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Written by Arye Dworken
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Thursday, 12 October 2006 |
Yo La Tengo
I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
Matador
Somewhere along the way, in the past year or two, indie rock stalwarts Yo La Tengo must have become conscious of their diminishing fanbase. Since their exceptional record I Can Hear the Heart Beat As One, the band had switched into experimental mode recording self-indulgent, somewhat-uninteresting sound collages informed by ambient and jazz. Yo La Tengo was an established brand name for years but the trio was doing very little in defending it.
Now, with I’m Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, Ira Kaplan, James McNew and Georgia Hubley produce their most arresting record in nine years. Despite the aggressive title and the noise-rock opener “Pass the Hatchet,” their twelfth album of original material is dripping with sweetness. Had Stuart Murdoch guested on vocals for “The Weakest Part,” “Beanbag Chair,” or “Mr. Tough”, they could have all been Belle & Sebastian songs. Overall, the gentle pop of I’m Not Afraid of You… definitely won’t beat your ass but it will make a convincing argument for your attention. Arye Dworken
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Last Updated ( Monday, 08 January 2007 )
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