Psychedelic music typically references an out-of-body experience. Dungen are masters of the genre, so were Cream and The Beatles, and all of these bands will certainly creep up as Innerspeaker massages your sense of hearing. Hell, even vocalist/guitarist Kevin Parker’s voice sounds so naturally close to John Lennon. But there’s more being explored here beyond the band’s peers, hallucinogenic panning and weed references. Themes of love and loss, crawling away from it and second-guessing the decisions that underlie break-ups are all laid out on the table.
“Everything you ever told me could have been a lie, we may never have been in love.” That’s the opening line from the syncopated and swift space-jam “Expectation“. Parker’s woes are growing tiresome as the song marches along, and even the aggressive drumming sounds like it’s pointing a finger at someone. We’ve all experienced these emotions — spending way too much time dissecting and over-analyzing the death of a relationship. But eventually we move on and use music as our escape. Tame Impala have simply created their own catchy vision of it.
Parker’s emotional sentiments are abundant from start to finish, but what lingers even more is Tame Impala’s engulfing sound and spellbinding use of effects. Lyrics are dipped in oceans of reverb and echo, the guitar riffs are memorable with pitch-shifting octaves that at times sound like trumpets crying, and the drumming…absolutely stellar. No hazy forgetfulness or sludgy studio mixes hiding poor tonality or average songwriting. Innerspeaker flows like one giant wave — optimistic, honest and free. This is modern-day classic rock and psych rolled into one cohesive album for a new generation of kids, and parents who won’t let go of their old Clapton records.
Taken from the band’s self-titled EP, “Desire Be, Desire Go” reminds us where the band started, but our introduction to these youngsters from Perth, Australia really begins with the following track “Alter Ego“. It’s the moment where Tame Impala leave Earth and introduce Innerspeaker’s signature multi-octave guitar leads. “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind” and the seven-minute trip “Runway, Houses, City, Clouds” both offer even more captivating examples by trading fuzzed out blues scales in favor of lazer-guided melodies. And finally, there’s the mind-blowing single “Solitude is Bliss”. Set against shuffling drums and swirling guitar chords, Parker’s delivery is consistently casual until that soaring chorus line hits, “You will never come close to how I feel”. It’s the most compelling moment on the entire album.
Formulas are often thought of as a crutch in music, but it can also set a template that educates and inspires us to dig deeper into an artist’s work. When you first listen to Innerspeaker it’s going to feel indulgent and formulaic at times. But ignore the stereotypes that psychedelic music can evoke and focus on the brilliant drumming and guitar solo work on “Expectation” or the simple fuzz-rock melodies on “Lucidity“. This is a band that directs your attention to the classics yet always sounds as if they’re moving into the future. words/ s mcdonald
MP3: Tame Impala :: Island Walking
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[...] See Also: Scott McDonald’s Tame Impala Review @ Aquarium Drunkard [...]
1 | Passion of the Weiss » Blog Archive » Frank and Beats: Tame Impala’s Blown Innerspeakers May 24th, 2010 at 1:42 pmGreat record, really stoked to see em next month (sidebar!).
I used to say/think that you could trace all music post-1968 to the White Album, it wasn’t the best but it was prolific enough that it influenced everyone. I was wrong though – Tame Impala proves that someone else thought Magical Mystery Tour was awesome.
2 | Kramer May 24th, 2010 at 5:32 pmgreat review! i’m really excited to see what their live show is like.
3 | aaron May 24th, 2010 at 8:58 pmThis album + something green = I get to have the 1970s youth I was always nostalgic for but could never find in contemporary music. Psych is my favorite thing ever right now!!
Kramer: Magical Mystery Tour (and I think Revolver and Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper) are better than the White Album; case in point- there are songs I have to skip through on the white (piggy song?)) Can’t wait to see Tame Impala in June!! (maybe you guys should raffle tickets off again?)
AWESOME review, both style and content-wise
4 | Megan Van Dyke May 25th, 2010 at 4:57 pmThis MP3 is NOT Solitude of Bliss.
5 | milk sum May 26th, 2010 at 6:17 am[...] “Psychedelic music typically references an out-of-body experience. Dungen are masters of the genre, so were Cream and The Beatles, and all of these bands will certainly creep up as Innerspeaker massages your sense of hearing. Hell, even vocalist/guitarist Kevin Parker’s voice sounds so naturally close to John Lennon. But there’s more being explored here beyond the band’s peers, hallucinogenic panning and weed references. Themes of love and loss, crawling away from it and second-guessing the decisions that underlie break-ups are all laid out on the table. “Everything you ever told me could have been a lie, we may never have been in love.” That’s the opening line from the syncopated and swift space-jam “Expectation“. Parker’s woes are growing tiresome as the song marches along, and even the aggressive drumming sounds like it’s pointing a finger at someone. We’ve all experienced these emotions — spending way too much time dissecting and over-analyzing the death of a relationship. But eventually we move on and use music as our escape. Tame Impala have simply created their own catchy vision of it. Parker’s emotional sentiments are abundant from start to finish, but what lingers even more is Tame Impala’s engulfing sound and spellbinding use of effects. Lyrics are dipped in oceans of reverb and echo, the guitar riffs are memorable with pitch-shifting octaves that at times sound like trumpets crying, and the drumming…absolutely stellar. No hazy forgetfulness or sludgy studio mixes hiding poor tonality or average songwriting. Innerspeaker flows like one giant wave — optimistic, honest and free. This is modern-day classic rock and psych rolled into one cohesive album for a new generation of kids, and parents who won’t let go of their old Clapton records. Taken from the band’s self-titled EP, “Desire Be, Desire Go” reminds us where the band started, but our introduction to these youngsters from Perth, Australia really begins with the following track “Alter Ego“. It’s the moment where Tame Impala leave Earth and introduce Innerspeaker’s signature multi-octave guitar leads. “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind” and the seven-minute trip “Runway, Houses, City, Clouds” both offer even more captivating examples by trading fuzzed out blues scales in favor of lazer-guided melodies. And finally, there’s the mind-blowing single “Solitude is Bliss”. Set against shuffling drums and swirling guitar chords, Parker’s delivery is consistently casual until that soaring chorus line hits, “You will never come close to how I feel”. It’s the most compelling moment on the entire album. Formulas are often thought of as a crutch in music, but it can also set a template that educates and inspires us to dig deeper into an artist’s work. When you first listen to Innerspeaker it’s going to feel indulgent and formulaic at times. But ignore the stereotypes that psychedelic music can evoke and focus on the brilliant drumming and guitar solo work on “Expectation” or the simple fuzz-rock melodies on “Lucidity“. This is a band that directs your attention to the classics yet always sounds as if they’re moving into the future” (aquariumdrunkard.com) [...]
6 | Tame Impala: Innerspeaker (2010) « The JangleBox May 27th, 2010 at 2:12 am[...] Aquarium Drunkard » Tame Impala :: Innerspeaker [...]
7 | How do u wire halo /angel eye headlights? | LED Angel Eyes May 30th, 2010 at 4:20 amThis mp3 is actually ‘Island Walking’, track 7 on the album Innerspeaker, the one that comes right after Solitude is Bliss.
8 | Joel May 30th, 2010 at 10:33 am[...] While I unfortunately don’t have much time to keep reviewing this right now, I’ll let Aquarium Drunkard speak for me: Taken from the band’s self-titled EP, “Desire Be, Desire Go” reminds us where [...]
9 | Tame Impala – InnerSpeaker :: Indie Shuffle May 31st, 2010 at 11:39 pmgreat review – one of my favorites of the last year or so. And Solitude Is Bliss is probably my favorite single in a very, very long while. Perfect song.
10 | Kahron June 1st, 2010 at 3:41 amWhy is this record so hard to find?
11 | Shawn Morones June 6th, 2010 at 4:01 pmThe album is only available by import right now, but the U.S. release date is set for tomorrow (June 8th) via Modular Recordings.
12 | Scott June 7th, 2010 at 4:04 amJune 8th is the release date but I can’t find anywhere to even order it without international shipping. Anyone?
13 | BH June 7th, 2010 at 11:57 amI’m having the same trouble. It’s not even available at Insound.
14 | Scott M. June 8th, 2010 at 2:11 pmThe mp3 above is not on the Australian CD release… I think it’s an itunes bonus track. so cheers. killer album, shame it’s a winter release in the souf hemisphere!
15 | mattt June 8th, 2010 at 9:29 pmi’d like to know if the magic of this Lp is intact, alight on stage. Or do they shadow their limited skills by a cloud of noise.
16 | IGOR D'HOSSEGOR June 10th, 2010 at 11:09 amSeems as though the US release of Innerspeaker never happened. As of 6/17 Amoeba does not have it, nor is it even slated to appear on shelves this month. Amazon doesn’t even have it (they have only the Australian release) Anyone know why this is?
17 | J Quimby June 17th, 2010 at 7:09 pmWell they really can bring the magic to the stage. It’s flying between clouds from the first to last song! http://yourstru.ly/2010/06/14/tame-impala-solitude-is-bliss/ is a live preformance!
18 | Jency September 3rd, 2010 at 2:29 amI have these guys on high rotation. As in every day I listen to them.
Smacks of early floyd, another Aussie band called Tumbleweed and every other bit of music Iove. Good guys, great music.
Embrace it, they’re freaking awesome!
19 | Benno September 19th, 2010 at 11:13 am[...] Tame Impala – “Innerspeaker” I already gave a preview of this band awhile back (HERE), but it’s the full length that gets a mention on list this. A full length that unfortunately is STILL unavailable in the US, so you’ll have to use your imagination on how to get a hold of it. [...]
20 | The Best Albums of 2010… « ToeZoo December 3rd, 2010 at 1:15 pm