American indie-rock veterans Yo La Tengo make a remarkable comeback with The Stupid World, their sixteenth album that showcases their determination to address the anxiety-provoking state of our current world. Formed in 1984 in Hoboken (USA), the band's core members – Georgia Hubley (vocals, drums), Ira Kaplan (vocals, guitar), and James McNew (bass, organ, and backing vocals since 1992) – have remained committed to a unique vision of contemporary American music with experimental undertones. Experienced yet retaining their passion for improvisation and simplicity, Yo La Tengo's latest offering was recorded, mixed, and produced at home, giving it a back-to-basics feel.
The Stupid World features guitars that range from lo-fi shoegazing to acoustic, metronomic and hushed drums reminiscent of Brad Naish from The Wipers, unpretentious basslines, and the trio's ever-present melancholic vocals. The album's atmosphere doesn't stray too far from their previous works, such as Painful (1993) and I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One (1997).
From the very first track, Sinatra Drive Breakdown, the album takes listeners on a nocturnal journey through 7 minutes and 25 seconds of saturation and feedback over minimalist rhythms, complemented by the band's clear and offbeat voices. The hypnotic and tribal title track, This Stupid World, shares the same approximate duration of 7 minutes and 28 seconds and delves into an industrial, voodoo-infused sound. Miles Away, a 7-minute and 30-second contemplative piece, features James McNew's melodic and ghostly bass while Kaplan delivers his lyrics with modesty, creating a cinematic nocturnal atmosphere.
Fallout serves as an emotional trigger, with its elastic melody supported by discreet choruses that remind listeners of Yo La Tengo's greatness. The Hoboken band's lo-fi sound remains audible and comforting without any stylistic gimmicks. Aselestine channels the unmistakable shadow of the Velvet Underground, with Georgia Hubley's laugh leading into a rhythmic ballad showcasing her delicate and soft vocals. Until It Happens, a haunting track featuring keyboard chords, reversed tapes, and congas, maintains the album's cool yet resigned atmosphere with mystical bells and a woody double bass setting the mood.
The Stupid World by Yo La Tengo is an introspective and powerful exploration of our contemporary reality, solidifying the band's status as a leading force in the indie-rock scene.
