Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs 1985-2003 [3 disc]
What's the meaning of this double-disc anthology? Literalists will note that it's calledPrisoners of Love, and while songs like "Our Way to Fall" and "The Summer" are pretty enough little ditties, neither "Drug Test" nor their cover of Sun Ra's "Nuclear War" are liable to be featured in a Meg Ryan romance anytime soon. Those handy with a calendar will note that the album was released to coincide with the band's twentieth anniversary, and while it's not explicitly stated anywhere on the cover, this is most likely the reason for this lovely little mix tape of the best band to ever spring forth from the Garden State. They may have the snobbiest record collections around, but Yo La Tengo's dreamy drones, garage funk, country pop and wailing jams somehow comprise the most utterly compelling and literate pop music of the past two decades. Don't believe me? Dude, just press play. This version includes a separate bonus disc with unreleased demo and acoustic versions of songs as well as limited-edition 7" and EP tracks, including Kevin Shields' brillian remix of "Autumn Sweater."--Mike McGonigal