I am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

'I am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass' is a whipping ripper. It's rare that a band whose existence spans two decades can make one of the best albums of their career at this juncture - but the legendary indie trio Yo La Tengo have achieved it.

Moving the bar once again for what can be done in just one album, no two songs sound the same - there's everything from epic soundscapes to jaunty pop songs, gorgeous love songs with a few rock n' roll songs thrown in. A dash of humour, a smattering of falsetto and a huge dose of that unique Yo La Tengo charm make 'I Am Not Afraid Of You And…' contender for album of the year…

This is an album which delights in being an album - moving from song to song with purely musical sensibilities. No mere loud-soft-loud merry-go-round, but rather a subtle parade, 'I Am Not Afraid Of You And…' contains dramatic arcs that don't all build in expected ways. And the songs themselves? Drop dead gorgeous, full of life and enthusiasm, &, well… what did you expect?!

Yo La Tengo are an American institution. They've been making consistently excellent records for 20yrs, whilst remaining on the forefront of creativity and Innovation. While 'Summer Sun' was their last album proper, they've been busy - the 'Today Is The Day EP'; their mammoth 'Prisoners Of Love' 2CD and 3CD "best of" compiles; a collection of songs they covered for their annual WFMU radio fundraiser, called 'Yo La Tengo Is Murdering The Classics'; they've toured constantly, appeared on TV [the Gilmore Girls] and have completed no less than FOUR scores for movie soundtracks! Phenomenal songwriting ability has a way of making itself known.

Yo La Tengo manage the near impossible feat of satisfying both their quest for the loving embrace of their musical character and the tirelessness that keeps them from repeating themselves. Whether one thinks of life as being brief or infinite, the clock is always ticking. We must be ever grateful for any endeavours which distort our sense of time. That is one of many things Yo La Tengo do. Thanks!