When a musician is able to convey a relatable feeling artistically, it considerably affects your attachment to that body of work. It makes everything seem more human. This is not a simple feat to accomplish and a void that electronic music will forever find very difficult to fill. Bands that are able to convey a specific emotion accurately are few and far between. As you can imagine, this varies from person to person, and sometimes it’s a timing thing. In Tame Impala’s sophomore release Lonerism, the idea of being alone flows consistently throughout. From the album cover having that “being on the outside looking in” feeling to the album’s final track Suns Coming Up, which touches on those sleepless or drug induced insomniac nights.
Theme of this album aside, it dives into the almost forgotten sounds of the psychedelic rock phases of the 60s and 70s. The phases that put an extra emphasis on getting lost in extended jam outs of live performances. With electronic production having a strong influence on the last half decade of music, this is a breath of fresh air. Where Tame Impala thrives is their near perfect balance of the advances in the electronic production of today and the classic rock vibes of artists a lot of us could never get enough of. I’m talking The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and the like.
What makes this album so great is how every track is unique in what it is trying to say while maintaining its commitment to balance and consistency. On a followup release, bands usually find themselves in a slump, but Tame Impala takes a leap forward in perfecting their style. It’s a fresh take on a timeless sound that’s off the beaten path of a lot of music coming out today. The fact of it being as relatable as it is will contribute to this album being a go-to for years to come. Now I’m really just looking forward to seeing their name pop on festival bills so more people can experience them live. Coachella, I’m looking at you.
Check the tracks and bonuses after the jump!
Tracklist
1. Be Above It
2. Endors Toi
3. Apocalypse Dreams
4. Mind Mischief
5. Music To Walk Home By
6. Why Won’t They Talk To Me?
7. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
8. Keep On Lying
9. Elephant
10. She Just Won t Believe Me
11. Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control
12. Sun’s Coming Up
BONUS
Led Zeppelin (iTunes Bonus Track)
Apocalypse Dreams (LIVE)
