This Stupid World, Yo La Tengo

New tracks from seasoned indie rockers deliver a ruminative mood

Yo La Tengo haven’t slowed down. The Hoboken, NJ trio has been honing feedback-forward, sensitive indie rock since 1986, and 37 years later, the band’s seventeenth studio album still feels made for the present moment. This Stupid World harnesses distant, moody lyricism cloaked in crunching guitars and pulsing bass lines.

Recorded first as instrumentals, the new LP came about from COVID-sparked jam sessions. Lyrics were added last, building upon a pre-set disposition. That process is audible throughout –each instrumental layer feels front and center, as if every dissonant chord and sweeping melody have lyrics and meaning of their own.

More so than previous records, these 9 tracks embrace more experimental sound design. Droning guitar wails or electronic hits float alongside the song, supplying occasional bursts of turbulence. These aren’t unwelcome choices–they all play a small role in achieving undeniable feelings of reflection, melancholy, and detachment, as the album’s name might suggest.

Not every track plays on the same feeling or sonic identity, though. “Aselestine” offers a softer take on similar lyrical content, with a gingerly strummed acoustic guitar and shimmering, echoed notes to accent drummer Georgia Hubley’s tranquil vocal performance. On the concluding song, “Miles Away,” the band opts for a more ambient sound. Listeners here get a 7-minute glimpse into a world of sweeping pads and choppy drum loops in lieu of the heavier, distorted production that dominates the album.

 At its close, what really makes This Stupid World stand out is its cohesion in mood. In 48 minutes of runtime, Yo La Tengo cultivates a potent yet sedated atmosphere, and in doing so invites listeners to drift along with its captivating aura.