CD Reviews

Tame Impala | Lonerism

Modular Records (2012)

By ARIEL SHEARER | October 3, 2012

3.5 Stars

Australia's Tame Impala make music as the Lester Bangs character describes it in Almost Famous: if and when their psychedelic rock and roll "chooses you," it begs for intimate consumption. It wants to live in your car, or find you alone, listening to your headphones. Lonerism is a life raft for the abyss of song-induced self-reflection it inspires. Kevin Parker carries the "solitude is bliss" mentality of 2010's Innerspeaker, but here he writes a more fluid album. Lyrics are introspective (true to form), delivered by soothing vocals under interstellar synths and guitar licks from the dark side of the '60s. Lonerism starts with a chant that sticks to the psyche ("Gotta be above it, gotta be above it"), "Apocalypse Dreams" could turn a car into a spaceship, "Elephant" sounds like a piece of their homonymous 2008 EP, and "Sun's Coming Up" is an unexpected piano lullaby. A body of rock work for the lone wolf, Sgt. Peppered with romance.

TAME IMPALA + THE AMAZING:: Royale, 279 Tremont St, Boston :: November 9 @ 6 pm :: 18+ :: $20 :: 617.866.8933 or boweryboston.com

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Cardinal | Hymns
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Snow Patrol | Fallen Empires
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O'Brother | Garden Window
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Guided by Voices | Let's Go Eat the Factory
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Brite Futures | Dark Past
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A Place to Bury Strangers | Onwards to the Wall
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Cloud Nothings | Attack on Memory
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You Me at Six | Sinners Never Sleep
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Imperial Teen | Feel the Sound
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