Back in July when I posted "Beanbag Chair" from the new Yo La Tengo album, "I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass," and referred to it as "the sound of a great band coasting ... content to leave its past glories unchallenged," a commenter told me to wait until I heard the whole album and to "get your apology ready." Wow, were they right. There's no coasting here, and after the largely tepid "Summer Sun" this sounds like a band mightily revitalized: If this album doesn't rival their best work (and it might, I just haven't listened enough yet), it certainly comes close. "Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" is the 10-minute-long opening track, a flashback to the rich, distortion-filled sound of "I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One." Oh, and: Sorry everyone, I was very wrong.
-- T.B.
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