Painful

Yo La Tengo has released several fine albums before, but only Painful encapsulates their folky guitar experimentalism perfectly. Alternating between dreamy Velvet Underground-style ballads and raving, Sonic Youth guitar squalls, Painful also finds the group improving their songwriting skills immeasurably. Before, they relied on soundscapes; now, the sound fleshes out their songs, from the trance-like Nowhere Near to the dense From a Motel 6 and the two versions of Big Day Coming, which cover both ends of the spectrum. A subtly addicting album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide