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Yo La Tengo - 'Summer Sun' (Matador)
It's fitting really that Yo La Tengo should choose to release their latest album in April, for the songs here blow as hot and cold as any day in this most unpredictable of months. This is nothing new to the New York based husband and wife led trio though. Their career to date has shifted wildly from the highs of guitar pop gems such as 'Stockholm Syndrome' to the lows of the aptly named 'Pain' album. 'Summer Sun' sees Yo La Tengo moving into more optimistic laid back territory. The blurb says that they got some of New Yorks leading free jazz improvisationalists on board to give a hand out in putting this together, but wherever they are I can't hear them. What we get instead is the sound of three people with too much studio time and not enough songs to fill it, resulting in a collection of well produced, well arranged, simple, repetitive but ultimately boring tunes. There are a couple of instumental wig-outs included here, none of which are up to much and one of which 'Georgia Vs. Yo La Tengo' is truly brutal. On occasion the laid back tunes and deadpan singing veer dangerously close to, wait for it, The Lighthouse Family. I know this sounds mad but I've passed it by a couple of pairs of ears to responses of 'Oh my God!....you're right!!' That's not to say it's all bad. 'Season of the Shark' bounces along merrily enough while the closing 'Take Care' reminds us at last of what Yo La Tengo are capable of. Too little too late for me though. 4/10
'Summer Sun' reviewed by Chicken
About the Author
Chicken
co-founded and Djed in Freakscene in the early days. He also helped launch Planet of Sound and has guest
DJed many times. He has been a member of several different Cork bands in varying capacity as guitarist,
singer/songwriter. He currently plays guitar with the acclaimed lo-fi outfit
Boa Morte
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