick one. Also, did you download that MP3 of From a Motel that was posted on their website? It's sooooooo good. I listen to almost every morning before I go to work...I dig it more than the original on Painful. Oh yeah, I'm a total pompous ass sometimes...but hey, it can make good conversastion every so often :)

[mr. chips]

I guess my favorite YLT album would have to be "Electr-O-Pura." Although I had really loved "Painful" (the first YLT album I bought), "EoP" was a revelation. It balanced the noisy and dreamy sides of the band so well, with a few just simple pop moments as well. I think it's the most diverse and faultless album they've created. I've never understood why it's so underrated by many.

It's also my favorite for sentimental reasons. The summer of 1995 was spent driving around the midwest blasting this album from my car stereo(along with "Wowee Zowee"). It was also during this summer that I saw the band for the first time and was amazed by the live show. I'll always remember them playing "False Alarm" with ear-splitting power during a blistering hot day (this was on the second stage of Lollapalooza). I was stunned. I've caught them play about 10 times since them and think they are easily the only band I must see live. Every live show is completely different, yet still great.

"Painful" and "I Can Hear The Heart" are tied for a really close number 2 spot. Although recently I've been playing "Sounds of Science" all the time after not playing it for 4 or 5 months.

That version of "Motel 6" is very nice, I'll agree.

"Summer Sun" isn't horrible, just disappointing. I can't wait for the new EP though. I'll probably end up taking the songs on "Summer Sun" that I like and add the new EP to them to make my own version of the album.

[glam descendant]

What new ep?

[Patrick]

Just want to correct some misconceptions here...

First, "And Then Nothing" sold about 20K units more than its predecessor. They both did extremely well.

Second, Yo La Tengo are the last band on earth to try to duplicate material success... believe me that they make the music they want to make. Irrespective of whether the two albums sound similar or not, I can guarantee you that sales figures are the last thing on their mind.

Best
Patrick

[interrust]

article at pitchfork yesterday talked about ylt tour, and ira discussing a new ep in the fall.

said ep to contain the 3 "rock songs" left off of summer sun. ira said the band were out to challenge themselves by making a "shorter" recording seeings how their last two were well over 70, and to keep it overly quiet.

-- rusty

[gravitywinz]

Hello...I seemed to have heard a track from And Nothing while watching Six Feet Under a few months ago. I thought it was great considering that's probably the best show on TV at the moment...any more info on that? I didn't know who to ask so I thought you would know. Thanks.

[Lyle]

Yup, last season "Six Feet Under" had "Our Way To Fall." Yo La don't do a lot of TV work, but they also had "Tears Are In Your Eyes" on Buffy (still the best show on TV), a couple of seasons ago.

-Lyle

[gravitywinz]

Hmmm...I didn't think I was crazy...and Buffy too...cool. Yeah, Buffy is a great show, well written...etc. Top five best shows easy.

[mr. chips]

I really wasn't trying to imply that YLT's previous work didn't sell well, but it just seemed like they were everywhere the year "And Nothing" came out and it seemed that many people who hadn't enjoyed their previous work were very excited by the album. I'm glad that the other albums have sold so well for them, the deserve all the success they get.

I also didn't mean to come down so harsh about duplicating the success of the last album. In addition to the great sales for the last one, it had enormous critical success. I just felt that the new album was so similar to the last one because they were trying to duplicate the "all-around" success that it brought. I don't think they are completely driven by this, but this albums appears to me that they were trying to follow-up that success more than on any previous album. That's just my opinion from the album, because I've never seen such a subtle shift between albums by the band before.

[sharpsponge]

I'm new to Yo La Tengo with their latest album ... I'm intrigued enough to try their back catalog, but I really only dig "Tiny Birds" on this one, but I REALLY dig that one

[Sunsquashed]

James McNew sings "Tiny Birds". If you really like that song, you might like other solo music he has done - his band's name is Dump. The music is more lo-fi than YLT, but it's really very good. His latest CD is "A Grown Ass Man", but I also recommend "A Plea for Tenderness", from 1998.

[sharpsponge]

thanks, sunsquashed
I just listened to the album again and it's almost silly how much I like that one song where James is singing over the others ... so I'll look into Dump ... I notice they have a new album out and I love their album covers

[gravitywinz]

get "A Grown Ass-Man", it's sooooooo very good...my fav album of the year so far...

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I just listened to SS for the first time today. I've seen them three times in the last few months so I already knew the songs and how anyone can say this is a boring album or a repeat of ". . . Nothing . . . Out" is beyond me. I'd say it's a strong contender for one of my favorites of 2003. I normally wouldn't say something like that based on one listen but, like I said, I already knew (and liked) the songs from the live arena.

[gravitywinz]

Mr. HCI...I couldn't agree more. Most people wouldn't know a good album if it was shoved up their hole. How dareth they speaketh negatively about the best band in the world! They're all psuedo-YLT-fans!!!!! Down with the Philistines!

[Elijah]

I'm kind of surprised to see that so many people here are dissapointed with this album. While it doesn't break a ton of new ground, it's still a great Yo La Tengo album. Simply beautiful. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned what a great sex record it is.