Reissue des 1993er-Albums der US-Band mit vielen Extras.
1993 erschien das sechste Studioalbum der amerikanischen Indierockband Yo La Tengo. »Painful« markierte eine stilistische Wende in der Geschichte der 1984 gegründeten Gruppe aus Hoboken, New Jersey.
Atmosphärische Ambient-Sounds vermischen sich mit Ira Kaplans berüchtigten Feedback-Noise-Schleifen. Gleichzeitig ist »Painful« eine noch weitere Öffnung Richtung Melodie und Songwriting.
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.
(by Stephen Thomas Erlewin, All Music Guide)