CD Review

The husband and wife team of Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley -making up two thirds of the The Hoboken, New Jersey trio Yo La Tengo - are just probably getting comfortable with their recent popularity. Although that word made be the anti-christ of an indie-band, Yo La Tengo can deal with shiny descriptions, after persevering for 16 years in the music underground. They had recently found themselves on top of the Billboard top ten singles chart with their remake of Sun Ra’s "Nuclear War" last December, and have finally been receiving the long overdue credit, in which they have so rightfully deserved. Summer Sun, Yo La Tengo’s latest release, continues the band's tradition of solid efforts; it's just that a lot more people out there are getting the chance to hear the band is more than a Spanish pronunciation.

Like their prior album, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out, Summer Sun captures sonic twinges, lush vocals and ambient effects that push the boundaries of a "mood" piece. Popping in a recording and acknowledging that one track seamlessly flowed into the next without startling the listener, is the sign of a well- assembled and planned concept.

From the psychedelic sonic landscapes of the opener "Beach Party Tonight," the music straps you in for a warm, yet hypnotic ride. Grabbing lush vocals and snappy beats, the album manages to spray a care-free summer mood of laid back innocence, without sounding overly industrious. The ambient sound-scape continues into the smiley "Season of the Shark" with Ira Kaplan’s monotone, yet gentle vocals, evoke summery reflections, while his tropical guitar flavorings are less on the edge of tonal serenity. The melodies all are eerily familiar, yet within this small band instrumentation of atmospheric serenity, Yo La Tengo stays on the calm side without hallucinating the listener. But get ready for "Georgia Vs. Yo La Tengo," an edgy, almost beat box thriller that leads effortlessly into the placid "Don’t Have To Be Sad" that is beautifully summer poignant – more Labor Day than Memorial Day - as Summer Sun comes to a close.