Yo La Tengo › Similar Artists

Galaxie 500 - 100% match to Yo La Tengo

Ex-Harvard College alumni Dean Wareham (1 August 1963, New Zealand; guitar/vocals), Naomi Yang (b. 15 September 1964, USA; bass/vocals) and Damon Krukowski (b. 6 September 1963, USA; drums) formed this band (named after an American Ford car of the 60s) in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Having released one track, ‘Obvious’, on a flexi-disc given away with the m Read more

Pavement - 99% match to Yo La Tengo

Darlings of the 90s US independent scene, Pavement were formed in 1989 in Stockton, California, USA, by college drop-outs Stephen Malkmus (30 May 1966, Santa Monica, California, USA; vocals/guitar) and Scott ‘Spiral Stairs’ Kannberg (guitar). Later they extended to a five-piece by adding Gary Young (b. 3 May 1954, Mamaroneck, New York, USA; percussion), a venerable Read more

Guided By Voices - 77% match to Yo La Tengo

From Dayton, Ohio, USA, Guided By Voices took several years to find favour with America’s alternative rock audience. Although consistently prolific, in truth, their initial obscurity had much to do with some unfulfilling early material that hardly predicted the comparative artistic grandeur of later albums such as 1994’s Bee Thousand and 1997’s Mag Earwhig!

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Sebadoh - 70% match to Yo La Tengo

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Sebadoh are led by Lou Barlow (Louis Knox Barlow, 17 July 1966, Dayton, Ohio, USA; vocals/guitar). Before his well-publicized partnership with J. Mascis in Dinosaur Jr, Barlow had also played guitar to Mascis’ drums in primal Boston hardcore group Deep Wound. However, as Dinosaur Jr worked their way out of the alternative/college roc Read more

Silver Jews - 67% match to Yo La Tengo

Silver Jews started off as essentially a vehicle for poet David Berman (4 January 1967, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA), with the backing of co-writers Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich from Pavement. The trio had first played together while studying at the University Of Virginia. The lo-fi ambience of two EPS, Dime Map Of The Reef (1990) and The Arizona Record (1992), preced Read more

Sonic Youth - 67% match to Yo La Tengo

A product of New York’s experimental ‘no-wave’ scene, Sonic Youth first recorded under the auspices of avant garde guitarist Glenn Branca. Thurston Moore (25 July 1958, Coral Gables, Florida, USA; guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (b. 3 February 1956, Glen Cove, New York, USA; guitar) performed together on Branca’s Symphony No. 1. With the addition of Kim Gordon (b Read more

Stereolab - 60% match to Yo La Tengo

From south London, England, Stereolab wear their John Cage and John Cale influences on their sleeves, but within a short time-span have amassed an impressive body of work. The principal mover is Tim Gane (12 July 1964, Barking, Essex, England; ex-McCarthy), who was at first joined by his girlfriend Laetitia Sadier (b. Paris, France), Martin Kean (ex-Chills) and Th’ Fait Read more

Superchunk - 60% match to Yo La Tengo

Superchunk, formed in North Carolina, USA, are an energetic, prolific pop punk band who faced first acclaim and then derision as a reaction to the number of Hüsker Dü -influenced outfits of that time. Laura Ballance (22 February 1968; bass), Jim Wilbur (b. 22 December 1966, New London, Connecticut, USA; guitar), Jon Wurster (b. 31 October 1966; drums) and Ralph
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Built To Spill - 59% match to Yo La Tengo

An alternative rock trio formed in Boise, Idaho, USA, Built To Spill developed a considerable reputation for their energetic performances, strong songwriting and frenetic musicianship for a variety of independent labels before making the move to Warner Brothers Records in the mid-90s. Long-standing fans were divided about this development, though most were pleased that this tal Read more

Deerhunter - 59% match to Yo La Tengo

Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2001 by Bradford Cox (1982, Athens, Georgia, USA; vocals) and Moses Archuleta (keyboards), the early line-up of this US art punk band also featured Justin Bosworth (b. 1980, d. 2004; bass) and Dan Walton (drums). Guitarist Colin Mee quickly replaced the latter, and with Archuleta doubling on drums the quartet recorded a split 7-inch vinyl singl Read more

Smog - 59% match to Yo La Tengo

The creation of Bill Callahan (Silver Springs, Maryland, USA) and an ever-changing cast of musicians, Smog are important pioneers of the lo-fi revival in American independent music during the early 90s, influencing acts as diverse as Pavement and Will Oldham’s Palace. Callahan’s albums are characterized by their sparse, often discordant instrumentation, and his sel Read more

My Bloody Valentine - 57% match to Yo La Tengo

It took several years for My Bloody Valentine to capture their groundbreaking hybrid of ethereal melodies and studio-orientated, discordant sounds that proved so influential on the independent scene of the late 80s. Their roots lay in Dublin, Eire, where guitarist Kevin Shields (21 May 1963, Queens, New York City, New York, USA) joined drummer Colm O’Ciosoig (b. 31 Octo Read more

Kurt Vile - 56% match to Yo La Tengo

Thurston Moore - 55% match to Yo La Tengo

The Magnetic Fields - 54% match to Yo La Tengo

The creation of Stephin Merritt (1966, USA), a singer-songwriter, keyboard and guitar player based in New York, Magnetic Fields have established a strong reputation on the US underground without ever achieving that success internationally, though Merritt remains a darling of critics worldwide. As a writer he is, if not unique, certainly unusual. The details of his dealings w Read more