FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME






The phrase above can pertain to many things when coupled with the image to the side and in this case does.

This album, I am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, is the first in a while from Yo La Tengo that has really excited me. It is also the first time since the first few months of this year that I've fell in love with an entire album of work.

It was only 5 to 10 years ago that I would consistently tell people that Yo La Tengo is the greatest band of our generation. Their 1997 opus, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, remains to this day the most romantic album of all time; can you go wrong with a rocking version of a Beach Boys song? Over the last 5 years I would tell this to people less and less. It's not that they put out bad music; that's not possible for James Newsted, Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley. But the music they were making didn't capture my imagination like everything else they'd done. However, they always stayed true to their souls and inevitably the music they created has followed suit. The way they stayed true to their craft is by playing to the people that feel their music as much as they do.

A few years back they came to Vancouver and played the beautiful yet cavernous Orpheum (it may have been Queen E). They did not sell out the house and I didn't even consider buying a ticket at any point. Last year they came back, a show I had the joy of going to with three YLT virgins. That time they played Richard's (which is where they'll be the night I'll be listening to Sufjan Stevens, October 14) and I had a chance to talk to Ira and Georgia before the show while they were at the t-shirt booth. I asked why they were playing such a small venue after almost selling out a large venue the last time around. Ira simply asked if I was at the last show. I said, no. He said that's why they were back at Richard's. I could have cried on the spot. For one, maybe they tried to "break out" and gain commercial success but the not-full house was a turn off. Or, the belief I have, they could tell much of the audience on that previous tour were more into the story of YLT and not the music. I wish only joy in the lives of all three members because of the emotion and memories they've helped me achieve.

Well, on to the album. I never would have guessed this album is YLT by the title. It goes against every ounce of feeling their music puts out, to be so aggressively violent. And that's just where this release kicks off. A nearly eleven minute jam of minimal bass line, erratic guitar and all over the motherfucking map beats. Even though he doesn't have to do it Ira shows what makes him one of the best guitar players touring the way he stretches the tune out and brings it back at just the right moment.

Standout tracks are Beanbag Chair as they pull out the keys, I Feel Like Going Home as Georgia serenades you with her beaten, swollen voice. Then Mr. Tough takes you back to Motown; those from the Motown era may want to kill me for it, but I haven't heard any Motown as good as this. Of course, I could be biased because they performed this live last year at Richard's and won over anyone who was teetering on the line of understanding music from the heart and music for the wallet.

The album never falters despite clocking in at over an hour. Near the end of the album they kick it into a higher gear with some old-school rock with I Should Have Known Better and Watch Out for Me Ronnie.

The album closes with another 10+ minute song, The Story of Yo La Tango.

Once again I am confident that no band or single musician will ever have as much heart, soul and dedication to music as Yo La Tengo. Once again, "I Got It". I get it again.

Now you should go out and "get it". Buy it. This band deserves to make some money to pay the bills. They haven't sold out for any reason and do it because they love it. Don't steal from them.