Long the greatest cover band in the indie-rock world, Yo La Tengo’s live repertoire (and much of its recorded catalog) includes an exhaustive list of wonderful songs by other people, ranging from the Fall and the Grateful Dead to John Lennon and Captain Beefheart. Of course, Ira Kaplan has proven to be abundantly capable of writing his own agitated, intricate, and eclectic songs for the band, a tradition that continues on its latest release. Titled I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, it makes you wonder if there’s a specific person that this normally mild-mannered trio is addressing. There doesn’t seem to be any musical confrontation on the new album, however, as the band blurs pop’s boundaries by bringing in jazz, rock, country, and glorious ambient sounds. 612-332-1775; www.first-avenue.com”
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