Rock Reviews

Innerspeaker

Review

The definition of psychedelic rock. The genre is quite vague as I've heard all kinds of music called "psychedelic rock" and often it doesn't seem very psychedelic and other times not really rockish, but Innerspeaker does both things to the absolute max.

Let me start off by saying though when listening to this album that the vocals are not altered and of course is not John Lennon, but a guy called Kevin Parker who sounds quite similair to Lennon and in specific hooks and vocals sounds exactly like John Lennon. That's why in a way it would seem like this album would have bad flow, John Lennon in a psychedelic rock album? It sounds like a..."different" mix. 

Instead when you listen to Innerspeaker you really hear everything that you would want psychedelic rock to be. The whole thing flows, from start to finish, it's heart to describe but it's really just a lush smooth sound, everything about it just feels good. The vocals fit in absolutely perfect and I don't like vocals being echoed, but it works here when its done. Other than Kevin Parker bringing Lennon back from the grave, the guitar sound easily stands out head and shoulders above everything else. The fuzzy guitar sounds is absolutely perfect here, driving the rythm, or even some pretty nice solo's which is rare for a new age band.

Those 2 aspects of the band are appreciated somewhat but what is horribly understated is the drums and the bass. The bass is the best I've heard from any new band that I've listened to, it starts off the very first song It Is Not Meant To Be with awesome bass and you hear it in most other songs, sometimes in the background and other times driving the song for parts. The other aspect is the drumming which also is some of the best I've heard of a new rock group. It's apparent in most every song but is very apparent in Lucidity (and specifically is some of the best drumming I've heard recently), Solitude is Bliss and a few others.

Unfortunately drumming seems like a lost art, almost like too much and it'll turn people off or something, I don't get it. In the 70's especially drummers like Bonham and Moon would be going all out whereas now 90% of the drumming I hear and see is "lazy drumming", basically keeping a beat and about it. Very refreshing to hear some nice "go crazy" but still sound good, drumming.

This album is an absolute must to hear and I think the most underrated album in quite some time. There's no weak song here and while the argument is that there are no "stand out" tracks, I'd disagree strongly. I'd put Lucidity, Desire Be Desire Go and Solitude is Bliss at the forefront as standout tracks and I could add Expectation and Runway Houses City Clouds as close to that. The fact that besides an EP that this is Tame Impala's first album and more, that it does seem practically certain that this is only the start and they'll only be getting better is just very exciting for the future. This is the model for new rock music.

9.1

Songs