Where Does That Time Go Before Our Eyes

Yo La Tengo “Stupid Things”

This is a song about realizing that even the dullest moments of your life are precious, and recognizing the value of a longterm partner. Under normal circumstances, this would push my emotional buttons a bit, but knowing that this was almost certainly inspired by Ira Kaplan’s recent health issues, it’s even more intense. He sounds rattled but genuinely happy too, this calm voice in the center of a track that is both serene and oddly pulsing and sterile. The sound of it reminds me of the way a hospital can feel, with this uncomfortable clash of stillness and urgency.

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