There are many fantastic albums out already this year (Belle and Sebastian, Sonic Youth, My Latest Novel, The Pipettes and above all, Camera Obscura- see links to the right of this post to find their websites). There are many I have yet to hear – the disadvantage of no longer working in a record shop is that I simply don’t have the time to hear everything that comes out. However, even more than The Long Blondes album (according to this week’s NME it should be out sometime before the end of the year) the album I am most looking forward to hearing is the pride of Hoboken, NJ: Yo La Tengo’s ‘I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass.’ The cover art is at the top of this post, and there is a link to a track below. Matador have posted another track from the album called ‘Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind.’ This is ten minutes long -as is my favourite Yo La Tengo track ‘Space Bebop,’ from 1997’s ‘I Can Hear The Heart Beating as One.’

Yo La Tengo – ‘Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind.’ mp3

Like what you hear? Try these:

Yo La Tengo – ‘ Little Eyes.’ mp3 from Summer Sun

Yo La Tengo – ‘Saturday.’mp3 from ‘And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out.’

Can’t commit yourself to three new albums? Honestly. This is a good place to start if you’ve never bought a Yo La Tengo album