Popular Songs | Yo La Tengo

My review of the new Yo La Tengo record, Popular Songs, ran today in the Boston Phoenix

I’ve always liked Yo La Tengo, but never counted myself as a rabid fan. Their music is sweet, pleasant, and reassuring, but I never found it captivating or invigorating. As I get older, though, I think there’s a larger place for it in my life. Popular Songs is a very good record, barring the unfortunate two-track, 25-minute instrumental epilogue. Aside from that, however, it’s cool, laid-back, and at times dreamy. A nice, relaxing record for a lazy summer afternoon.