Name: Summer Sun
Brand: Yo La Tengo

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

OLE5481

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "OLE5481"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2019-01-25

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

PIAS

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

0744861054818

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "0744861054818"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Total Cap

Black LPx2

ole5482

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "ole5482"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

2003-04-02

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Yo La Tengo

Genre GB

Alternative / Modern

Label GB

Matador

U.S. independent label based in NYC; for company roles and copyrights please consider [l390562] for the USA, [l=Matador Records Ltd.] for the UK company division and the generic company profile relating to either legal entities [l=Matador Records (2)] 
[b]Note that while some Matador releases are exclusive to North America or Europe, they use one numbering system for all releases, so it is not necessary to enter them under separate labels.[/b]

The Matador label began in 1989 when [a=Chris Lombardi] dragged the Austrian duo H.P. Zinker into Wharton Tiers’ Fun City studio to record OLE-001, ...and there was light. Run out of Chris’ New York apartment, Lombardi added artists such as the Dustdevils, Railroad Jerk and Superchunk to the initial roster. Joined by longtime Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy in 1990, Matador experienced its first taste of crazed media attention & big sales with the North American release of Teenage Fanclub’s debut long-player, A Catholic Education. Over the years, the label has moved from shoebox sized offices to larger and larger complexes, the staff has grown from 2 to 24, and the roster has simply exploded. As well as functioning as the North American home to Pavement, Liz Phair and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Matador has helped artists such as Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Cornelius, Solex, Pizzicato Five, Helium and the Arsonists reach audiences worldwide.

Matador has also served as the North American licensee for a number of exceptional international acts, including Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai, Boards of Canada, Red Snapper, Arab Strap and others. Since 1996, Matador has maintained separate offices and staff in London. In addition to supervising the promotion, sales and marketing of Matador titles on the continent, Matador Europe has also licensed recordings from some of North America’s most acclaimed new artists, M. Ward, Sleater-Kinney, Modest Mouse, and Superchunk to name a few.

While Matador has often been characterized (not by the label itself) as an underground or "indie" rock label, over the years, the label’s musical direction has grown, to the point where many hip hop, electronic and experimental acts play as prominent a role in the label’s sound & future as any number of singer/songwriters and rock bands. Sometimes all of the above converge.

During the 1990s, Matador entered into partnerships with [l=Atlantic] and [l=Capitol Records]. In 1999, Lombardi & Cosloy purchased back Capitol's 49% share of the label, and in 2002, [l613604] purchased 50% of the legal entities behind the Matador label / imprint [l390562] and [l291335] and took over Matador's worldwide marketing.

Yo La Tengo is an American indie rock band that was founded in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. With a career spanning over three decades, they have become one of the most influential and respected bands in the alternative music scene. Known for their eclectic sound and diverse range of musical styles, Yo La Tengo has released numerous critically acclaimed albums and established themselves as pioneers of indie rock. Their unique blend of shoegaze, noise pop, folk, and experimental sounds sets them apart from other bands in the genre. Whether it's their dreamy melodies or energetic guitar-driven tracks, Yo La Tengo continues to captivate audiences with their innovative approach to music.
Since their formation, Yo La Tengo has consistently pushed boundaries and experimented with different genres and musical techniques. Their ability to seamlessly transition between soft introspective ballads and raucous guitar-driven anthems showcases their versatility as musicians. The band's distinctive sound is complemented by the heartfelt lyrics penned by frontman Ira Kaplan, which often touch upon themes of love, loss, and self-reflection.
With a dedicated fan base that spans across the globe, Yo La Tengo has built a reputation for delivering mesmerizing live performances filled with energy and emotion. Their dynamic stage presence combined with their improvisational skills make each concert a unique experience for fans. From intimate venues to major festivals, Yo La Tengo continues to captivate audiences with their powerful live shows.

Back in print on vinyl. Three years after 2000's brilliant And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out, Yo La Tengo returned with Summer Sun, an album that's as settled and smooth as the previous one was inventive and eclectic. Musically, Summer Sun continues the band's progression away from intricate, guitar-based pop both loud and soft and toward an arguably more sophisticated sound. This time around, the post-rock, Krautrock, and jazz influences the band introduced on I Can Hear the Heart and perfected on And Then Nothing dominate Summer Sun, giving it a hushed, polished feel. Sometimes, this approach works, as on the lovely opener "Beach Party Tonight," which sounds appropriately warm and full of possibilities, and "Tiny Birds," a droning, spiralling track that sounds a bit like a fusion of post-rock and Pet Sounds. However, the fusion-inspired instrumental "Georga Vs. Yo La Tengo" and the jammy, ten-minute "Let's Be Still" veer dangerously close to noodling and bloat the album's length to over an hour. Much of this is due to Summer Sun's arrangements and productions: tracks like "How to Make a Baby Elephant Float" and "Don't Have to Be So Sad" are based on lighter-than-air guitars, drums, and synths and topped with whispery vocals. When the band does get a little livelier, they deliver some memorable moments, such as the percolating "Little Eyes"; the cute, poppy "The Season of the Shark"; and "Today Is the Day," a Georgia Hubley song that's nearly as gorgeous as "Shadows" or "Nowhere Near." A little more variety in volume and tempo could've made this album great instead of pretty good; for the first time in years, Yo La Tengo doesn't break out the feedback and distortion anywhere on an album. Summer Sun is so mellow and pretty that it feels uncharitable to call it one of their weakest albums in recent memory; many bands would kill to make music this accomplished. But, even though Yo La Tengo can still run circles around other groups even when they're running in place, compared to their best work Summer Sun is merely pleasant.

Summer Sun

Music GB

Buy Yo La Tengo - Summer Sun (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.