Overview
“I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One” is the eighth studio album by Yo La Tengo, an American indie rock band led by Ira Kaplan (lead vocals and backing vocals, guitar, keyboard) and Georgia Hubley (drums, lead and backing vocals, percussion, keyboard) and formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984.
Commentary
From the late 1980s to the 1990s, Yo La Tengo became known for their music that eclectically mixed feedback-driven noise pop and melodic dream pop under the influence of the Velvet Underground.
They became a trio after James McNew (bass, guitar, percussion, keyboard, lead and backing vocals) joined the band as the bass player in 1992.
“I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One” was released in 1997 by the independent record label Matador Records. It reached number 19 on the Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart.
The album is an indie rock masterpiece that was based on the style of melodic and dreamy guitar pop and synthesized the elements of a variety of music genres, such as folk, punk, noise pop, shoegaze, bossa nova, krautrock, and electronic music. It is widely regarded as the band’s best work.
“Little Honda” is a cover of the song by the Beach Boys.
“Center of Gravity” is a song in the bossa nova style.
“Spec Bebop” is a long instrumental track in the krautrock style.
“We’re an American Band” is a song in the psychedelic folk style.
“My Little Corner of the World” is a cover of the 1960 song composed by Lee Pockriss and recorded by Anita Bryant.
“Autumn Sweater”, “Sugarcube” and “Little Honda” were released as singles in 1997.
