Of the many guises that Yo La Tengo have acquired over the course of their four-decade-plus career, their occasional role as soundtrack composers has been a natural assignment. Like the film, Old Joy is a stripped down, minimalist affair. Most importantly, it moves the narrative along in a way that images alone cannot do.
Forming in 1984 in Hoboken, the band has had a permanent line-up since 1992 with Ira Kaplan, Georgia Hubley, and James McNew. Their latest EP features live recordings from This Stupid World, as well as their old beloved track, “Stockholm Syndrome,” off their eighth album, I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One.
What makes Yo La Tengo tick so well, with their latest album, This Stupid World, being no exception in that respect? It could be the personal synergy between the members. It could be the fact that they all possess an almost encyclopedic knowledge of every form of modern music there is, being able to reproduce it in any shape or form.
