2. Painful (1993): Painful is Yo La Tengo's first in a highly fruitful series of collaborations with producer Roger Moutenot and the first instance of the band at the peak of their powers. Top-notch songwriting throughout combines with daring soundscapes, which commingle the gentle and abrasive in ways that have little precedent. Stripping back the full-on noise assault of May I Sing With Me, this is a great ...