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Lonerism

by Tame Impala

Released October 5, 2012 via Modular Recordings

Reviewed October 4, 2022

Top tracks (based on community voting)
Elephant (50%), Apocalypse Dreams (41%), Mind Mischief (39%)

Lonerism, the contemporary neo-psychedelic masterpiece, revels in feats of studio trickery and genuinely astonishing soundscapes. Home to a collection of blisteringly sweet pop tunes, Lonerism and its sophisticated, well-engineered etiquette heralds in and sets the standard for contemporary music. Burgeoning with colour, Lonerism packs the whirlwind of a painter’s palette. The fine line between selections of brush are enough to alter the course of how said painting plays out. Packing enough bursts of straight up pop sunshine to tether it to a reliable structure, however, like looking through the eye of a kaleidoscope, Tame Impala's second album remains unpredictable enough to remain fresh in exuberance. Crafted from mystical touch the production lies in wait around each corner. Some pieces of art breathe. Their senses are heightened. Their floodgates are opened. Hands have not stitched this piece of cloth together—its existence beams through fine-tuned magic. You won't find a more rewarding listen. Spend some time with it, share the experience with your friends, and use it as a tool for your well spent summer days. – Peter (9.5/10)


More or less the face of modern psych music, Tame Impala’s output since 2010 has shaped much of the current trends in psychedelic pop and psychedelic rock. Did you know it’s only one guy? Shocking, right? Even more shocking is how the work of multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker is so widely lauded. The second Tame Impala release, Lonerism, has its moments, but its takes on ‘60s and ‘70s psychedelia feel more recycled than they do revitalizing. Reverb-heavy riffs and deep grooves give it a warm, hazy, nostalgic feel while dreamy synths inject a breath of life. There is nothing over-the-top, and it is all certainly well-put-together; there should be little to no debate on Parker’s ability as an instrumentalist or a producer. But the sounds of Lonerism only sparsely exist much beyond that. Catchy and pleasant, but as each track bleeds into the next, the bulk of it becomes largely forgettable. As a songwriter, Parker operates at a similar pace; there’s some nice tidbits here and there, but they’re nestled between basic and melodramatic cliches of loneliness. Comparisons to The Beatles may seem overripe, but Lonerism really isn’t much more than Sgt. Pepper’s pastiche. – Dominick (6/10)


Peter: 9.5/10 | Hadley: 8.5/10 | DeVán: 8/10 | Cam: 7.8/10

Pax: 7.7/10 | Jared: 7.5/10 | Alan: 7/10 | Dominick: 6/10

 
Community Reviews:

Genuinely one of the greatest albums of all time. Contains some of my favorite Tame Impala songs and the synths are insane. – anonymous community member (10/10)

Great neo-psych, not as good as the pop-infused cuts on Currents, but still really good. – anonymous community member (8/10)

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