In a time with prominent psychedelic
pop groups such as MGMT, Animal Collective and The Flaming Lips, it would appear that there is no more room in the genre for another band. Australia’s Tame Impala begs to differ; their sophomore effort Lonerism is a fine addition to the genre.
Band member Kevin Parker handled
most of the recording for the album, and his musical prowess is immediately evident. Harmonious synthesizers, powerful guitars and lush vocals layer the songs. His strength as a multi-instrumentalist allows him to create an album that is entirely his vision, and it definitely
shows.
No song really stands out on the album; it all flows together as one cohesive unit. It is meant to be listened to in one sitting, track by track. This is a refreshing change compared to most music these days, which is dominated by singles.
Some songs in the psychedelic
haze are better than others, especially “Be Above It,” “Why Won’t They Talk to Me?” and “Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Can Control.”
The vocals are usually difficult to hear on the album, buried in the mix by the other instruments. Parker uses his voice more as an instrument or simply for atmosphere
rather than to say anything important, and it really aids the psychedelic feel of the album. His voice is fantastic, sounding almost
exactly like John Lennon in some songs.
Lonerism is clearly inspired by Revolver-era Beatles, but it adds enough new ideas to stand up on its own. Those who enjoy the Beatles’ psychedelic phase or those who love psychedelic rock in general will definitely love this album. Lonerism is currently one of the best albums of 2012.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025