2012.06.13 Yo La Tengo - Electr-O-Pura

Color: Black

Released: 1995, May 2 (2009 Reissue)

Label: Matador Records

I’m so thankful for my friend Jeff Silirie. I credit him for really igniting my love for Yo La Tengo. I’ve mentioned previously how I started totally backwards with the band and don’t have the history with them that most fans do (like Jeff for instance). I had definitely began to explore the band’s back catalog prior to meeting Jeff - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One (dammit I need this one on vinyl!) became a much listened to album during a very stressful time in my life - but during the short time I called Mr. Silirie a co-worker he shared his iTunes library with me that was bursting at the seams with Yo La Tengo. At his recommendation, I checked out Electr-O-Pura and I do believe I can pinpoint that moment as the moment where YLT became a great and vital band for me. Shortly after this, I was pleasantly surprised to find a reissued copy of this album on vinyl at Criminal. This record is stacked with so many great tunes, from track one it’s apparent that this is going to be a great album full of the exquisite guitar driven pop that this band has such a command over. And then there are tunes like “Pablo and Andrea” - which stops me dead every time I hear it. ‘just something so haunting and beautiful and excellent about it. Yo La Tengo are tapping into something sacred here. After catching the band live early last year, I walked away from the show feeling like I had really experienced something special. I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about the show for several weeks. Definitely file this one under “Essential Listening.” Yo La Tengo are a prime example of what any “indie rock” band should aspire to.

Oh shit! I got so caught up in the moment of remembering that show and the way I felt during and after it, that I completely forgot to say anything about the art. Um. It’s nice looking. It’s got that whole cut-n-paste/found imagery thing going. Plus, there are little lightning bolts around the title of the album on the front cover. Lightning bolts always make something cooler. Always. Also, scope the fun little anecdotes after each track name on the back cover.