Tame Impala
Lonerism
Modular

Tame Impala’s Lonerism is one of the most gorgeous sounding modern rock records of recent memory.  It’s progressive, psychedelic rock both in the sense that it marries ace musicianship with druggy sound collages, and in the sense that it furthers the possibilities of what can be done within in the framework of psychedelic rock.  It’s also, the rare rock record that earns all of its accolades.  You will be impressed by this record.  And, yet, after fifteen minutes of so much twiddling and so much fluttering, and a falsetto from a vocalist afraid of coming within fifteen feet of a basic melody, my ears have become weary.  There’s hardly a hook to hang my head upon.  It’s a similar problem I have with the Swedish, psychedelic rock band, Dungen.  Damn, are those dudes talented.  And damn, what I would give for a song.  Or something to get on the same mental plane. Or a curry.  At least when the Flaming Lips venture off into weirdo world, they return to earth every so often with the gift of a startling pop song, thereby increasing the accessibility of things inherently strange.  It’s a lesson Tame Impala would do well to learn.  6 out of 10 on The Rockometer.

VIDEO: Tame Impala – Elephant