Yo La Tengo

There’s a Riot Going On

Haunting, soft, and dreamy from beginning to end, There’s a Riot Going

explores a multitude of sounds, leaving the impression of escaping to an altered reality. Tracks like “Out of the Pool” and “Ashes” mix their shoegaze sound with a style of funk similar to the album’s namesake, Sly and the Family Stone’s 1971 record There’s a Riot Goin’ On. Apart from the bouncier tracks, There’s a Riot Going On is worthy of being the ultimate late-night album. Appropriately titled “Dream Dream Away” plays with psychedelic guitar riffs, and Ira Kaplan’s winsome vocals leave chills down your spine, giving us the sense of being left in a liminal space. More wistful tracks, such as “For You Too” and “Shades of Blue,” offer listeners an aural remedy for the heavy-hearted. Georgia Hubley mulls over heartbreak and isolation as she hypnotically sings: “Painting my room to reflect my mood / Facing my feelings, a life without you.” By the time you get lost in their powerful sound, these lyrically abstract songs transmit warmth and healing. There’s a

is an exceptional addition to Yo La Tengo’s legacy, a timeless classic. (Matador, matadorrecords.com)