Sensible, musically-inclined and usually talented individuals who are romantically involved with one another know that it's not an awesome idea to start a band together. There is always the possibility of that “big break,” and even though we've come to know that phrase in terms of fame, it can also be synonymous with a split in a seemingly invincible relationship from which that outfit was fostered. However, a few couples have been able to withstand the pressures of music and marriage - see Dan Boecker and Alexei Perry of Handsome Furs, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, and Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads. Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley, two-thirds of indie rock pioneers Yo La Tengo, not only join these ranks – they surpass them, and their latest album, Popular Songs (released earlier this month on Matador Records), cements such a rarely made statement.
Popular Songs puts their last album, 2006's I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, to shame. While Beat Your Ass is great because of the minimalistic production and appropriated noise, Songs makes a bigger statement by possessing all the characteristics of a genuinely romantic album while staying true to Yo La Tengo disposition. The opener, “Here to Fall,” begins with sounds that carry an Animal Collective likeness, until a slew of strings sweep in as perfect accompaniment not only to the vocals, but to the instrumentation found on later tracks. As one makes their way towards the middle of the album, they will notice that it's similar to an iTunes library on shuffle, especially after going from the energetic, radio-friendly “Nothing to Hide” to the Zombies-esque “Periodically Triple or Double” - nothing short of a musical and lyrical potluck. However, the heart of the album lies within the last few songs. When “All Your Secrets” segues into “More Stars than There Are in Heaven,” we come face to face with Yo La Tengo creating unpretentious, meaningful post-rock; while Godspeed You! Black Emperor brought post-rock to music snobs everywhere, Yo La Tengo does it better, not only by means of ethereal instrumentation and an essence of honest passion, but also by realizing that normal people can't sit through a twenty-two minute song with six or seven movements contained therein. The notable finisher, “And the Glitter is Gone,” is a track heavy with distortion pedals, shoegaze influence, and a feeling of enchantment. It serves as an excellent wrap-up because it does exactly what it's supposed to do: sum up the spirit of the album without being excruciatingly repetitive or belaboring.
As a whole, this album is a manifesto to unspecific, long-lasting love. From start to finish, Kaplan and Hubley metaphorically and musically guide us through a copious amount of emotions. Everything from lust to sadness is contained within these precious seventy-three minutes. It is an honest, relatable testament to how deep love can lie within a given pair of individuals. Undoubtedly, Popular Songs is one of the decade's best albums, and while you might not be falling in love yourself, it's not difficult to fall in love with them.
(Also, take a look at Pitchfork's article on the phenomenal album art!)
Sounds like good music to me... especially a 22 minuter!!! but can't be more enjoyable than 'The Diamond Sea'? :)
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