Tame Impala

Currents is Tame Impala's third full album and if you aren't ready for change Mike Huckabee, you best look away.

But perhaps 'change' is too drastic of a description.

Currents is more of an evolution. As we all should know, Tame Impala came into the the game as some sandlewood-infused-progressive-psych-rockers from Australia with Inner Speaker, an album that is as mind altering as it's kaleidoscoped cover art.

and then they released Lonerism....which I'd still consider a rock album, but more electronic elements were introduced.

AND THEN last year Tame Impala's bassist Nick 'Paisley Adams' Allbrook left the group and Cam Avery from Pond replaced him. Normally, I wouldn't mention this change because who cares about bassists? amiright? BUT I really loved Nick Allbrook because a) his paleness made me feel tan, even in the dead of winter b) he had an amazing nickname and c) he really laid down some killer lllllllllicks. #respect

*side note: Cam Avery and Nick Allbrook had a side project called Allbrook/Avery a couple of years ago and released this video that we reviewed. Highly recommended.

So here we are with a new album titled Currents that is even more electronic, less rocky, and equally as psychedelic. Tame Impala has wedged its way into a new genre of indie music; its demographic consists of young adults who eat full boxes of girl scout cookies in one sitting, frequently participate in treasure hunt raves that lead them to the fun house trailer of the latest visiting carnival, take showers with watering cans rigged by pulley systems, and instead of fist bumps, they greet each by touching wiggling finger tips.

I've enlisted Del to help me express my gratitude for this album.

How are you doing Del? (wiggling finger tip touch)

Del: No touching! How many court orders will it take!? Seriously though hit the road with Nick Allbrook. Nobody needs ya. Especially not Kevin Parker. He is The Tames. A mighty river of musical mastery. There is no one else. Their surreal soundscapes are shaped solely by his ear and brain. Everyone else in the band are glorified Monkees. If anyone got into big Kev's brain and had a guiding hand in the making of Currents it is Mark Ronson. Their time together on Uptown Special seeped into the newest Tame Impala album to create a Frankenstein's monster of pop prog rocky psychedelia, the likes of which have never been seen.

Having said all that I have to admit the lead single, 'Let It Happen', had me terrified beyond words. How could the album ever live up to such lofty expectations? That track build up beats for seven minutes and had all of our ears spinning around like a middle school swirly bully session. It screamed for The Hood Internet's attention. It pleaded for repeat listens. We were all too willing to abide. But at what cost? Would there be a hangover? Or would the rest of the album have a drunk ass song shampoo effect? I know my answer.

What's yours Tom?

Tom: I didn't hear any of the pre-released tracks at the time Tame Impala pre-released them. My first time came in the back of my parent's Kia Sedona last week. The humidity was high and I was excited but nervous.

AND I promise you that I'm not exaggerating when I say: I re-listened to parts of 'Let It Happen' FOUR times before I could even make it to the 2nd track.I was like Jason Biggs with the foreign exchange student in American Pie.

I kept rewinding back to around the 4.30 mark because I couldn't wrap my head around what the Fuck they were doing. As you mention, the beat that builds is the fucking fuzzy balls dangling from my rearview mirror, but for a minute in that song you experience the 'missing time phenomena' that only that UFO abductees describe. At around the 4.00 mark it sounds like the CD is skipping, the next minute disappears, and all the sudden you are dancing in a black lit room with glow in the dark Ray Bans.

The way the drums subtly transition into a dance beat is in-fucking-sane. The rhythm of the keys parallels the drum beat and creates a diversion...it yells HEY BIFF LOOK OVER THERE....the misdirection lasts just long enough for the drums to come in and kick you in the throat with some dancing shoes.

This is arguably the best song of the year. But you are asking if I had a hangover after 'Let It Happen'? My answer is a confident: Fuck NO. This was just the start.

Del: Del says: Fuck no indeed. I was just asking for a friend.

That seven minute opening opus fried my brain and had me Dreyfussing over the Currents drop date. I expected so many great things from this album and it totally delivered. What I didn't expect was for it to have the best break up song of 2015. I mean, I guess when their previous album is called Lonerism you should get hip to the core message behind all the music, but even still man does "Eventually" hit a nerve. Mostly because it feels like such a self serving send off ballet. Kevin Parker might be a selfish bastard and I can totally relate to that. Solitude is bliss, only after you've been through some unhappy times together. I feel like he's writing break up music for Wayne Coyne. Wanye Coyne should probably be mining his feelings to create something as grandiose as Currents after his divorce instead of having three ways with Miley Cyrus. Speculation I know yee well!

So I already dropped DNA crumbs (no black-lights needed) on Mark Ronson and The Flaming Lips in this hodgepodge... is there anyone else you hear here? Ariel Pink on "Disciples" you say? Hear Here!

The growth, whether it was borrowed or learned, of the Tame is so fucking phenomenal and fascinating to listen to from release to release.. It raises a question that demands answering...well two questions really:

Why is Del asking so many fucking questions.
What band in the last 20 years have managed to handily best their first two albums with their third release so impressively as Tame Impala has done here with Currents?
Take a minute and think it over.

Tom: I'll refrain from making comparisons to other bands because it pigeon holes Tame Impala and NOBODY puts baby in a corner. I'm completely satisfied just listening and knowing that nothing much that is out there today sounds like Currents.

And you are asking way too many questions. But I'll humor you and acknowledge that not many bands top their greatness on a third album. Conquering this feat almost ensures longevity in the present day music biz. Tame Impala is joining some distinguished company; off the top of my head I'll list artists like Beck, Wilco, Spoon, Kanye, Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Coldplay (Fuck you for judging me; if people would stop being so pretentious they'd realize the greatness of X&Y), etc. etc.

Now that I'm done answering your questions I'll get back, specifically, to the album we are supposed to be writing about. You nailed your description for 'Eventually', that is one of my favorite tracks on the album because it's vulnerable, but at the same time Parker is brushing the relationship off his shoulder like the cool cat he is. But is playing it cool a facade? (I guess wi'll have to ask Parker if he ever lowers himself to our level and agrees to an interview.)

This vulnerability also appears on some other tracks; specifically 'Cause I'm A Man'. Oh lord, this song makes my grundle sweat. Not only does the smooth synth set the scene of some shady 80's lounge, Parker blurts out lines like "Saying sorry ain't as good as saying why, But it buys me a little more time" and "My weakness is the source of all my pride, I'll tell you why: Cause I'm a man, woman". This song plays like a laundry list of his flaws; it is eerily similar in content to Father John Misty's 'The Ideal Husband'. AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE ME SOME FJM.

And then there is 'The Less I Know The Better' who's catchy riff sorta makes it the 'Elephant' of Currents. There is 'New Person, Same Old Mistakes' that has a repeating melody that plays throughout most of the song like a wheel stuck in a rut. There is 'The Moment,' a song that borrows some of that mind-tricking glitchiness and phasing from 'Let It Happen' and has a killer chorus.

And Del, I must say that I think you are way over the top with your Kevin Parker fellating. Sure he is the leader of Tame Impala and primary song writer, but I'm not sure these songs come together they way they do without the other guys. I mean, have you listened to the fucking drums on this album? The synth? Have you????

You are a piece of shit Del.

Del: So much anger yo! Don't hate on me, Tommy you zingball wizard. Hate on Wikipedia. They are the ones that back up the claim that Kevin Parker plays all instruments on almost all the recordings...and if history has proved one thing it's that the internet is never wrong! But i digress. Shouldn't our true focus not be who is a piece a shit or who played what but that this album is just about the greatest thing to spin around in our collective brain space in quite some time.

I think we can both agree that there's something special about how each track can be its own little thing, totally separate from everything else, but then it also feels oddly cohesive. Pretty much it operates as a well oiled machine but it doesn't need to. That's a very hard trick to pull off. Each track is its own little island. The album's plan of attack is so obvious now. It is systemically leapfrogging one track at a time till the songs have reached the mainland and the mainline of your god damn brain. God I love this fucking album to pieces. It has conquered me. Hard.

Hey you mentioned Father John Misty. Cool. Which reminds me Tame Impala will be playing Hollywood Forever (Yes Tom this a real place that existed BFJM) on August 6th and 7th and I have tickets. This is not a bragging stick it to ya factoid mind you. No you see my twin bro bro will be in town then with his wife and kids and I will have a dilemma on my hands. Do I consider to continue being a bastard uncle and revel in the booze (BYOB!) and Currents or do I spent quality time with the family? I know what kind of calls I've made in the past.

They say people never change, but that's bullshit, they do. #relevant! Ya see, Tommy this fucking album has dug into my core being. Once it got through all the layers of shit.

Tom: Damn it! Bested by Wikipedia once again. Those internet facts are pesky things. You are still a piece of shit though.

Okay, let's lay it all on the line. On a love scale of 1-10 where 1 is pouring a bowl of Lucky Charms and only marshmallows come out and 10 is running on the treadmill behind Jessica Alba's treadmill where are you at?

I think Currents deserves my second 10 star rating of 2015. It's up with Father John Misty because I love self deprecation. It makes me feel better about myself.

Del: 10. cosigned. Now can we go back to the start with Let it Happen already? I just got some new headphones and I need that ringing in my head.