THIS STUPID WORLD | YO LA TENGO

2.10.23: This Stupid World is the seventeenth studio album by American indie rock band Yo La Tengo, released on February 10, 2023 by Matador Records. It was recorded and produced by the band in their studio space intermittently between 2020 and 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic and represents their first effort self-producing. The album has received highly positive reviews from critics for the lyrics and musicianship, with several reviewers commenting on how strong the release is decades into the band’s career.

The album features nine tracks that showcase Yo La Tengo’s versatility and creativity as a band. The songs range from psychedelic rock to minimalist ballads, from catchy pop to extended jams, from political protest to personal reflection. The album also features collaborations with Mike Campbell, Sharon Van Etten, and Lucius, who add their distinctive touches to the songs. The album was preceded by three singles: “Fallout”, “Aselestine”, and “Sinatra Drive Breakdown”.

One of the highlights of the album is the opening track, “Sinatra Drive Breakdown”, which is a seven-minute romp that combines a motorik groove with a scabrous guitar solo. The song reflects the band’s paranoia and frustration with the state of the world, as they sing about feeling watched and manipulated by various forces. The song also showcases the band’s live sound, as it was recorded mostly in one take with minimal overdubs.

Another standout track is the ninth track, “Lydia”, which is a powerful and emotional song about women’s rights and bodily autonomy. The song was inspired by seeing a women’s health clinic in Vancouver while on tour years ago, and it tells the story of a woman named Lydia who decides to have an abortion despite facing stigma and judgment from society. The song features an acoustic guitar and piano accompaniment, and it expresses the band’s empathy and solidarity with Lydia and other women in similar situations.