Critics’ new favorite band Tame Impala are becoming one of the most successful alternative acts of our time. They also have one album that I am a huge fan of. It is called Lonerism. I also appreciated their perpetual escapism and 1967-vibe on Currents, but their previous album is the one that makes my heart trip. Influences of this band are pretty diverse: Lennon, The Byrds, Blue Cheer, Cream, Jesus and Marry Chain, waltz, piano landscapes worth of Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips, etc. Australian psychedelic pot is boiling!
On Lonerism, the lead singer Kevin Parker balances between Lennon-like powerhouse vocal and Brian Wilson’s falsetto. It sounds dreamy, vulnerable and occasionally stoned. Drums, echo and distortions are everything one psychedelic album needs to have. What makes Lonerism attractive is that the guys did not kill for the perfect sound. It is not overly produced like its follow-up. Their focus was on the strong songs here. The only shaky track is the intro She Just Don’t Believe In Me. I think Tame Impala were aspiring to create something in the manner of Smiley Smile, an outstanding Beach Boys album. It might be the only time that they did not succeed to articulate their artistic vision
Everything else is close to perfect. Be Above It and Keep On Lying are modern anthems for all Woodstock hippies who like to eat shrooms and smoke pot. Elephant enchants with its noise while piano waltz in Sun’s Coming Up makes you want to be lazy for the rest of your life.
Let’s just hope Tame Impala do not become predictable.
