Yo La Tengo are a music lover’s ideal band. Over their nearly thirty years as a group (though only about 20 with the current lineup), Ira Kaplan, James McNew, and Georgia Hubley have covered everything from extended noise jams to hushed lullabies to funk, and everything in between. The band have made multiple critically acclaimed records, such as 1997’s breakout “I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One,” which sounds like a mixtape but is in fact just three musicians, 2000’s quiet yet awe inspiring “And Then Nothing Turned Inside Out,” and most recently 2013’s “Fade,” a short record by Yo La Tengo terms that reflects on mature themes such as mortality and aging.           

From albums to soundtracks to a multitude of covers, YLT have covered an enormous amount of ground in their time together. And while the band’s sound is constantly evolving, you can always count on finding Ira’s squealing guitar, Georgia’s smooth and rich vocals, and James’s spot on bass lines within every record they produce. And while the band never exploded into the spotlight, the niche they have carved themselves suits them just fine; here’s to another twenty years.