The Yo La Tengo are calm in the middle of the storm. With sensitivity and common sense, on the fringes of a mass world, they are aware of their untouchable place in the alternative rock universe, which accounts for their longevity, worship, and consistency over the last three decades. The album featured here, There's A Riot Going On, is a record of peaceful resistance.
It offers comfort, and it is a human response to today's turbulent times, refusing to add to the noise. Those songs focus on love and anguish, in the shadow of a raw sound, with meticulous whispers and sonic overlays. In a collapsing world, they demonstrate how music can shelter. But under the delicacy of the instruments, the Yo La Tengo are not immune to darkness and political and social uncertainty. This music seeks to restore balance - to face pain and hatred with light and love. A beautiful balm for these times.