Review: Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs (* * * 1/2)

If you’ve already read any reviews of Yo La Tengo’s twelfth studio album, you’re sure to have seen something like the following statement: Yo La Tengo has been around for a long time (25 years to be exact). And while that’s not exactly news, it’s actually worth mentioning – not only because it’s a remarkable accomplishment in and of itself, but because the band has been so incredibly consistent over the length of their career that any new material has a certain standard to live up. This past ten years the trio of Ira Kaplan, his wife Georgia Hubley, and James McNew have indeed continued to earn every bit of their considerable reputation, creating two excellent and acclaimed records (2000’s And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out and 2006’s I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass), one decent effort (2003’s Summer Sun), a compilation of film scores, and a garage-rock side project involving everyone in the band. (Continue Reading...)