16 artists like Yo La Tengo
Matched on how their catalogues actually move — measured intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood across 2 Yo La Tengo songs (averaging 23/100 intensity). Each one comes with the single song to start with.
Shares the same calm register and plays calmer overall (17/100). 51 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (26/100), with the same calm register running through 48 measured songs.
41 measured songs that keep the same calm register — averages almost the same intensity (21/100).
Shares the same warm register and runs hotter overall (38/100). 141 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (41/100), with the same contemplative register running through 89 measured songs.
64 measured songs that keep the same warm register — runs hotter overall (35/100).
Shares the same warm register and runs hotter overall (42/100). 62 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (39/100), with the same calm register running through 50 measured songs.
46 measured songs that keep the same warm register — runs hotter overall (39/100).
Shares the same calm register and runs hotter overall (33/100). 44 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (34/100), with the same contemplative register running through 44 measured songs.
43 measured songs that keep the same calm register — runs hotter overall (34/100).
Shares the same calm register and runs hotter overall (34/100). 43 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (40/100), with the same calm register running through 42 measured songs.
110 measured songs that keep the same contemplative register — runs hotter overall (50/100).
Frequently asked
What artists sound like Yo La Tengo?
The closest matches we measure are Enya, Kacey Musgraves, Mac DeMarco. Artists are matched by how their catalogs actually move — average intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood — across 2 measured Yo La Tengo songs, not by genre label or chart adjacency.
Which song should I start with?
Enya: “Dark Sky Island” (88% feel-match); Kacey Musgraves: “Simple Times” (88% feel-match); Mac DeMarco: “20191009 I Like Her” (88% feel-match). Each is that artist's single closest track to the Yo La Tengo centre of gravity, so it's the least jarring way in.
How intense is Yo La Tengo overall?
Across 2 measured songs, Yo La Tengo averages 23/100 on our intensity scale. Individual songs vary — see the full catalog breakdown on their artist page.
How do you decide two artists are similar?
Every song is measured on 8 dimensions (intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force, fine sound detail). We compare an artist's catalogue centre of gravity to every other artist's, then weight shared mood tags. Matches cross genre and era, because the measurements don't know what genre is.
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