Released - 6/28/10
Label - Modular Recordings
BLURB - After already delivering Miami Horror, Australia strikes yet again this year - giving us one of the most promising young rock bands I've ever heard in Tame Impala. Conjuring up psychedelic overtones, fuzzy 60's arena rock and subtle Brit-pop hooks, Tame Impala is already creating music that is wise beyond their years. The group has seemingly picked up the baton bands like Wolfmother and The Vines have dropped, and are sprinting through the labyrinth that is today's indie rock scene. "Innerspeaker" effortlessly bridges the gap between 2010 and 1960, revisiting the creative passion and musical exploration bands like Pink Floyd and The Beatles became known for.
Rating - 10 out of 10
FULL STORY - For the majority of the last decade, musical progression and evolution has been siphoned through wires, buttons and laptops. While there were certainly great strides in music, most of them were electronic. With "Innerspeaker," Tame Impala is earnestly trying to push music forward, but in their own organic manner, going against the 'do-it-yourself' electronic grain that has all but taken over the industry. The album itself is filled with lush colors and wandering themes that twist and turn throughout the record. The musicianship is unparalleled for a band that is in such a young stage of the career. Only enhancing their talent and creativity, is this tangible, raw and authentic passion that drives their tracks forward with force and absolute conviction. Listening to the album straight through is almost the only way to proceed with "Innerspeaker." Like a great classic rock station that just seems to be playing hit after hit, you keep finding ideas, concepts and motifs that re-surface, morphing into even richer tones and moods as you work your way deeper into the album
'It's Not Meant to Be' starts off in appropriate fashion, steadily adding hazy and psychedelic guitars until your head starts to spin. As the vocals prepare to come in, the guitars briefly drop out, and we hear the majesty that is Kevin Parker's voice. Sounding like the second coming of John Lennon, Parker's voice is intoxicatingly perfect for the music. There is an apathetic confidence and arrogance that gently floats along with each swirling guitar chord.
'Desire Be Desire Go' breaks through the dizzying, atmospheric tones of the opening track, shifting to some deserted highway where you're speeding with the windows down and the music blasting. The fuzzed-out guitars and massive waves of distortion only propel the song forward, creating great warmth and imagery. There is a naturally rebellious and youthful feel to 'Desire Be Desire Go' that reminds you of your first time listening to Jimi Hendrix.
The third track, 'Alter Ego' is another hallucinogenic trip of psychedelic reverb and screeching guitars that will freely roam through your speakers, being restrained by only the pace of the snare drum. The song spins and dances in circles, but never becomes too chaotic to bear, as the lyrics are presented as an introverted conversation, filled with echo and uncertainty:
"Said the voice from afar, don't you know it doesn't have to be so hard? Waiting for everyone else to agree might take too long. When it won't be so hard, it won't be so hard. Well it's true, yes, but you won't get far telling me that you are all you're meant to be, when the one from our dream is siting right next to me and I don't know what to do. Oh, alter ego."
One of the greatest components of "Innerspeaker" are the subtle and clever ways Tame Impala weaves hooks and melodies throughout their tracks. Both 'Lucidty' and 'Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?' are perfect examples. The tracks are both layered with sonic rock and exploration, but somehow they retain a pop sensibility that keeps their listeners' attention and focus. Much of this is done by assembling recurring guitar riffs and vocal lines that help guide you through their cloudy maze of progressive rock. This attention to detail and awareness allows their music to be extremely explorative and colorful without ever losing anyone along the way.
"Innerspeaker" also veers off on to several side streets throughout the record. There are several instrumentals that develop and nomadically travel through your headphones, feeling almost like you're listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." Moods and environments are constantly changing on 'Island Walking' as the track sends you down the rabbit hole. The song also has a Phish-like quality to it, while never getting too jammy or tired. The track also provides a nice change of pace on the album before returning to the anthemic fuzz rock of 'Jeremy's Storm.'
If there's one thing you can take away from this album, it's that despite what some say, the passion and free spirit of the 60's is still alive and well. From start to finish, "Innerspeaker" is one of those ingenious albums that has a great sense of accomplishment, diversity and fulfillment to it. However, it is unfortunate that something as original and epic as this would come out in 2010, an era that is constantly recycling music and changing tastes daily. You can't help but think...if it was 1967 and Tame Impala just debuted this record, they more than likely would have been well on their way to the way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Beatles, Hendrix and the rest of 'em.
Tracks
1.) It's Not Meant to Be
2.) Desire Be Desire Go
3.) Alter Ego
4.) Lucidity
5.) Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?
6.) Solitude is Bliss
7.) Island Walking
8.) Jeremy's Storm
9.) Exepectation
10.) The Bold Arrow of Time
11.) Runaway Houses City Clouds
12.) I Don't Really Mind
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