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Yo La Tengo - Fakebook Audio CD

A fair review of the Yo La Tengo "Fakebook" 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: Fakebook
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-07-03
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Can't Forget 2: Griselda 3: Here Comes My Baby 4: Barnaby, Hardly Working 5: Yellow Sarong 6: You Tore Me Down 7: Emulsified 8: Speeding Motorcycle 9: Tried So Hard 10: Summer 11: Oklahoma, U.S.A. 12: What Comes Next 13: One to Cry 14: Andalucia 15: Did I Tell You 16: What Can I Say

Quiet, pensive indie rock from the dawn of the alt-era
I had forgotten that almost 20 years have passed since this disc was released. I did a doubletake when I clicked on this page to write a review of Fakebook and saw that its original release date was 1990. That makes the contents all that more remarkable. The music contained herein is timeless, gently-played and almost ethereal takes on pop tunes created by artists often even more obscure than Yo La Tengo. After several albums of Sonic Youth-inspired (and sometimes excessive) noise-pop, Yo La Tengo did a very Velvet Undergroundy about-face (ie, from White Light/White Heat to The Velvet Underground) and released this quiet gem.

As other reviewers have pointed out, it's great music for summertime. I discovered it during a foggy Berkeley (CA) Springtime so for me it conjures up memories of gray Northrn California days (that for me is a good thing). It's moody and atmospheric without trying to be, and very, very heartfelt.

I think this disc achieves what a lot of modern indie rockers are going for - hushed yet quirky folk-pop. It's too bad that this one is kind of a lost classic, but then I guess that makes it all the more special for those of us who treasure it. A true gem from the early years of alt-rock/indie music.


Understandable but inconsequential off-ramp
But overall, despite a lingering sweetness, FB remains ploddingly dull, moreover in the face of spacey textural advantages utilized on further albums. An older disc in a more traditional, subdued form, the album competently pays homage to the soft classics they cover and emulate, offering yet another angle for the band to mine in a diverse catalog.


A decidingly different Yo La Tengo record.
Putting aside their love of feedback and noise, the band settled into an album of mostly covers (with five originals-- including some previously recorded-- scattered throughout). "Fakebook" is an album quite unlike any other in Yo La Tengo's catalog. Welcoming back guitarist Dave Schramm from their debut Ride the Tiger from an encore, the album of mostly folk and folky songs is smothered in acoustic guitars and slides. And throughout, it's a fun listen.

This is evident straight from the opener, original "Can't Forget". With a great steel guitar lead and a delicate male/female harmony vocal, the piece captures your attention and doesn't let go before wrapping up a couple minutes later. The album pretty much continues in this vein, angular acoustics, hushed tones, and great steel guitar leads with occasional deviations ('50s rock and roll send up send up "Emulsified"). At it's best, it's filled with a whole lot of swaggering fun ("Griselda") or sensitivity ("Andalucia" and "Speeding Motorcyle"). And while there's no cuts that are cringe-worthy, there's a few don't really grab your attention ("You Tore Me Down", "Oklahoma, U. S. A. ").

All in all though, "Fakebook", while not exactly a sign of what Yo La Tengo is about given its concept, is a great record from their catalog. Newcomers would be best off starting with one of their more representative albums (I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One comes to mind), but this one is well worth the investment. Recommended.


Nothing "Fake" About This Songbook
Covers and originals meld together in what seems to be a love letter to musical sensibilities of an earlier time. The genuine affection for the tunes on display here make for a fine low-key listening experience. There's a country & western, soft rockabilly, or folk vibe throughout with understated vocals and nary a hint of the experimental "noise", contrapuntal dissonance, and detached attitude for which the band is usually known.

This is an album for fans to get their arms around and embrace. Those uninitiated in the ways of Yo La Tengo would probably best be forewarned that this album is hardly indicative of the band's usual direction, but may like it nonetheless as an album to just "chill" by.


Amazin, Reminds me of the Byds
I am a fan of "I Can Hear The Heart Beating" and "Then NOthing Turned Into Somethin". An excellent album. This cd is entirely different. Yo La Tengo pulls a complete 180, and sticks mainly to covers mixed with some original stuff. It has a misty, thematic feel to it, a certain aura of perfectly arranged acoustic guitar and slippery vocals. "What Comes Next" evokes the Byrds, especially their "Notorious Byrd Bros. " phase. An excellent buy, sit back n enjoy.


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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