Fake Music

One of my favorite bands for the past decade at least, Yo La Tengo is comprised of a husband-and-wife team, Ira and Georgia, and their partner in crime, James. They are multi-instrumentalists who swap instruments at will during their shows. These concerts are always incredible -- in fact, I saw them at Royal Festival Hall in London, and Jen left Russia so that she could see them in Germany. Add those memorable concerts to a handful of appearances in Cambridge, Somerville (with Jen and Stephen), and Houston, and they may be the band I've gone to see most frequently. (They are also, incidentally, responsible for one of the funniest videos I've ever seen, in which they collaborate with Bob and David of Mr. Show.)

At times, their sound may be a little abrasive for younger ears, but their eclectic and melodic style frequently produces great songs to share; Gwennie in particular is fond of an album of covers, Fakebook. Rather than simply recreate versions of obscure songs (though the album frequently succeeds at this -- Ira was a music critic before becoming an international rock star), the band creates a sustained musical statement, partially by including "covers" of a few original songs among the reinventions. The entire album is a showcase for the good humor and gentleness of the band, while also hinting at their sonic adventurousness.

Here are some full-family favorites:

mp3: Here Comes My Baby

This cover of a Cat Stevens song actually reached the band through a wilder and rather more obscure version by a sixties garage band called The Tremeloes. A good dancing song for small (and larger) feet.

mp3: Griselda

Gwennie has called this song "Mazelda," one of her favorite made-up princess names, for the past few years. I think of it as the country equivalent of a Shakespearean sonnet, in the sense of a mannerly or courtly seduction. It strikes me as funny, but that may be due to its lyrical deftness. It's another obscure number originally by the Unholy Modal Rounders.

mp3: The Summer

And finally, one of the band's auto-covers: simple and perfect.