Yo La Tengo - There’s A Riot Going On

Yo La Tengo!  New Jersey legends and Indie Rock icons, and one of the most successful Indie bands of all time.  Right from their beginnings in 1986 with "Ride The Tiger", it was obvious that Yo La Tengo was onto something, and more importantly that they were very much so ahead of their time.  The songs on this album range from Folk, to traditional Indie Rock, with some Noisey Pop jams thrown in here and there.  But instantly, they just had so much character and charisma, and frontman Ira Kaplan just seemed to be a seriously a dynamic frontman.  I loved the band's songwriting and energetic performances.  Overall, I thought this was a seriously great debut.   Through the rest of the 80's Yo La Tengo continued to expand their sounds, to include even more energetic performances and increasingly better production.  But Yo La Tengo really started to take off with 1990's "Fakebook".  This album was so incredibly charming, even though it was almost completely stripped down.  That's right, this album was comprised of upbeat Folk tunes, but so many of them came off well done.  Yo La Tengo seemed to respect the sound of these tracks so much, and while some of these tunes came off like covers, man did they ever sound good.  Yo La Tengo returned in 1992 with "May I Sing With Me", their most wild and off the rails set of tracks to date.  The tracks here were actually seriously noisy and energetic, and often times gave me the feeling that I really didn't know what to expect next, and I loved that.  "May I Sing With Me" proved that Yo La Tengo were one of the more interesting and varied bands around.  Also, this album showed them working with some near 10-minute tunes and handling them just fine.  Yo La Tengo continued to evolve in 1993 with "Painful", which actually may be their most daring outing to date.  This album showed the band trading in their energetic jams for a much more atmospheric and Shoegaze oriented sound.  And honestly, it sounded great.  It was beautiful at times, but the band really didn't give up any of their ferocity with plenty of  noisy tracks as well.  1995's "Electr-O-Pura" however, showed Yo La Tengo going back to basics.  And yes, if you haven't caught on, their career is very varied, and you're never too sure about which Yo La Tengo you're going to hear. This album was back to basics, guitar-driven album, much like their early work.  There obviously were some more Indie tones and some interesting directions shifts, and as a whole this album was actually really fantastic.  Some of the later tracks like "The Ballad of Red Buckets" sort of put me to sleep, but there was much more good here than bad.  Now, I'm gonna sound like a broken record for sure, but for my money, it really doesn't get much better than 1997's "I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One".  Yea yea, it's the one that people talk about the most I know.  But it's really hard not to.  This album doesn't stick to one particular sound, as Yo La Tengo sprawl across every sound they've conquered up until this point.  There are jittery guitar jams, atmospheric ballads, even some funk out of nowhere.  But it all flows so nicely.  It doesn't come off like some compilation or experiment in about 6 other directions, it just sounds like a really solid victory lap. On the other hand, and I know this isn't popular opinion, but I'm not a fan of 2000's "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out".  Yo La Tengo here experimented in Dream Pop.  And they certainly succeed, but my GOD is this album boring. It was so boring in parts, that the funk of "Lets Save Tony Orlando's House" woke me right up (and is a brilliant Simpsons nod at that).  But all jokes aside, some of the later, groove-oriented tracks really worked for me.  Ironically, those tracks were actually more relaxing.  Plus, there were some tracks thrown in like "Cherry Chapstick" and "You Can Have It All" that were straightforward Yo La Tengo tracks, so this album wasn't all bad.  But of course, this was a BIG look into what was coming.  2003's "Summer Sun", is B O R I N G.  There isn't anything charming about Ira's whispered vocals or these half-written instrumentals.  Now, I don't know it's probably just me.  But by this point I just really wasn't that interested in hearing much more new Yo La Tengo.  People LOVED 2006's "I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass".  But it was just so painfully average sounding to me.  Hell, I feel like this album didn't even really get started until halfway through it.  However, I really enjoyed 2009's "Popular Songs".  This albums blend of classy pop on tracks like "If It's True" and "Nothing To Hide", as well as a series of tunes that sounded like some of their most energetic and passionate in years was just what I wanted to hear from the band at this stage.  But every time I feel like Yo La Tengo sort of won me back with a semi-decent late-career album, they would drop something like 2013's "Fade".  There's nothing really truly awful about this album, but I've listened to it numerous times and can barely remember anything about it.  But with Yo La Tengo's last album, "Stuff Like That There", they mixed things up and gave us an album of dreamy, stripped-down covers.  And while this is far from the groups most peppy and exciting project, I thought the material here was solid.  Some covers were forgettable, and it may have gotten a little too dreamy sometimes, but this was an OK album.  So Yo La Tengo are back after a few years, and I'll be honest these singles are certainly OK.  Not the best, but certainly OK.  Let's chat about this album, shall we.

    This album starts off with “You Are Here”, and it’s a very serene, sweet intro.  We’re certainly going to be getting a LOT of this here though.  There is a slight Shoegaze feel to this and all, that’s something that’s always sort of stuck with them since the early 90s.  This is a very charming intro, one that’s jolly and positive too.  The sleigh bells and strings are a really nice touch as well.  But for the most part, this track is nothing more than a near 5 minute instrumental.  Which is fine, it’s very cozy, and Yo La Tengo does a great job of keeping it interesting.  I mean, it’s a little long, it really didn’t need to be over 5-minutes long, and this certainly doesn’t give me the feeling that there is a “riot” going on.  But “You Are Here” is a solid intro.  Now, after a 5-minute instrumental, I actually feel like the playful, bouncy “Shades of Blue” is actually on the exciting side of things.  And that’s fine, instrumentally this one is actually really sweet.  But as far as these vocals go, I’m sorry but I can’t take this seriously at all.  As a matter of fact, just the opposite, these vocals are way too sugary for me.  There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, but so far I’ve heard no energy come out of this project.  Yo La Tengo has done entire albums that are softer than this but played with more heart and passion.  “Shades of Blue” just isn’t for me.  “She May, She Might” on the other hand is one of the best tunes here.  It remains at peace seemingly and has an equally blissful atmosphere.  But there’s actually some instrumentals to get wrapped up in here, and I love that.  Ira’s vocals here, while they aren’t his most exciting or invigorating, are actually on the mysterious side.  In a way, this one almost comes off like a Velvet Underground voter from their later days.  “She May, She Might” is easily one of the coolest tracks here, and is the perfect example of how Yo La Tengo can certainly keep things soft but also compelling.   “For You Too” however, really catches me off guard with Yo La Tengo bringing in a lot of their classic sound.  And I mean really, this track literally sounds like something they would have done 20 years ago.  It’s upbeat, got plenty of jangly guitars, and tons of distortion.  In a way it’s weird, and in plenty of ways totally does stick out like a sore thumb, especially within an album filled with hazy Indie tunes.  However, while it has energy and passion, still seems a whole lot more at peace than some of the music they were released way back when.  “For You Too” is streamlined and confident, and this point in their career, probably the best they can give us.  But it’s also such a damn teaser.  I loved hearing Yo La Tengo in a more upbeat way at this point in their career.  And they follow it up with “Ashes”, their literal attempt at elevator music.  Of all the tunes here, I feel like there is almost nothing going on here.  The instrumental is just so boring, and the vocals when they DO show up are way too breezy.  The only thing I really like about “Ashes” is how nice and short it is.

    This continues to be a very bizarre album with “Polynesia #1”.  All of a sudden we’re getting these sweet, almost bubbly Indie Pop ballads.  It’s insanely cute to be honest, even if it is a little straightforward.  But the fact that this is even a Yo La Tengo album is bizarre.  They’ve done soft albums before, hell some of their best work is atmospheric.  But this is just so stripped down, I feel like this was recorded live in a coffee shop.  “Polynesia #1” isn’t a bad tune, it’s actually quite catchy.  But I feel like this is just so tough to figure out for an album.  On the other hand, for a stripped down track from Yo La Tengo, “Dream Dream Away” is so much more straightforward.  This one is sort of folky, but I love just how breathy and atmospheric it is.  It’s actually really beautiful and majestic for a folk tune.  I don’t even mind that it takes so long to really get going.  It’s just so sweet to listen to, and I get the feeling listening to this that I’m sitting inside on a rainy day, relaxing with nowhere to go.  Now, I’ve yet to find the “Riot” in this album, which is a little bizarre.  But for a Folk tune that slowly dissolves into a seriously beautiful ambient piece, this is REALLY good.   Even the very airy vocals in the last minute are pleasant.  The very breathy, atmospheric feel to this album continues in a big way with “Shortwave”.  In a way, I actually think this is a little more pleasant than the more folk centered material we’ve been getting here.  It’s peaceful, and actually really otherworldly.  I’m still looking for all that Riot goin’ on though.  The human speech that they sample and plop in the background is interesting and gives this almost a sort of Sci-Fi feel.  Now I’ll be honest, this is pleasant and all.  But is this a Yo La Tengo album or an ambient release?  I can deal with either, but Yo La Tengo seems unsure.  So much of this album is far from what I expected to hear.  But hey, “Above the Sound” brings in some funky bass licks and some intense drum rhythms.  You would think that this would be really exciting, but it’s more confusing than anything.  What even is the point of this album?  This doesn’t come off as weird or experimental, this literally just sounds like a really sloppily improvised jam.  Not only that, but the production on this track is terrible, it sounds like it was recorded over the phone.  It’s a shame that this is literally the most character that we’ve gotten in the last few tracks.  It literally takes almost 4 minutes to get “Above The Sound” rolling.  And when Ira eventually does come in, he just sorts of rambles for a while.  Thankfully, “Let’s Do It Wrong”  is certainly pleasant.  But I feel like so much of this album is that and nothing else.  Pleasant, nice to listen to while it’s on, and that’s all.  Sure, this track is sweet, but I can barely decipher this from other tunes here.  There’s almost a little vintage pop thrown in here, among the very sweet instrumentals and airy atmosphere.  It’s pretty darn gloomy, and no, I haven’t found that riot yet.  So yea, “Let’s Do It Wrong” is nice to listen to, and I’m impressed with just how much Yo La Tengo are still able to make a few nice atmospheres here and there.  But absolutely nothing about this is compelling me to give this a second listen.

    Hey, what do you know, this album continues with a very chilled out and airy, stripped down folk tune with “What Chance Have I Got”.  I certainly get that Yo La Tengo are decades into their career at this point, and they’ve proven that they have a little energy left in them.  But it’s far from this track, that’s for sure.  I like some of the elements, like the repeated use of bongos and the very sweet atmosphere.  But I’m literally slowly falling asleep.  I feel like some of the early tracks here were likable, even though they’re not the most memorable tracks in the world.  But this one my friends is just putting me to sleep.  Thankfully, I do actually get a little wake up with “Esportes Casual”.  The upbeat, practically Spanish sounding folk instrumentals here is just what the doctor ordered.  This track is sweet, upbeat, with some of the more colorful instrumentals of this entire album.  I actually couldn’t be happier with “Esportes Casual” even though it’s so short, it’s honestly just what I needed.  My lord though does it not last long, because with “Forever”, Yo La Tengo are right back to fall down that super hazy rabbit hole that they can’t seem to get out of.  This is easily one of the most boring tracks on the album.  There’s no rhythm, and without that usual great atmosphere, there’s really not nearly as many interesting elements to this.  “Forever” just comes off way too hazy and not nearly as sweet to listen to.  This isn’t even pleasant to listen to, and while that last one woke me up, this one has me dozing off again.  Then we get “Out of the Pool” which is a straight-up funk track, why the hell not at this point.  I mean, it’s certainly an interesting shift.  But this is just so bizarre for Yo La Tengo.  After all of these very breathy, atmospheric tunes, to come out with a straight-up funk track that has a really bizarre voiceover blaring over it all, it’s just weird.   And no, I haven’t found that “Riot” going on yet either.  This album ends off with “Here You Are”, and it’s a little more pleasant on the ears.  Apparently, that funk isn’t out of them entirely, as they work a little into this much sweeter tune.  This is a really weird finale.  The pacing of this one is really hard to pinpoint, and I can’t help the feeling that Yo La Tengo really didn’t know how to end this album up.  There’s a little funk here, a little ambient over there, as well as some stripped-down folk.  So yes, this is an honest to God recap of every underwhelming sound we’ve gotten here.  And honestly, they don’t sound too bad together, if I got the feeling that this was a little more planned out and less random I would be so much more into this.

Rating: 6.8/10

Give a Listen To: “You Are Here”, “She May, She Might”, “For You Too”, "Dream Dream Away"

Genre: Indie Rock

Overall Thoughts: Christ is this ever a mixed bag.  For the most part, this is a completely stripped down album from one of Indie's finest.  That being said, if you're not into some of their more softer material, this isn't going to be an album you want to check out.  But, there are a handful of really pleasant, atmospheric and beautiful tracks here.  The problem is, after a while, it just get's really boring.  A lot of these tracks literally float into one another and it really becomes hard to decipher which is which.  With tracks like "For You Too", it's obvious that Yo La Tengo can still string together a cohesive track, I just want to hear more of that and much less of them trying to put me to sleep, because it's certainly working.