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Yo La Tengo
On Tour9,555,518 plays (406,426 listeners)
indie, indie rock, alternative, rock, indie pop… see all
The NJ-based unit explore the extremes of feedback-driven noise rock and sweet melodic pop. Prolific and independent, Yo La Tengo have transcended their influences to ensconce themselves as an institution of the indie community.
The core of Yo La Tengo (Spanish for the outfielder’s cry of “I’ve got it!”) comprises husband and wife duo singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan and drummer/vocalist Georgia Hubley. After forming the band in 1984, they placed an advertisement seeking other musicians to round out the lineup, requesting applicants who shared their fondness for the The Soft Boys, Mission of Burma, and Arthur Lee’s Love. A number of bassists and lead guitarists passed through the band’s roster during its formative years, but after bowing in late 1985 with the single “The River of Water,” backed by a cover of Love’s “A House Is Not a Motel,” Yo La Tengo’s membership appeared to stabilize with the additions of guitarist Dave Schramm and bassist Mike Lewis prior to the sessions for 1986’s full-length roots pop debut, Ride the Tiger, produced by former Mission of Burma bassist Clint Conley.
However, both Schramm and Lewis exited in the wake of the record’s release, leaving Kaplan to assume lead guitar duties. Bassist Stephan Wichnewski signed on for 1987’s New Wave Hot Dogs, a more assured outing that brought the group’s Velvet Underground obsession to the fore via a cover of the early VU composition “It’s Alright (The Way That You Live).” Not only did Kaplan’s introverted, half-spoken vocals and buzzing guitar work closely recall Lou Reed, but Hubley’s rock-steady drumming and breathy backing turns simultaneously conjured memories of vintage Maureen Tucker.
The core of Yo La Tengo (Spanish for the outfielder’s cry of “I’ve got it!”) comprises husband and wife duo singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan and drummer/vocalist Georgia Hubley. After forming the band in 1984, they placed an advertisement seeking other musicians to round out the lineup, requesting applicants who shared their fondness for the The Soft Boys, Mission of Burma, and Arthur Lee’s Love. A number of bassists and lead guitarists passed through the band’s roster during its formative years, but after bowing in late 1985 with the single “The River of Water,” backed by a cover of Love’s “A House Is Not a Motel,” Yo La Tengo’s membership appeared to stabilize with the additions of guitarist Dave Schramm and bassist Mike Lewis prior to the sessions for 1986’s full-length roots pop debut, Ride the Tiger, produced by former Mission of Burma bassist Clint Conley.
However, both Schramm and Lewis exited in the wake of the record’s release, leaving Kaplan to assume lead guitar duties. Bassist Stephan Wichnewski signed on for 1987’s New Wave Hot Dogs, a more assured outing that brought the group’s Velvet Underground obsession to the fore via a cover of the early VU composition “It’s Alright (The Way That You Live).” Not only did Kaplan’s introverted, half-spoken vocals and buzzing guitar work closely recall Lou Reed, but Hubley’s rock-steady drumming and breathy backing turns simultaneously conjured memories of vintage Maureen Tucker.
Similar Artists
My Bloody Valentine, Pavement, Stereolab, Low, Galaxie 500, Guided by Voices, Built to Spill… see all
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Top Tracks
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Upside-Down
full track
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Fourth Time Around
full track
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Here Comes My Baby
full track
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Top Albums
Shoutbox
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optimistic_tour wrote:
damn it's so nice having these guys around to make dealing with life easier.
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MeterMaids74 wrote:
YLT - coming to Taipei ............. about time we got some decent music in this shithole. Mogwai 2004 was my last live concert here.
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zr1max wrote:
prolific
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Orange-Minz wrote:
that's GREAT! yeeeeeehaaa
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dominichealey wrote:
New album confirmed for release in 2009, gonna be called 'Tree Trunk'.
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vorasingha wrote:
outsiders cease to exist
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FootToFace wrote:
oh my god their tags are awful
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optimistic_tour wrote:
their cover of "here comes my baby" rivals cat's original. almost. also, I just realized how much like the Mekons their earlier albums were..
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Orange-Minz wrote:
Just pre-ordered the upcoming "They Shoot, We Score"-CD! yeeeeeeehaaaaaaa!
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Rudelyy wrote:
Rudely Interrupted have been invited by the United Nations to perform in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium on the 3rd of December 2008 to mark international disability day. Check us out!
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forgetmenot wrote:
Whatever you want from me, whatever you want I'll do. Try to squeeze a drop of blood from a sugarcube.
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ihavesoldout wrote:
Soy un bocadillo muy bonito.
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radtron wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuIVOrE3F_U
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folksnl wrote:
I can't agree more with rigoisphat
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Justin1983 wrote:
Yo La Tengo encanta comer salsa de manzana que les gusta tanto que ponerlo en sus guitarras y bajos y batería. Eso es lo que he oído.
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verabaxter wrote:
Hola gente, ya tenemos lastf! www.lastfm/music/vera+baxter y en estos dias subimos algo del nuevo disco como adelanto!! Saludos
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rigoisphat wrote:
wtf
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new_virus wrote:
Lo que son capaces de hacer es algo que no suele escucharse. Suenan a la absoluta libertad creativa.
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ag6ja wrote:
ellos la tienen!!
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candieiro wrote:
vine in the pub and this songs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!very special!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Listeners
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Angie9
Listening now
to False Alarm -
slicemenice
Listening now
to I Should Have Known… -
barabajamoon
Top Listener
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Midgetlegs
Top Listener
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ADivineUnicorn
Top Listener
Events
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Sep
17
Pygmalion Music Festival 2008
various, Urbana, United States
22 shouts
| 64 attendees -
Sep
19
ATP New York 2008 curated by My Bloody Valentine
Kutshers Country Club, Monticello, United States
112 shouts
| 133 attendees
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Oct
17
Grand Mint Festival 2008
Seoul Olympic Park, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
14 shouts
| 13 attendees
Recent Activity
- herrbatte, erikasuderburg, Juviley and 18 other people added Yo La Tengo to their libraries. 30 minutes ago
- uepuarq tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘seen live’. yesterday morning
- DeePeraic, CorpsDeLacet and dharmawind added Yo La Tengo to their libraries. yesterday morning
- abcb84 tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘indie rock’. yesterday evening
- lolo-b and dlwatson added Yo La Tengo to their libraries. yesterday evening
- deepredbells tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘seen live’. yesterday evening
- Japnugget, tiredneighbor, sdl1 and 2 other people added Yo La Tengo to their libraries. yesterday evening
- paya_anya tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘indie’. yesterday evening
- alesponja, onlywordsiknow, LaNuvolaOlga and 9 other people added Yo La Tengo to their libraries. yesterday evening
- Asparilla tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘indie’. Friday evening
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