Ever since Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon & Thurston Moore split up, the most respected veteran band-with-an-indie-couple has been Yo La Tengo. The darling-most of critics also happens to be the best cover act this side of The Replacements, as displayed to beautiful effect on Stuff Like That There.
Like 1990’s beloved Fakebook, Stuff Like That There is a mixture of cover songs, ‘covers’ of previously released Yo La Tengo songs, and originals. Most groups don’t deserve one covers album (looking at you, Puddle of Mudd – QRO album review), let alone a second, but Yo La Tengo is no ordinary band. Their cover choices on Stuff are almost entirely not huge songs (both from others & their own), but display how well Yo La Tengo work, not to mention are integrated with the original material.
Throughout Stuff, Yo La Tengo are decidedly low-key, quiet, and country. Sometimes that’s not surprising, such as their cover of Hank Williams classic “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, done exactly right by singer/drummer Georgia Hubley. But Hubley also brings a sad beauty to The Cure’s happiest song, “Friday I’m In Love”. The album does give Hubley more time at vocals over husband/guitarist Ira Kaplan, a good choice as these songs are done in a fifties country manner (think Patsy Cline), even originals such as closer “Somebody’s In Love”.
Admittedly, Stuff Like That There is not a record for those who don’t already love Yo La Tengo, and the low-key & quiet nature of the album is very pervasive – it does not rock. But it’s once again Stuff that only Yo La Tengo could do, and they do it right.
