Search - Yo La Tengo :: Today Is the Day

Yo La Tengo Es Mucho Gusto

D. C. Ober | Boston, MA | 02/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was going to give Yo La Tengo's latest release a full review, but, because it's only an EP, and because they're Yo La Tengo, I've decided to write a Haiku in Spanish:



Yo La Tengo son

Mejor que un Chihuahua

Con tres piernas.

"

My First Yo La Tengo Experience.

Fat Brad | West Melbourne, Florida | 06/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"odd, isnt it that someone hasn't listened to yo la tengo nearly 20 years into their existance. I wish I started listening early, judging by the strength of this ep. From the first tender notes sung from today is the day, I knew this would be quite the experience. This style of music just blew me away. To me, the wall of noise of the first three tracks isnt disgusting, but more along the lines of hypnotic. I have already fallen in love with both georgia and ira's voices, and Ive only heard this album and 2001's ...and then nothing turned itself inside-out. The mellow songs are also very good as well. this is a short album that you can listen to in almost any mood. highly recommended, especially to people new to YLT like me."

When? Today!

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 03/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yo La Tengo's most recent release, "Summer Sun," is a smooth and mellow swirl of polished soundscapes. But for those who want something a little rockier and grittier, "Today is the Day!" is the answer. Call it "Summer Sun's" shadow side.The influence of this EP's parent album ends before it begins, with a blasting bass line underlying the formerly mellow "Today is the Day." The remaining five songs are a mix of vaguely fuzzy rock (the murmury "Styles of the Times"), straightforward pop where the ante is upped ("Outsmartener"), and just pretty, experimental sounds (the pretty "Needle of Death" and gently catchy "Dr. Crash"). It ends with a murmur rather than a bang, with a slow acoustic cover of 2000's "Cherry Chapstick."There's an experimental feel to "Today is the Day!", a mixture of different musical styles. It's like Yo La Tengo is trying on several pairs of shoes to see what fits them best. The first few songs are the weakest on this EP; they crackle with energy, but sometimes get lost in their own instrumentation. By the third song, "Today is the Day!" has found its footing.Generally the musical difference here is when a loud song is made soft, or a soft song made loud. In "Today is the Day," there's just a heavy guitar/bass line that separates it from its more mellow "Summer Sun" version (not to mention the "crazy double-reed horn"). And strange as it sounds, one of the riffs in "Outsmartener" sounds just like the Batman theme song."Today is the Day!" is a nice addition for fans of Yo La Tengo. For newcomers, it's a good illustration of their musical versatility, and just how rocking or pretty their music can be."