Never heard of him. But wow, listening to Patience right now. Amazing.
10
He sounds soooo much like Al Stewart (the year of the cat) I thought he must be his son!
Love everything that he does. Love the psych, love the soul, love the disco-y stuff. Love his voice too.
7
Kevin has consistently shown growth and maturation through his songwriting. I was instantly hooked with the debut of 'Innerspeaker', and continued to be amazed with his sonic progress. This article shows great insight into the patient songwriting process of a musical genius.
6
Great article about a great band & musician, thank you!
I'd also like to second Anita - it would be fantastic if you could credit mural artist Graeme Miles Richards for the backdrop artwork. A lot of people know how hard Graeme always works and particularly how much effort and TLC he put into this mural. Plus, it's just good form. Thanks again!
6
Great article Graham. This photograph is taken in Fremantle Western Australia and the mural in the backdrop has been painted by artist Graeme Miles Richards. It would be wonderful to credit him in the photo. From a Freo local.
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To the negative-Nellies here...he’s “...Just growin' up in stages...”
4
Tame Impala changed my life forever. When I listen to Tame Impala, I feel better, best drug ever I would say...no one informed me that such music can cause electric shock and emit such positive vibes...
Kevin Parker is so talented, so inspiring, one of the coolest artists I'd really like to meet. I'm going to see them performing for the first time that summer, so eager !!! Last thing, let me tell you something : Tame Impala is my most beautiful and precious discovery...
14
I have not been this over the top about a band in decades. I’ve seen them live twice and it’s the most fun...singing and dancing!
I’m a baby-boomer and they hit me like some of my favorite bands...it lifts me...it’s truly therapeutic!
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@Abbott Cane
Ditto!
3
For the past 6 years or so, my daughter has been pushing me to listen to Tame Impala and I was like yeah, yeah, they're pretty good, he sounds like John Lennon. Then I saw them in concert here in Oakland last year. I'm hooked and more than a little obsessed. Kevin's music is so personal and ethereal - I have a new favorite song every week. Music has always been a huge part of my life. I hear an old song from my younger days - Beatles, Pink Floyd - and it makes me smile and lifts my spirits. Kevin's music does the same for me. It makes me so happy.
My daughter thinks I'm a bit over the top now with my love for Tame Impala. I tell her that she's had the past 6 years to discover and love the music and I'm just delving into it now. Mind Mischief ranks up there with my most favorite songs of all time.
11
@Gay Chiappetta
Hey!! I have been on you too about how great TI is too...!! Haha!
5
Thanks Mr. Pareles for the article about this brilliant musical wizard.
Always appreciate your music writing; well done.
Most of us fans of Mr. Parker are waiting patiently (barely) for the rest of the next new album.
Tame Impala music is my antidote for 45's daily horror show.
--Elwood P.
5
Can't stop listening to Patience. Been on loop for almost a month. The best.
9
I agree, @Nic. I think it is a very sophisticated tune. It always uplifts me.
4
"Patience" is a really poorly made production and song. Would have benefitted from someone who could actually play keys.
5
@Myrtle Markle that's interesting cause I don't know music very well and as a long time Tame fan, that song hits me so hard. Love it. Guess sometimes bad songs rule.
3
@Nic
Or maybe there's no accounting for taste.
@Myrtle Markle which goes both ways...
@Nic loving Patience as well, seems to hit all the right notes...
Music taste is subjective, thankfully, there's plenty of options to go around.
11
This sounds like what would happen if you loaded all the data about post-2000 pop into a supercomputer and asked it to produce a song. Auto-tune √. Beat detective √. Swirls upon swirls of synthetic sounds √. Designed with MDMA in mind √. In its own way, this is as "music-less" as the other two scourges of popular music, rap and hip-hop. Call me what you will, but there is something about real people making real music that appeals to me in ways that this never can and never will.
5
@TyroneShoelaces listen to the first two albums, and the 10" from those days, if you can find it. He channels some of the greats from an era of "real music," from Cream to the Beatles. And he shreds at every instrument. Currents is good in its own way, and so far I don't care for the first single from the upcoming album, but he's definitely a musician in the traditional sense of the word. Caught him live a couple times a few years back, and he and his touring band deliver.
11
Agree with most of the comments - Tame Impala is the textbook case of a band entering precipitous decline once they receive mainstream attention. Currents was a massive step down from their earlier albums, and the new songs are somehow even worse.
3
Currents is one of the best albums, in any genre, of the last decade. The production is like nothing Parker's done before, it's truly a majestic work of art.
The two new songs, however, are oddly lifeless, mid-tempo tracks with bland lyrics that are dunked back into the fuzzy production that pre-dated Currents. Here's hoping they're anomalies and that the whole album fares better.
3
@Todd
Disagree 100%.
Currents was boring. Lonerism is a masterpiece from start to finish, Innerspeaker is pretty good.
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@asdfj
I agree with you almost completely. Loved "Lonerism" and was slightly underwhelmed by the followup.
4
@Todd Agree! I LOVE Currents. I listen to it all the time. Really all the time. He expresses emotions of longing for someone other than your beau so well. It's so honest and sounds truly beautiful. Very different than Lonerism- more pop. I loved Lonerism, too. It just has a radically different feel. Both the lyrics are so so good. The new song "Patience" is not really my thing, though, sadly
2
"Borderline" alone makes me think this next album is going to be really solid. Can't wait. Hope they tour some non-Madison Square Garden sized venues.
2
I'm really glad I saw Tame Impala perform at Radio City in 2015. Awesome show!
2
I only know one Tame Impala song, from a car commercial, but it's got a great intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFptt7Cargc
2
The first two albums are awesome headphone music. I hope he can recapture the vibe.
Can't wait Parker!
Good on ya mate!
6
His first couple of albums/EPs (Innerspeaker, Lonerism) were great as a breath of new millennium fresh air into the psychedelic rock space. But his newer stuff ("Currents") is electronic dance music that strays way too far from his earlier work to be appreciated by this fan.
6