Wednesday, December 3, 2014

#1496 Yo La Tengo - Extra Painful

The original album itself: all time 5 outta 5, #13 album of the 90's.

So what about the bonus tracks that make this reissue extra?

The alternate versions bring color to an album that, let's remember already had 2 versions of Big Day Coming, coming from a band that's built on repetition and droning and allowing-to-sink-in. They add a little bit of depth to the era and no small measure of small thrills. YLT proves the song's just a starting point.

The new songs fare even better, especially the shitkicking Shaker and Smart Windows' sloppy groove - each could have brought a nice jolt to the original album's nighttame shades.

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Oh how to rate a reissue?

Despite the good songs, I don't think the new stuff altogether works as a listen, and this is a band //all about// the big listen. Split the original's score with a generous 4 and end up around 4.5/5

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