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Yo La Tengo - Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo Audio CD

A fair review of the Yo La Tengo "Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Yo La Tengo reviews here, or go back to the Yo La Tengo tabs.

Yo La Tengo Band: Yo La Tengo
Title: Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-09-10
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Evanescent Psychic Pez Drop 2: Demons 3: Fog over Frisco 4: Too Late 5: Hanky Panky Nohow 6: Something to Do 7: Ultra-Powerful Short Wave Radio Picks up Music from Venus 8: Up to You 9: Somebody's Baby 10: Walking Away from You 11: Artificial Heart 12: Cast a Shadow 13: I'm Set Free 14: Barnaby, Hardly Working 15: Some Kinda Fatigue 16: Speeding Motorcycle 17: Nutricia [Instrumental] 18: Her Grandmother's Gift [Instrumental] 19: From a Motel 6 #2 [Instrumental] 20: Gooseneck Problem [Instrumental] 21: Surfin' With the Shah [Instrumental] 22: Ecstasy Blues [Instrumental] 23: Too Much, Pt. 1 [Instrumental] 24: Blitzkrieg Bop [Instrumental] 25: One Self: Fish Girl [Instrumental] 26: Enough [Instrumental] 27: Drum Solo [Instrumental] 28: From a Motel 6 #1 [Instrumental] 29: Too Much, Pt. 2 [Instrumental] 30: Sunsquashed [Instrumental]

A great compilation of rarities.
, recorded over the band's first decade or so of existence. One of those compilations that fans love, "Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo" is a compilation of rarities by Yo La Tengo-- b-sides, soundtrack pieces, oddball compilation recordings, etc. Like any good collection of this sort, it paints an accurate picture of the band through their obscurities, and like most great bands, there's enough gems in the rarities to make this worth the investment.

Indeed, it's hard to believe that something like the raging cover of Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby" ended up a throwaway recording for a compilation-- turned into a fierce rock performance by the band with a staggering feedback-driven solo (among the best performed by Ira Kaplan), it's the kind of performance that can knock you out of your seat. And it's one of a number of standouts on this collection-- from the downtempo, burning, haunting "Demons" (from the score of I Shot Andy Warhol, featuring one of Georgia Hubley's best vocals) to extended instrumental feedback jam "Sunsquashed", there's quite a bit to love on here. And granted, there's some fluff here nad there that we could live without (straight-up punk song "Too Late"), none of it is exactly unlistenable.

In the end, "Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo" is a great compilation for any fan of the band. And by the way, for those interested in their rarities, the three disc version of Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs 1985-2003 [3 disc] fills in some of the holes after this release.


Musicianship + Attitude = This Album
These outtakes convey the same introspective remoteness and sense of "attitude" indicative of the band's other works. Delightful diversions from a band to which I've taken a special fondness. I love the minimalist workings of the guitars, keys, and rhythm with just the right touch of noise. Listening to these two discs would make a long nighttime drive pass swiftly and pleasurably.
I'm certain any fan would enjoy this set.


Okay, but...
Unfortunately, they're even weaker when they're taken out of the context of the other songs they were recorded with and jumbled together on an album by themselves. This is an okay album, with some really good tracks, but it has the obvious problem that any collection of B-sides and outtakes has: outtakes are taken out for the simple reason that they're not strong enough for album release.

I give it three stars simply because YLT outtakes are often still better than other artists' regular albums. Still, this is for fans and collectors only. Novices to YLT beware: you might get a completely wrong picture.


Don't overlook the instrumental disk
There's some great stuff on disk 2: "Nutricia" and "One Self: Fish Girl" are beautiful and "Blitzkrieg Bop" is the best muzak you'll ever hear.


beg borrow or steal this album
While the instrumental disk may challenge, the majority of disk one proves the luminary talent of the band. Yes, Yo La Tengo is the most underrated great band out there, and this collection of rarities and B-sides proves it. At times plaintive, playful, or just downright noisey, the music shines.


You can see a complete list of all Yo La Tengo discography, or go back to the Yo La Tengo tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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