[rating=4.50]
When a band has survived for 25 years, they have free reign to call their own creative shots. In that case, give Yo La Tengo all the artillery they need. Aside from their guitar freak-outs they’ve always won a heart with the twee crowd , courtesy of “autumn sweater,” and their “Sonic Youth Lite" hush hush side.
Their twelfth album Popular Songs is far from pop – in fact the final three numbers – “More Stars Than There Are In Heaven,” “The Fireside” and “The Glitter Is Gone” which clock in together at over 37 minutes, might better be served as an EP of droning guitar escapades. But what makes Yo La Tengo unique is their ability to challenge themselves and Popular Songs might be their biggest curveball yet. Where 2006’s I Am Not Afraid Of You…., toyed ironically with a more radio friendly format, Popular Songs plays with genre gentrification to the hipster Hoboken degree.
“Here To Fall” hails as a Flaming Lips spacey opener, revolving into “Avalon Or Very Similar,” a soft hymn that’s been touched previously in the YLT playbook. Ira Kaplan easily mixes familiar sounds from rock’s past in this batch: catch the “Taxman” organ of “Periodically Double or Trouble” or the Temptations’ strings of “If It’s True.” “I’m On My Way” kills it as a moving ballad that churns and as another Yo La Tengo half-whisper classic and “Majestic” comes across as adventurous folk. The only thing stopping Popular Songs from being triumphant are the last three numbers, but even Yo La Tengo can get away with what they want at this stage of the game. Do you think Kaplan cares about perfect albums now? Probably not.
