Ride the Tiger (album) explained

Ride the Tiger
Type:	studio
Artist:	Yo La Tengo
Cover:	Ride the Tiger (album) cover.jpg
Released:	January 1986
Recorded:	December 1985 in Boston, United States
Length:	38:06
Label:	Coyote
Producer:	Clint Conley
Next Title:	New Wave Hot Dogs
Next Year:	1987

Ride the Tiger is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Yo La Tengo.^[1] It was released in 1986 by record label Coyote.^{[2] [3]}

Production

The album was produced by Mission of Burma's Clint Conley. Dave Schramm plays guitar on the album.^[4]

Content

The song "Big Sky" is a cover of The Kinks' song from their album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. The song "A House Is Not a Motel" is a cover of Love's song from their album Forever Changes.

Critical reception

The Washington Post called the album "unpretentious and emotionally convincing," writing that the band's "chief asset is not [Ira] Kaplan's flat, intimate vocals, but their guitars, which are finely textured and finely tuned to the moody, personal resonances of their songs."^[5] Trouser Press wrote that "it’s originals like 'The Cone of Silence' and 'The Forest Green' that make Ride the Tiger such a pleasure."^[6]

Personnel

Yo La Tengo

• Ira Kaplan – vocals, guitar
• Dave Schramm – guitar, vocals on "The Way Some People Die" and "Five Years"
• Mike Lewis – bass guitar
• Georgia Hubley – drums

Additional personnel

• David Bither – saxophone on "Screaming Dead Balloons"
• Mike Tchang – saxophone on "The River of Water"
• Chris Nelson – trombone on "The River of Water"
• Clint Conley – bass guitar on "The Forest Green," "The Empty Pool," and "Alrock's Bells"
• Dave Rick – bass guitar on "The River of Water" and "A House Is Not a Motel"

Technical

• Ken French – engineering

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ankeny. Jason. Yo La Tengo Biography & History. March 7, 2021. AllMusic.
2. Web site: Pinnock. Tom. August 28, 2020. Yo La Tengo: "Success gave us the courage to be weirder". March 7, 2021. Uncut.
3. News: June 25, 1986. SCOUTING; This Name Flies. The New York Times. March 7, 2021. 0362-4331.
4. Book: Taylor, Steve. The A to X of Alternative Music. September 27, 2006. A&C Black. 9780826482174. Google Books.
5. News: Sasfy. Joe. August 8, 1986. SOUNDS. The Washington Post. March 7, 2021. 0190-8286.
6. Web site: Schinder. Scott. Robbins. Ira. Pattyn. Jay. Yo La Tengo. March 7, 2021. Trouser Press.