Yo La Tengo - Fade

Rock nerds Yo La Tengo released Fade in 2013, and it sees them well into their 'comfortable' phase.  Ohm opens the album with a repeating guitar figure that the band chant lyrics such as "resist and move on" as the music gradually gets rockier.  Is That Enough is equal parts quiet Lou Reed along with a soulboy chorus, complete with strings. 

As alluded to earlier, Yo La Tengo's noisier side is mainly in the past, though Paddle Forward has a decent set of fuzzy guitars.  But the album consists mainly of understated, gentle rockers such as Stupid Things and I'll Be Around.  Cornelia and Jane, and final track Before We Run feature horns, and some of the grandeur of parts of The National's back catalogue.  The quiet, creeping Two Trains is the most stripped-down track here, allowing plenty of room for Ira Kaplan's voice to breathe.  The track also features some exquisitely downbeat "do doos".  The Point of It is a late highlight, with a gorgeously low key clean guitar part.

It's all very tasteful with only the very poppy Well You Better being a little too much for this writer's ears.  A low-key delight.