I listened to this today. (And I am trying out this "Branch" thing.) I am into it. It sounds like another YLT album, for sure, but there are some new elements in there, right?

What on earth is this branch thing?! Time to give this album a listener. Not sure how I feel about the decision to do the late-career Let John McEntire Shake Things Up album (see Teenage fanclub, Antibalas, others) but I suppose after like 20 years w/ their other producer a change might be a welcome thing. Shall report back.

Aha! At last I have found some kind of internet thing before Martin! I agree with the notable switch to McEntire. I'll listen again and see if I can form an opinion about that part of it.

I like the first track, "Ohm," a lot. It's not your average YLT, but it's definitely YLT. The guitar tone is different. It actually sounds like it could be Loose Fur (have you heard that?).

I'm only about 50% of the way through so it feels premature to comment yet (I'm going to listen through the rest of it now)... But a few things jump out. It feels at first listen like a well written album. I think the thing I get hung up on up front tend to be production things but I'm sure that'll fade... no pun intended.

But like the really dry miking of the drums. The amp hum. The fact that on a number of songs ira sounds like he's singing from inside your ear canal... It's got a lot of that Millions of Dollars Were Spent To Make This Sound Dirty thing going on but that's cool once you get past it.

I have to say that I DO like this Advance setup though. Neat to see the liner notes etc.

Cornelia and Jane would make a good addition to my "Yo La Tengo: Just The Purty Songs" playlist on spotify :) open.spotify.com (ok partially I just wanted to test out how this thing handles link posting :)

I would add "Black Flowers" to that list :)

youtube.com

Good call. Added. (oh and no, I haven't heard loose fur yet)

Loos Fur is cool. It's Jeff Tweedy and Jim O'Rourke's project. They made two albums. I'm sure it's on Spotify.