Twenty five years down the line and New Jersey’s Yo La Tengo are still delivering the goods and sounding one step ahead. “Popular Songs” is their umpteenth LP and it packs plenty of surprises with a wide range of styles, highlights include the opening “Here To Fall” with it’s intricate layers of strings and keyboards weaving their way around Ira Kaplan’s stoned vocal. “Avalon Or Someone Very Similar” is dusty shoegazing pop with a twinkle in it’s eye. “Nothing To Hide” is fuzzy upbeat post punk. “Periodically Double Or Triple” is groovy finger popping rhythm’n’blues and “If It’s True” has got certain northern soul flavours. And finally “Popular Songs” goes out on twenty minutes of bliss, in the shape of “More Stars Than There Are In Heaven” and “The Fireside”, two stunners that leave you wanting more. In fact all 11 tracks are a bit special. Long may Yo La Tengo continue.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Dean Thatcher