Tame Impala - Innerspeaker (Modular)

The 1960s are definitely my favorite era of music; progression of avant-garde jazz, pure psychedelia and so many innovative artist emerged and created so many culture phenomenons. The four piece Austrian band Tame Impala's debut Innerspeaker explores everything that is psychedelic rock. But indeed psychedelic rock is a very broad genre. You could say that nearly all rock in the '60s was some kind of form of psychedelia. I think the most accurate comparison that you could make with a '60s artist to Tame Impala is along the sound of The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, The Doors, etc.

Though psychedelic rock is probably my favorite genre of music and is just candy to my ears, Tame Impala recycles the same sounds over and over creating very dragging elements. The first three tracks are very catchy and have excellent hooks. "It's Not Meant To Be" is a fantastic intro that introduces the dreamy psych that the band recycles throughout the whole album. "Desire Be Desire Go" offers a very heavy motown guitar riff that carries throughout the entirety of the track. "Alter Ego" is a very progressive psych thriller that is probably the highlight of the album with very distorted guitar solos and driving drums.

Tame Impala's lead singer Kevin Paker has a very close vocal similarity with John Lennon. Which can make it seem like you're listening to the psychedelic sessions of Yoko Ono and John Lennon. "Solitude In Bliss" has a very happy Stone Roses feel. "Runaway, Houses, City, Clouds" has a very epic synthesizer solo that seems to float on top of the trippy guitar chords that create a very tense eerie feel that can sum up the whole album in one.

Though Tame Impala debut is a very fun and nostalgic album that draws heavy influence from my favorite age of music, Innerspeaker lacks at crucial points. You think it's going to pick up and get even more exciting then before, but it disappoints. The music they bring isn't anything but more like a recap of the acid trips hippies had in their vans at Woodstock, but then again psychedelia is pretty recycled and there is really nothing more you can do with psychedelic rock music. Innerspeaker is still a pretty good listen if you're in the mode for nostalgia.

Overall: 7.0/10

Track Listing:

1. It's Not Meant To Be - 8.5 *
2. Desire Be Desire Go - 7.5 *
3. Alter Ego - 8.5 *
4. Lucidity - 7.5
5. Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind? - 5.5
6. Solitude Is Bliss - 7.0
7. Jeremy's Storm - 6.0
8. Expectations - 6.0
9. Bold Arrow of Love - 6.5
10. Runaway, Houses, City, Clouds - 8.0 *
11. I Don't Really Mind - 6.5

* - Notable Track

Sample:

"Solitude Is Bliss"