The Year in Music #5: Yo La Tengo - Fade

This January release was the year's earliest contender for the top spot. It remained there for about three months, but was eventually overtaken by four albums, three of which just as easily could've been #1. But, we'll get to that later.

Yo La Tengo is one of those bands I've always had a great deal of respect for, and whose music I've appreciated, but by whom there's never been an album I've loved until now. 

Earlier this year, I called this record Yo La Tengo's Luna phase, while the less accessible parts of their back catalog was their Galaxie 500 period. I'm standing by that assessment, and here's the best evidence.