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Album Review: Yo La Tengo - There's A Riot Going On

Adam Wilding
StarStarStarStar

"Simple and restrained as it weaves its way like a slow-moving movie score."

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The general rule is that as a band gets older they become less relevant, less interesting and arguably less creative.

Of course, there are exceptions and Yo La Tengo fall into this category, having always been a group who are content to fly under the radar but never afraid to experiment. So, after 30 years together, having made album number 15 and covered almost every musical genre possible bar hip hop and nu-metal, this record is a solid understatement of their brand of indie and one that ignores what would, for a lot of lesser groups, be a significant 'when will they quit?' milestone.

The hallmark of any Yo La Tengo record is their deft hand at combining songs to paint a whole picture and There's A Riot Going On is a better listen as a complete album, particularly with the inclusion of instrumental tracks Dream Dream Away, Above The Sound and Shortwave. Where their preceding semi-covers album capitalised on the obscure, this record is simple and restrained as it weaves its way like a slow-moving movie score, from the instrumental opener You Are Here to Georgia Hubley's softly-softly vocals on Shades Of Blue.

Older, wiser and they've still got it.