this song inspired me to buy a glass slide for my guitar.
if you’ve read any of my last posts, i’ve mentioned ‘lo-fi’ a lot. lo-fi, in alternative rock, is characterized by recording flaws, low-budget equipment, and a homely sound. yo la tengo isn’t really lo-fi, at least on this song. so why am i talking about this?
well, chances are you know the other definition of lo-fi. chill study music with hip hop beats. “Green Arrow” doesn’t have hip hop beats. but what it is is serene, relaxing summer bliss that’s just perfect to lie down and stare at the ceiling to.
yo la tengo is an indie rock band from hoboken, new jersey, formed by husband and wife ira kaplan (guitar/vocals) and georgia hubley (drums/vocals) in 1984. the name was taken from an anecdote told by a former center fielder for the new york mets, richie ashburn. yo la tengo is known for their experimental, diverse rock sound over the years and they’re considered a quintessential 90’s indie rock bands, like pavement.
“Green Arrow” has to be one of the best songs i’ve listened to lately. instead of a typical repetitive bass line or drum beat, it’s five minutes of kaplan’s dreamy slide guitar set to the beat of chirping crickets and faint percussion that sounds like a bunch of maracas. the guitar is meandering, slow, and almost appears to come in whenever it wants- but it’s gorgeously dreamy and beautiful. it’s also weirdly eclectic: it brings to mind folk rock, dream pop, and slowcore all at once without having to fit in to any of these genres. it hits just like a muggy summer night where you’re out stargazing.
i didn’t know what slide guitar was until i listened to the song and did some digging- “Green Arrow” had that smooth guitar tone i heard in “Junk Shop” by helvetia (another great song) and even some of built to spill. which, in a way, goes to demonstrate how yo la tengo had an influence on these two bands and on much of the indie rock/pop of the future.
