Recommending Fakebook as the best place to begin a relationship with
Yo La Tengo is slightly disingenuous, mainly because Yo La Tengo has never
made another record like it, and perhaps never will. So, as completely
wonderful as this record is (and believe me, it is), it's an accurate
representation of one side of Yo La Tengo, and assuming that everything
sounds like Fakebook might be disappointing. A collection of cover songs
that lean toward the idiosyncratic (e.g., Peter Stampfel, Daniel Johnston,
Jad Fair), Fakebook is warm, low-key and lovely, with heartfelt singing
and playing that never flags after hundreds of replays. It's impossible
to imagine playing this record and not smiling and singing along. A big
bonus is a great version of The Flamin' Groovies "You Tore Me Down."
(by John Dougan, AMG)