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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
We always suspected they had it in them, but who knew Yo La Tengo would finally craft a record as wholeheartedly terrific as this? Fourteen years into their career as indie rock's low-key mainstays, the Hoboken, New Jersey, trio have arrived--and it's about time. It's as though simply by sticking around long enough and doing the same thing over and over while constantly refining and focusing Yo La have evolved from scattered, record-collecting eccentrics into the true classicists of '90s indie rock. Blending elements of what has illuminated Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Pavement, and My Bloody Valentine, they've long had a clear voice but never sounded so comfortable using it. Willfully eclectic husband-and-wife multi-instrumentalists Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley--with third member James McNew never sounding more permanent--have previously tended to alternate between their instincts to be a pop rock band and to serve as artsy noisemakers. On I Can Hear..., the group doesn't have to choose between songs and sounds. There's noise leaking out everywhere, but it's always under control. Even the most layered soundscapes--songs like "Autumn Sweater," "Sugarcube," or "Moby Octopad"--have unforgettable melodies, with fragile harmonies to boot. "We're an American Band" (not a Grand Funk cover) could be Simon and Garfunkel singing along to the Jesus and Mary Chain. And on tracks like "Shadows" or "My Little Corner of the World," where the melody consumes everything else, deceptively simple backdrops provide a less-is-more atmosphere. Just in time for indie rock to catch up with Yo La Tengo, Yo La Tengo has caught up with itself. --Roni Sarig
Product Description
Audio CD.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
How much do I love this record, well let me count the ways:
1. I love it because it moves me with its beauty and magnificence. Each song here is wonderful. Each has its own mood, its own vibe, and each goes in a slightly different direction than all the others. For example, Moby Octopad, a song about being "locked in a kiss" with the one you love and thus the ability you both have to kind of shut the world out, has a sustained sort of bass driven funk groove. The sound is blissfull, which perfectly fits the song's subject matter; the song that follows, Sugarcube, is also a love song, in the sense that it is about pledging one's all to one's loved one, about being what they want you to be, and it is delivered with such power as a melodic guitar song, yet with a great warmth to it. Some songs here are soft and subtle; others, like Spec Bebop is a high energy instrumental jam. And some, like Autumn Sweater (a Yo La Tengo classic), Deeper Into Movies, and The Lie and How We Told It are simply blissfully gorgeous. Ultimately, though, each song comes together with each other song here and blend together forming an intact and complete whole.
2. I love it because it holds true to its ideals. Yo La Tengo have never sold out, nor have they ever come close to doing so. They simply seek to create, each time anew. Here they have, and in a multitude of ways. In fact, if you get a chance to view the very funny video to the song Sugarcube, one which mocks, a la Spinal Tap the music industry's rock cliches, you can see that this is a band that is all about music over image, substance over superficiality; in fact, while I have been a fan of this group since their first recording, it was, ironically this video, and one played on MTV of all places (on 120 Minutes) that reminded me of how worthwhile this band is and got me back to listening to them on a regular basis
3. I love it because it encompasses a history of indie rock as well as of mainstream rock's more critically acclaimed moments, as for instance in their garage punked out version of the Beach Boy's Little Honda. Songs like Damage and the alt.countrified One PM Again are simply rich in musical and lyrical signifiers; you can hear in these and other songs and their arrangements a wide variety of influences, from the Velvet Underground to various "No Wave" bands of the early 80s to bands like Ride, Lush, Spacemen 3, My Bloody Valentine, and many many others, but without being derivative in any way. You can also hear Kinks and Beatle and even Bert Bacharach influences, though these are subtle. In short, what you get here is great music played by musicians with an encyclopedic knowledge of rock history.
4. I love it because it comes from Yo La Tengo. I've now seen them live around 8 or 9 times, and have enjoyed each performance. I have nothing but respect and admiration for them and everything they stand for.
5. I love it because it should be loved. It's too good not to.
1. I love it because it moves me with its beauty and magnificence. Each song here is wonderful. Each has its own mood, its own vibe, and each goes in a slightly different direction than all the others. For example, Moby Octopad, a song about being "locked in a kiss" with the one you love and thus the ability you both have to kind of shut the world out, has a sustained sort of bass driven funk groove. The sound is blissfull, which perfectly fits the song's subject matter; the song that follows, Sugarcube, is also a love song, in the sense that it is about pledging one's all to one's loved one, about being what they want you to be, and it is delivered with such power as a melodic guitar song, yet with a great warmth to it. Some songs here are soft and subtle; others, like Spec Bebop is a high energy instrumental jam. And some, like Autumn Sweater (a Yo La Tengo classic), Deeper Into Movies, and The Lie and How We Told It are simply blissfully gorgeous. Ultimately, though, each song comes together with each other song here and blend together forming an intact and complete whole.
2. I love it because it holds true to its ideals. Yo La Tengo have never sold out, nor have they ever come close to doing so. They simply seek to create, each time anew. Here they have, and in a multitude of ways. In fact, if you get a chance to view the very funny video to the song Sugarcube, one which mocks, a la Spinal Tap the music industry's rock cliches, you can see that this is a band that is all about music over image, substance over superficiality; in fact, while I have been a fan of this group since their first recording, it was, ironically this video, and one played on MTV of all places (on 120 Minutes) that reminded me of how worthwhile this band is and got me back to listening to them on a regular basis
3. I love it because it encompasses a history of indie rock as well as of mainstream rock's more critically acclaimed moments, as for instance in their garage punked out version of the Beach Boy's Little Honda. Songs like Damage and the alt.countrified One PM Again are simply rich in musical and lyrical signifiers; you can hear in these and other songs and their arrangements a wide variety of influences, from the Velvet Underground to various "No Wave" bands of the early 80s to bands like Ride, Lush, Spacemen 3, My Bloody Valentine, and many many others, but without being derivative in any way. You can also hear Kinks and Beatle and even Bert Bacharach influences, though these are subtle. In short, what you get here is great music played by musicians with an encyclopedic knowledge of rock history.
4. I love it because it comes from Yo La Tengo. I've now seen them live around 8 or 9 times, and have enjoyed each performance. I have nothing but respect and admiration for them and everything they stand for.
5. I love it because it should be loved. It's too good not to.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
"I Can Hear the Heart" is by far the best Yo La Tengo release yet, and also their most eclectic. The band certainly know how to play the field, and regardless of what they try, it always comes up Yo La Tengo. Witness the track "Deeper Into Movies." The melody and chords are 100% pure Yo La Tengo, yet the execution is 100% pure My Bloody Valentine, and the group knows it. Yet it really works, on its own terms. Other styles covered are straight-ahead ballads ("Shadows"), spacey disco ("Spec Bebop"), pure rave-up rock and roll ("Little Honda," great cover), and Neil Young folksy-ness ("Stockholm Syndrome"). Although the description makes it sound like this would be a pretty incoherent collection, the best qualities of Yo La Tengo (good singing/harmonies, great guitar playing) give unity to all the varied tracks. There's a song for everyone on this album. At times nostalgic, other times looking far into the future, this is an album for the ages that will be looked back upon as a classic.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
From the opening notes of the first song, Yo La Tengo lures you into their state of mind - love and beauty and excitement and wonder and reflection. This album has it all, from the reverb drenched, peaceful yet moody Return to Hot Chicken, to Moby Octopad, a well crafted yo la rocker with suprise piano, to the fuzzy distortion blissful pop rocker with hyped up drums and cymbal crashes up the wazzoo Sugarcube, to the dark and haunting yet beautifully reflective Damage, and through the ever-building rave up wash of sonic ecstasy that is Deeper into movies, this CD is simply incomparable. Folk tunes, lounge music, sonic-youth inspired feedback washes, catchy yet intelligent love songs with kickin' beats, fuzzed out beach boys covers with distorted one-note guitar solos, and cricket riddled background ambience are seamlessly tied together with amazing craftsmanship and dedication and love. Amazing love songs are sung between married members of the band, and it's clear that these 3 (only 3!) people love what they do. The 13 minute "monster", and the "reward" that follows and the folky My Little Corner of the World are just an example of how much diversity these folks have got. I discovered this album in college with a little help from my buddy Logan, and have NEVER tired of it. Granted I'm not the best CD handler in the world, but i've bought four copies of this album for myself. Birthday gifts for people whose musical tastes i'm unsure of? This album right here. I've met only one person that let me play it for them who didn't absolutely fall in love with this album, and my brother is a big fan of creed and puddle of staind mudvayne limp bizkorn sound alikes with no originality. I mean, to each his own, but everyone should hear this album in it's entirety at least once. And if you don't like it, you can send it to me. Definately the Yo La album to start out with. A little long, perhaps? This cd is like a book you can't put down. The definitive road trip album. Very few people actually sit down and listen to an album like people used to, huddled around the radio to catch every bit of the story, but that's how i recomend your first visit to Yo La's realm of music.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Yo La Tengo's finest
Possibly my favorite Yo La Tengo record, after "Painful". An extraordinary, wonderful record that always seem like the right thing to listen to, no matter what you are feeling. Read more
Published 28 days ago by trevor bajus
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOL
I listen to this record sometimes. Sometimes I don't. But most of the time, I do. It always plays music.
Published 1 month ago by Adam Shanks
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
La spedizione e la consegna sono state rapide e puntuali, il prodotto è in perfette condizioni e sono rimasto più che soddisfatto della serietà e della... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Giuseppe Catania
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yo La Tengo
Yet another unsung Indie-rock band. I find the greatest bands tend to remain obscure, if you are into pop then you need to go running for some Brittany Spears or Justin Beiber. Read more
Published 4 months ago by chris leary
4.0 out of 5 stars
The best Yo La Tengo album
This is on one of those rare bands that has so many great records that it is difficult to figure out where to start or to even decide which one is their best. Read more
Published 11 months ago by UDN
3.0 out of 5 stars
I want hear the vocals
This is my first YLT experience. I do find most of the tracks interesting, but I struggled to hear the lyrics. I'm not sure if this is a mixing problem or if it is intentional. Read more
Published 12 months ago by T. Ames
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lost Treasure
This is one of those great finds of mine. I bought this double LP set when it first came out. I mostly bought it because it was cheap and looked interesting. Read more
Published on April 21, 2010 by Rolando Jamilla
5.0 out of 5 stars
best yo la tengo album. period
keep hoping/expecting them to pass this one up... but nothing comes close... if your curious about yo la tengo, buy this album!
Published on November 18, 2009 by pjrey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, moving piece of indie pop
I bought this album in 1997 and it became an instant favorite. Over the years I've come back to it, revisiting the subtleties of the songs and memories they conjure and it always... Read more
Published on October 20, 2008 by D. Balocchi
5.0 out of 5 stars
The record where it all comes together.
When I first started writing reviews on Amazon.com, I did it because I was tired of seeing hyperbolic praise doled out for albums by everyone's favorite bands-- no one's catalog is... Read more
Published on October 8, 2008 by Michael Stack
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