After a quarter of a century in which Yo La Tengo’s songs have gradually been shedding their more avant garde trappings for gentler, increasingly meditative ruminations (most notably on 2018’s There’s a Riot Going On), This Stupid World feels like quite the handbrake turn. While their 16th album proper still sounds as warm as ever, they have regained their edge of unpredictability, with Ira Kaplan’s Velvets-indebted guitar work reclaiming centre stage.
The combination of pristine melody and fuzzed delivery on recent single Fallout recalls 1997’s sublime Sugarcube, while the title track is wreathed in washes of ominous distortion. Meanwhile, Tonight’s Episode finds bassist James McNew reciting absurdist lyrics about yo-yos and guacamole atop a motorik groove worthy of psychedelic rockers Wooden Shjips. They can still do gorgeous introspection, too: Georgia Hubley’s vocals on Aselestine sound eerily comforting, even as she sings: “Where are you?/ The drugs don’t do what you said they do.” It all makes for the New Jersey trio’s most engaging album since 2000’s And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out.
