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Yo La Tengo: Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent
Songs, 1985-2003
Matador, 2005
Rating: 4.9
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Posted:
March 20,
2005
By
Laurence Station
Back in June of 2000, Matador included a seven-song sampler of Yo
La Tengo’s music with copies of the Hoboken, New Jersey, trio’s latest
release, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. The two-disc
retrospective Prisoners of Love is a sampler on steroids (and not the
kind that are currently besmirching the integrity of the national pastime).
Toss in a limited-edition third disc filled with 16 additional tracks (A
Smattering of Outtakes and Rarities, 1986-2002), and it’s obvious
Prisoners of Love isn’t some slapped-together cash-grab move on the part
of the artists or label (not that Yo La Tengo ever reached mass penetration
even remotely justifying such a soulless product dump on an unsuspecting
market).
Since Yo La Tengo (whose name means “I got it!” in Spanish) has never been a
particularly singles-oriented outfit, there's no real point in amassing a
"greatest hits" collection; likewise, a strict chronological approach would
make little sense, given that the band's stylistic restlessness (pop,
electronic, free jazz, punk, rockabilly, et al.), which also makes charting
its artistic progression a fool's errand. What’s left is a “best
representative” approach and, in that respect, Prisoners of Love
commendably does its job.
Unsurprisingly, only eight of the 26 tracks are pre-Matador, since the bulk
of the group’s best work has been with the label. The early days (and
especially ex-member Dave Schramm’s sizzling guitar work) are
underrepresented -- for example, the spirited country-punk of “The Way Some
People Die” from the band’s 1986 debut, Ride the Tiger, could have
easily taken the place of the so-so “Swing for Life,” from 1992’s May I
Sing with Me. Despite these (comparatively minor) oversights,
Prisoners of Love provides a first-rate overview of Yo La Tengo’s
initial two decades.
The noisy, Velvet Underground-inspired guitar rock of the late 1980s (“The
Story of Jazz”) and Feelies-like jangle pop of “Lewis” give way to the
shimmering art-pop of the early-to-mid ’90s (and the arrival of bassist
James McNew, solidifying the current lineup alongside the husband-and-wife
team of drummer Georgia Hubley and guitarist Ira Kaplan), with songs like
the rock version of “Big Day Coming,” the delightful, guitar-revving “From a
Motel 6” (both from 1993’s Painful), the ecstatic, British
Invasion-worthy number “Tom Courtenay” and the epic-length “Blue Line
Swinger” (both from 1995’s Electr-O-Pura).
The brainy power-pop of I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One’s
“Sugarcube” and sweetly reflective “Autumn Sweater” signaled a shift toward
a more considered, less abrasive sound, which the band refined on And
Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out. Three choice cuts from that album
(the tender ballad “Our Way to Fall,” the infectiously groovy “You Can Have
It All” the and heartbreakingly beautiful “Tears Are in Your Eyes”), as well
as two of the strongest moments from 2003’s
Summer Sun (the
hypnotically entrancing “Little Eyes” and saccharine-flavored “Season of the
Shark”), help round out a laudably thorough showcase of Yo La Tengo’s
ability to operate without self-imposed stylistic limitations and still
retain a distinctive and personalized sound.
The outtakes and rarities bonus disc is highlighted by the inclusion of a
suitably messy cover of punk band Dead C’s “Bad Politics” and unreleased
session tracks from And Then Nothing and Heart. It’s a must
for hardcore fans and a solid-enough collection to entice inquisitive
novices.
Considering the near twenty-year scope and wealth of material to choose from,
Prisoners of Love does an outstanding job of revealing what makes Yo
La Tengo so special, and will hopefully expand the trio’s profile. For a
group that has doggedly championed obscure bands by performing covers of
their songs throughout its career, a little more exposure can only help the
entire indie-rock community (yes, it still exists). And, if nothing else,
you’ll most certainly raise your Modern Rock IQ several points after
absorbing the sounds contained within this master-class compilation.
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