"Painful" is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Yo La Tengo, released in 1993 by Matador Records, marking their first release with the label.
The album represents a creative shift for the band, blending atmospheric and ambient sounds with their signature noise jams. Painful features a more melody-driven approach, characterized by hazy, dream-like songwriting.
One of the standout tracks, "Big Day Coming," appears in two versions on the album, showcasing Yo La Tengo's diverse musical styles. The first version features a simple organ melody with a soft bass counterpoint and guitar feedback, while the second version adopts a more straightforward shoegaze style, complete with an organ solo toward the end.
On December 2, 2014, Painful was reissued as Extra Painful, which included bonus material and was made available on double CD, double vinyl, and as a digital download.
