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Yo La Tengo
On Tour393,413 listeners (9,133,985 plays)
Listening now: krooshof, landtex
indie, indie rock, alternative, rock, indie pop
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
Pavement, Guided by Voices, Stereolab, Galaxie 500, Sebadoh, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine… see all
See moreVideos
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Play
Yo La Tengo - Beanbag Chair
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Play
Yo La Tengo - "Upside-Down"
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Play
yo la tengo - 4th time around
Top Tracks
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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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rigoisphat wrote:
fuck off bitch
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mindblank wrote:
nice...
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crimson_man wrote:
no silly not that one
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dominichealey wrote:
http://www.insound.com/Yo_La_Tengo_I_Am_Not_Afraid_Of_You_And_I_Will_Beat_Your_Ass___LP/productmain/p/INS30263%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20/
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dominichealey wrote:
$200 for a vinyl that's still in print?
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silverpsycho13 wrote:
marillchu789 yeah that kind of puzzles me as well. i guess it's probably b/c last.fm is offering it as a free mp3 and so everyone's downloading it and listening to it cuz it's free.
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crimson_man wrote:
I love this band... I was looking for I can hear the heart beating as one on vinyl and I found it for well over $200, :O
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recrimination wrote:
i only discovered them today.. fantastic, fantastic, fanfuggintastic.
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marillchu789 wrote:
how did upside-down end up being top track?
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Riun wrote:
yellow tango?
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dominichealey wrote:
Does anyone know when they're gonna release a new album?
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SayLaLaLa wrote:
O RLY?
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HotPoop wrote:
O RLY?
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zeppyfish wrote:
It means "I have it," as in what a baseball player yells to let other players know he's about to catch a ball. The name comes from Elio Chaçon, a Spanish-speaking shortstop on the Mets, who would yell "Yo la tengo!" instead of "I got it."
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jenny_souza wrote:
Yo la tengo= I have her...I am pretty sure..lol But I love tango was quite funny...lol
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pachecoxvi wrote:
Yo la tengo = I have it...
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Arsenal_FC wrote:
@Satanaword: i think its off a track called 'Today Is The Day'
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Sosen wrote:
Yo La Tengo = I love tango? Hmmm... could be.
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thepod wrote:
wtf is this post rock shit
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Satanasword wrote:
shit what's that song that goes something like "remember when we were young we would stay up real late, and now that i'm older i can barely stay awake"?
Listeners
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Benjaen
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ChelcRC
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Top Listener
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youngjoohwang
Top Listener
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sailoroftheseas
Top Listener
Events
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Sep
17
Pygmalion Music Festival 2008
various, Urbana, United States
11 shouts
| 37 attendees -
Sep
19
ATP New York 2008
Kutshers Country Club, Monticello, United States
58 shouts
| 104 attendees
Recent Activity
- space-lemon tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘indie’. Tuesday afternoon
- fffff9 tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘ambient-electronica’. Monday afternoon
- brokencoxis tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘indie rock’ and ‘shoegaze’. Monday morning
- afarizh tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘ljeto’. Sunday evening
- 1015 and itspaulkelly tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘seen live’. Sunday evening
- disenchanting connected Yo La Tengo to the group Chicagoland. Saturday evening
- ISKRA1903 and riotsqrrrl tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘seen live’. Saturday morning
- MeanGeimhridh tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘indie’. 7 days ago
- K1CKOUTTHEJAMS tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘seen live’. 7 days ago
- poeticanxiety tagged Yo La Tengo with ‘indie rock’. 8 days ago
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More Information
- Links
- Band Members
