Search - Yo La Tengo :: I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One

Underappreciated, undermarketed, underplayed

James T. Heeney | Montclair, NJ United States | 02/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As one other reviewer remarked, this lp is simply a joy, particularly for anyone who reminisces fondly of indie rock of the late 80's and early 90's. Powerful emotions are channeled in this album through intense yet carefully considered composition and instrumentation. Yo La Tengo is almost unapologetic when revealing their influences. One hears a bit of the Stone Roses on this album, REM, Mazzy Star, and, unmistakeably, The Jesus & Mary Chain. As you might infer, the breadth of style exhibited here makes the disc almost sound like a compilation of works by different artists. Yet nowhere is there a mistep or a lack of inspiration. And amazingly, the entire recording seems to flow seamlessly. It is as if the group tells us that what is good about each of the artists who influenced them is to be celebrated, brought to light, and amplified upon through a new focus, a new expression. Paying the standard price for a disc for 68 minutes of dazzling artistry, I felt and still feel that I have somehow cheated the band."

I totally love this record

Ludwig J. Pluralist | Beacon, NY USA | 01/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How much do I love this record, well let me count the ways:



1. I love it because it moves me with its beauty and magnificence. Each song here is wonderful. Each has its own mood, its own vibe, and each goes in a slightly different direction than all the others. For example, Moby Octopad, a song about being "locked in a kiss" with the one you love and thus the ability you both have to kind of shut the world out, has a sustained sort of bass driven funk groove. The sound is blissfull, which perfectly fits the song's subject matter; the song that follows, Sugarcube, is also a love song, in the sense that it is about pledging one's all to one's loved one, about being what they want you to be, and it is delivered with such power as a melodic guitar song, yet with a great warmth to it. Some songs here are soft and subtle; others, like Spec Bebop is a high energy instrumental jam. And some, like Autumn Sweater (a Yo La Tengo classic), Deeper Into Movies, and The Lie and How We Told It are simply blissfully gorgeous. Ultimately, though, each song comes together with each other song here and blend together forming an intact and complete whole.



2. I love it because it holds true to its ideals. Yo La Tengo have never sold out, nor have they ever come close to doing so. They simply seek to create, each time anew. Here they have, and in a multitude of ways. In fact, if you get a chance to view the very funny video to the song Sugarcube, one which mocks, a la Spinal Tap the music industry's rock cliches, you can see that this is a band that is all about music over image, substance over superficiality; in fact, while I have been a fan of this group since their first recording, it was, ironically this video, and one played on MTV of all places (on 120 Minutes) that reminded me of how worthwhile this band is and got me back to listening to them on a regular basis



3. I love it because it encompasses a history of indie rock as well as of mainstream rock's more critically acclaimed moments, as for instance in their garage punked out version of the Beach Boy's Little Honda. Songs like Damage and the alt.countrified One PM Again are simply rich in musical and lyrical signifiers; you can hear in these and other songs and their arrangements a wide variety of influences, from the Velvet Underground to various "No Wave" bands of the early 80s to bands like Ride, Lush, Spacemen 3, My Bloody Valentine, and many many others, but without being derivative in any way. You can also hear Kinks and Beatle and even Bert Bacharach influences, though these are subtle. In short, what you get here is great music played by musicians with an encyclopedic knowledge of rock history.



4. I love it because it comes from Yo La Tengo. I've now seen them live around 8 or 9 times, and have enjoyed each performance. I have nothing but respect and admiration for them and everything they stand for.



5. I love it because it should be loved. It's too good not to."

Will their time come? again?

Ludwig J. Pluralist | 01/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

""I Can Hear the Heart" is by far the best Yo La Tengo release yet, and also their most eclectic. The band certainly know how to play the field, and regardless of what they try, it always comes up Yo La Tengo. Witness the track "Deeper Into Movies." The melody and chords are 100% pure Yo La Tengo, yet the execution is 100% pure My Bloody Valentine, and the group knows it. Yet it really works, on its own terms. Other styles covered are straight-ahead ballads ("Shadows"), spacey disco ("Spec Bebop"), pure rave-up rock and roll ("Little Honda," great cover), and Neil Young folksy-ness ("Stockholm Syndrome"). Although the description makes it sound like this would be a pretty incoherent collection, the best qualities of Yo La Tengo (good singing/harmonies, great guitar playing) give unity to all the varied tracks. There's a song for everyone on this album. At times nostalgic, other times looking far into the future, this is an album for the ages that will be looked back upon as a classic."