Jad Fair & Yo La Tengo...Strange But True

Now, when this CD was first mentioned, it seemed like a match made in some perfect musical universe, where talent and integrity triumphed over mediocrity. Either that or a match made at an inexpensive studio in Hoboken, NJ. Whichever is more romantic sounding.

I was really looking forward to hearing the outcome of the two mid-90s sessions between these musical geniuses. By the way, one can never over praise Jad Fair and/or Yo La Tengo. I'm not being saracastic, either. But I digress. The only thing officially released was that one super-groovy track on the "Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo" two-CD set from a few years back. So, again, expectations were high.

And then the initial reviews came in...Reviews that made me less excited to hear this record. If you haven't read them, well, first off, consider yourself lucky. But they basically said that these tracks had remained unrealeased for so long for a reason. They were not up to the standards of any of the artists involved.

So I waited about three or four months to buy this record. In all honesty, I waited the first two months simply because I couldn't find the CD anywhere. But then it showed up in Border's. I passed it up more than once, but then, a few weeks ago, I finally took the plunge and bought the damned thing. And then I took the deeper plunge and listened to it.

My opinion?

It's a fun record. You shouldn't approach this as you would a new YLT record (which is precisely what some of the critics did), nor should you even approach it as you would one of the seemingly-endless Jad Fair releases (which is what precisely what some of the critics did). Again, it's a FUN record. And you know what? Sometimes that what people need to listen to, whether they know it or not.

I will say unabashedly that I really really like this record. And don't be surprised if it shows up on my Best Of The Year list, either. Because sometimes I need to hear "Texas Man Abducted By Aliens For Outer-Space Joyride". I'm not saying this record is for everyone, I'm just saying that, for those whom it may appeal to, it makes one's problems seem a little smaller, if just for the scant forty-odd minutes the twenty-two tracks play. (Matador Records, 625 Broadway NYC 10012)

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Michael Keegan
4.7.1999