2000's »And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out« is for sure an outsanding release in the band's oeuvre. It was recorded at Alex the Great in Nashville, Tennessee, and mixed at the Big House in Manhattan, New York City & produced by Roger Moutenot. The title is likely derived from a Sun Ra quote.

»And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out« marks a creative shift in Yo La Tengo"s songwriting with a greatly slower approach. The band continued to expand on their simplistic songwriting. Many songs on the album are ballads with very airy percussion and background noises. However, the guitars and bass provide a strong undertone of reverberation. The album also features an array of backing instruments such as vibraphone and drum machines, which all lend an expansion of musical textures and differentiation of timbre. Yo La Tengo delivered more subdued art pop songs on this album than on any other. However, their noise rock influence is also most present.