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Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock Paperback – Illustrated, June 5, 2012

by Jesse Jarnow (Author)

4.5 59 ratings

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The first biography of Yo La Tengo, the massively influential band who all but defined indie music.

Yo La Tengo has lit up the indie scene for three decades, part of an underground revolution that defied corporate music conglomerates, eschewed pop radio, and found a third way. Going behind the scenes of one of the most remarkable eras in American music history, Big Day Coming traces the patient rise of husband-and-wife team Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley, who—over three decades—helped forge a spandex-and-hairspray-free path to the global stage, selling millions of records along the way and influencing countless bands.

Using the continuously vital Yo La Tengo as a springboard, Big Day Coming uncovers the history of the legendary clubs, bands, zines, labels, record stores, college radio stations, fans, and pivotal figures that built the infrastructure of the now-prevalent indie rock world. Journalist and freeform radio DJ Jesse Jarnow draws on all-access interviews and archives for mesmerizing trip through contemporary music history told through one of its most creative and singular acts.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publication date

June 5, 2012
Dimensions

6.01 x 0.99 x 8.97 inches
ISBN-10

1592407153
ISBN-13

978-1592407156
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jesse Jarnow is a music journalist and the host of The Frow Show on WFMU, an independent radio station based in Jersey City. His work has appeared in The London Times, Rolling Stone, Spin, and other publications. He lives in Brooklyn, where he is in the band Sloppy Heads.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avery; Illustrated edition (June 5, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1592407153
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592407156
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.01 x 0.99 x 8.97 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #174,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #269 in Music History & Criticism (Books)
- #438 in Rock Music (Books)
- #444 in Rock Band Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.5 59 ratings

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E. Stilley

A good, in-depth look at a great band

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2013

Verified Purchase

I was only a minor Yo La Tengo fan before I read the book. I spent a few days reading the book in the summer while simultaneously listening to the corresponding albums as they were being described in the book. Jarnow goes into extreme depth with the stories behind every album. The book flows well while also chronicling some of the other big events in music as the Yo La Tengo stories unfold. Their music really doesn't sound the same anymore.

A must-read for any Yo La Tengo fan.

2 people found this helpful

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ERIC B JOHNSON

The History of Yo La Tengo, and So Much More...

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2013

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A must-read for anyone interested in the history of modern American independent music. One of the most fun music biopics I have read in several years.

2 people found this helpful

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Hotrodimus

Great career bio with some curious gaps

Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2012

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Jesse Jarnow's Yo La Tengo bio is a great read for longtime fans like me who have really struggled with a lack of information on "The Story of Yo La Tango," between the band members' storied shyness and the general lack of media coverage throughout their career. It's also interesting how YLT's lifecycle has almost perfectly followed the initial rise of the American Underground movement that later turned into the heyday of Indie Rock, then later mutated into the Pitchfork-led "Indie" monoculture that persists to this day, with YLT as elder statesmen. Jarnow is to be commended for not only recognizing this trend, but accurately portraying the cultural shift and the band's increasingly complex place and figurehood within the "Indie" monoculture - something that most rock writers are just starting to recognize and incorporate into books.

The one downside about the book is that there's hardly any insight into the conception, writing, recording, inspiration, etc. of the band's studio albums. If you blink you'll miss "may I sing with me" entirely. YLT are an obsessive record nerd's band, and yet you're not really going to find any behind the scenes info, insight into lyrics or song titles, studio stories, that aren't already known or available. Considering that the band members themselves are listed as primary references, I was surprised to see that almost all of the meagre content in this regard was familiar to me from the Roger Moutenot "Tape Op" interview and a few other sources. There's no talk about gear (considering YLT are a pedal, obscure drum machine and organ and amplifier-fueled band) at all. I was really hoping for a peek behind the curtain of the band's wonderful albums, and there's just basically nothing in this regard on a per-album basis other than "They convened in Nashville to record the new record. They enjoyed barbecue. A few months later, the album was released to mediocre sales."

Still, there's a lot of ground to cover and it's a good biographical overview of the many people involved in the story.

13 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2017

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2013

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First off, I have all of Yo La Tengo's albums and have seen them live. I listen to them almost daily. I feel this book is for fans only. Even as a fan, I longed for a more in-depth look at their lives. Don't get me wrong, there are some interesting facts and some insight into where they came from and their journey. Overall, however, I just feel a lot of it was really boring. Hey, if someone wrote a book about my life and described my job as it progressed on a monthly basis for 25 years it would be a snooze fest. I just would like a bit more passion to come across on the page. It is written well, but about a quarter way through the book I just became bored. I read a lot of biographies, especially rock band/musician biographies. This one is written better than many, but it is not as interesting as most I have read. If you like Yo La Tengo a lot, it might be worth it. If you're just getting into them, I would just enjoy their music.

4 people found this helpful

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Tubby

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

He said it was great. That's all I know.

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2016

a great read

Excellent book on Yo La Tengo

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2012

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Being a long time fan of YLT, I enjoyed the book and it's discussion of the history of the music scene which was so important to both their growth and the growth of the indie rock, specifically in Hoboken and NYC. Ira seemed to have his hands in every event pivotal to the growth of indie rock in this area. It was also great to read of the way YLT evolved from their early days of innocence and amateurish status to the seminal rock band which they became, especially in going through one bassist a week (seemingly) till they found James McNew. Or he found them. Either way it was a match made in indie rock heaven and surely one of the reasons they are still current and evolving. Though I already really loved (most of) their music, it was fun to see how certain albums and songs were created, especially the influences involved and surrounding events. Recommended for anyone who also enjoys their music, or if they just remember the days of going through record stores just for the fun of it.

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Fitz

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2015

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Interesting perceptions provided and thanks to the delivery team for prompt service.

One person found this helpful

GilmartínRoberto Frias

Un Excelente Libro

Reviewed in Spain on July 4, 2013

Verified Purchase

Un Libro muy interesante sobre este grupo, con una música actual e innovadora, muy fácil de leer a pesar de estar en Inglés, con anécdotas y comentarios muy interesante.
Es un libro para regalar y hacer conocer este interesante grupo. Es muy recomendable.

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