Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics

One of the many things I've always loved about Yo La Tengo is their love of music in all of its forms. They've always seemed to be as big of music fans as the folks showing up at their shows. That zeal has always been prevalent during their annual fundraising effort for Jersey City's WFMU. If you've missed their WFMU performances in the past, you now can hear it for your self on their new album Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics.

Here's how they raised money for the cutting edge radio station. For a few hours each February, YLT would drag their equipment down to WFMU's studio. Donors would call the station and pledge money to get YLT to play various songs. If you donated less than $100, you could request a non-YLT cover. For $100 to $200, you could request a YLT song. For more than $200, you could request any song and play along with the band over the phone. Now, that's putting the fun in fundraising.

The thing that makes the shows so enjoyable is YLT's complete willingness to dive head first into any song regardless of how cooky, dorky or unknown it is. They'd treat "The Night Chicago Died" with the same respect as Iggy Pop's "Raw Power". They'd often screw the song up but they never take themselves too seriously.

The disc contains thirty tracks of various quality. However, the thing that keeps you smiling during the entire 66 minutes of music is that love for music that bubbles up throughout the songs.

The disc is available through Yo La Tengo's website.

Yo La Tengo | Tighten Up (Archie Bell)
Yo La Tengo | The Night Chicago Died (Paper Lace)
Yo La Tengo | Raw Power (Iggy Pop)
Yo La Tengo | Mama Told Me Not To Come (Three Dog Night)
Yo La Tengo | You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman Turner Overdrive)