Disclaimer: There is no such thing as a bad Tame Impala song
Tame Impala are the best band in the world, that is not up for discussion right now, nor will it ever be.
With a new album looming, I decided to carry out my bi-annual session of listening to every song they’ve ever released and realised that it’s impossible to rank these tracks because every single one of them slaps unforgivably hard in its own special way.
So naturally, the challenge has been set out. Regardless of how excruciating this may be, I’m going to rank every Tame Impala song from best to worst in my opinion.
In the interest of housekeeping, I’ve gone for the tracks from Tame Impala EP, InnerSpeaker, Lonerism, Currents, B-sides, covers and anything else I could find in between. I withheld their newest release ‘Patience’ because it only came out on Friday and hasn’t had enough breathing space yet so it wouldn’t be fair to pit it against the others. It’s likely that some songs have escaped me, but I am merely human and trying my best here. I thank you for your tolerance.
Naturally there will be some disagreement throughout this list but it’s important to remember that a) everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion and b) we’re all going to die, so nothing really matters anyway in the grand scheme of things.
Now then, let’s rank.
52. Slide Through My Fingers
There is no such thing as a bad Tame Impala song. They are all remarkable in their own unique way. This is a good song, but is it Tame Impala’s best? No. It’s still a jam, but what I’m saying is that if you’re walking home and you’ve calculated that you’ve got just enough time to listen to one song before you reach the door, you’d skip Slide Through My Fingers until you land on a different Tame Impala track to feel like you’re getting the most bang for your buck. That’s fine. It’s an okay thing to do. There’s a weird long fade at the end of the song, it cheats us out of a strong finish. Skip it if you absolutely must.
51. She Just Won’t Believe Me
A similar victim of circumstance such as the song listed previously, this track is belittled thanks to Tame Impala’s mammoth collection of undeniable bangers and therefore falls a bit short of the mark in comparison. It’s not even a minute long, so fills its role as an album filler for Lonerism very nicely, but you’re unlikely to line this track up at a party where you’ve been given control of the aux cord for approximately four minutes until some brute takes charge and puts on Calvin Harris. Still a terrific effort from KP, but simply not his absolute best.
50. Island Walking
This is definitely a personal beef and I’m fully aware of it, but I just don’t particularly vibe off the opening riff that continues throughout. To me, it sounds a bit like the scales you were given to practice when you started taking guitar lessons. Your fingers could never reach the right notes and you hadn’t quite developed those enviable calluses that your friends had. Two thirds of the way through the song, it thankfully turns into a dreary delight, which gets things back on track nicely. Still, it’s a well-deserved B-side addition. Snow Patrol could never.
49. Gossip
The! Song! Is! Too! Goddamn! Short! It feels like we’re just getting into the meat of it, then it drifts away into the abyss like a demon in the night. Evidently the intention of Gossip is to connect the two Currents belters that are Eventually and The Less I Know The Better like a psychologist trying to mediate talks between two angry soon-to-be-divorced spouses, and it does that brilliantly, but we deserve more. Diehard Tame Impala fans need to hear an uncut version of Gossip, ideally clocking in at 17 minutes long. Please. We deserve it. Release the tapes.
48. Skeleton Tiger
It’s from the extremely early days of Tame Impala and while it would’ve delighted fans in 2008, we’ve come a long way with Kevin and the guys since then. We know what they’re capable of now and it’s far more than this. Only due to the benefit of hindsight can this song, epic as a standalone piece, be put low down on a list that contains even more greatness than this. Listening to it in 2019 is still a joy, but we know there’s more top tier Tame Impala goodness out there as well. It’s an introduction to the beginning of their evolution as a band, and it’s a mighty fine one at that.
47. Taxi’s Here
At this point in the ranking task I’m furious because this isn’t a bad song by any means, but it’s on the Currents B-sides for a reason and that has to be respected. It’s fairly relaxed in terms of Tame Impala’s often chaotic sound, but still an undeniable jam. Would I ever seek out Taxi’s Here to listen to deliberately? Probably not. It’s a bit forgettable and although it was a nice surprise gift unto the world with its unexpected release on the B-sides release, there are better Tame Impala tracks available in the year of our Lord 2019.
46. 41 Mosquitoes Flying In Formation
While it’s 46 on the list of Tame Impala songs ranked from worst to best, it’s first on the list of Tame Impala song names ranked from worst to best. What a frightful image the title conjures up. One singular mosquito is cause for concern, but 41 flying in perfect formation is grounds for mass unrest. It’s particularly enjoyable to hear Kevin Parker’s pronunciation of ‘mosquitoes’ in the opening line, landing somewhere between Anthony Kiedis and a Spanish man learning English for the first time. Great song, but there’s even better afoot.
45. Sun’s Coming Up
A controversial decision, but one I stand by. An album as incredible as Lonerism deserves a mind-blowingly strong finish, but instead, we’re given what feels like an experimental studio session that honestly wouldn’t be out of place on a B-side compilation. While it’s great to see the band’s range being expressed, I personally wanted a bigger closer from Lonerism. Thankfully, it transitions into a dizzying guitar that mimics the sun quite literally coming up, so all is not lost. A great song, but maybe a different placement on the album would’ve worked better for me personally. Still important to note that I respect the hell out of KP’s genius mind to a worrying decree.
44. Remember Me
They started covering Blue Boy’s song as part of their live shows and while I have no doubt I would lose my mind if they included it in a gig that I was at, it’s not my favourite song of all time. Tame Impala put their stamp all over the track, which elevates it and somehow manages to take a song that I’m iffy about and turn it into something that undeniably slaps, leading you to question whether it’s actually been a Tame Impala song all along despite Blue Boy writing it 11 years earlier. Mediocre song, excellent cover, amazingly not even TI’s best cover. It’s just the ‘gen gen gen gen gegengengen’ part that I can’t stand.
43. Yes I’m Changing
Fully expecting some backlash for this low placement, but please at least entertain my reasoning. I don’t know why, I’m going to struggle to explain it, but this song just doesn’t do it for me. It’s slow, it’s a bit too much on the chill side of Tame Impala for my personal taste and it isn’t hugely grabbing as a standalone track. When you put it into Currents, it flows harrowingly well, but if that crops up on your Discover Weekly, it’s a bit more exposed. It’s still a fine song, but more like an accompanying dish to the main meal. The roast potatoes to the Sunday roast, if you will.
42. Keep On Lying
As I have touched on previously, this ranking task is a true nightmare from start to finish. I like this song, I like it a lot. But there are other songs that I like more, and everything has to find its place on the list. Depending on the day, I could listen to Keep On Lying and have a whale of a time, involuntarily tapping my foot and nodding my head marvelling at the musical prowess of Kevin Parker. Another day, maybe I’d switch to another song halfway through, once the chattering part in the middle starts. I don’t know. Today it’s 42, tomorrow it could be 17. I just don’t know. This was a terrible idea.
41. Runway Houses City Clouds
It’s another flawless piece of genius craftsmanship of KP, but I’m not overly keen on the long fade intro. This is because I have to turn up the volume on my speakers to ensure that I can hear every note of perfection, then rapidly lower them once the song kicks in. It’s a very minor problem to have, but it’s one that I have to take into account while compiling this bananas-hard list. Otherwise, the track is bordering on witchcraft. It’s 7 minutes long, did you know that? Did you ever notice? No. Because it’s not a taxing 7 minutes, it’s a joy to listen to once the intro has passed. I’m just nitpicking here. It’s the only way to get this job done.
40. Wander
One of the better tracks from their debut EP, it’s got more layers than a puff pastry and packs a punch as hefty as Judy’s used to. It turns into an unexpectedly charming ditty halfway through, mixing in in perfect harmony with Bill Haley’s ‘Rock Around The Clock’ if you ever feel so inclined, then it returns to a structured-sounding jam session that rounds off a very enviable debut EP from the band that deservedly triumphed and found their flow in the continuing years to follow.
39. The Bold Arrow Of Time
This list is ruining my life, but everything must find its place. I have no ill feelings towards this groovy track, it demonstrates Tame Impala firing on all cylinders in great bursts, then exercising remarkable restraint in between. It wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to a buddy cop movie, right as the quirky duo have just proved their boss wrong by trusting their instincts and disregarding all protocol resulting in them successfully apprehending two dangerous criminal masterminds. Tell me I’m wrong.
38. Be Above It
A great song title for advising you on the best way to enjoy the ocean, but also an impeccable opening track to Lonerism. It serves as a warm but authoritative introduction for what’s to follow, slowly building and eventually culminating in a burst of colour with KP’s echoing vocals combined with the chaotic spurts of drumming. It is physically impossible to listen to this song without jutting your neck out and back like a walking pigeon. What an opener. The fact that a song as punchy as this is at #38 on the list just goes to show the standard of what lies ahead.
37. Love / Paranoia
It’s about as laid back as we’ve heard Tame Impala in quite some time and that’s not a bad thing. This song has strong hip hop tendencies and marries them with that trademark Tame Impala psychedelic rock sound. You can tell that the Currents album is nearing the end as the pace is slowed right down, providing ample breathing space for New Person, Same Old Mistakes to get us home and dry. It’s a chill number and in the words of Kevin Parker, “Does it really fucking matter?”
36. Jeremy’s Storm
Initially starting off panned to the left, you’re likely to question whether your cheap headphones have decided to pack it in again, but the reassurance comes before long when you’re nestled comfortably in full Dolby surround sound. This track is a special one because it proves that Tame Impala don’t even need vocals to absolutely boss the music industry. You won’t hear a word uttered throughout, something you’re likely to fail to notice until your third or fourth listen of the song. Who needs lyrics anyway?
35. I Don’t Really Mind
InnerSpeaker is rounded off nicely with this absolute groover, letting us know that everything is going to be just fine. It’s unlikely the band are keen to play this song live as it doesn’t really garner much audience participation, especially with the synth solo in the middle, but it’s still a solid way to wrap up the band’s first album. Ten tracks of absolute perfection came before it, so this is the much-needed digestif. You use it to kick back and marvel at what has gone before. What an elegant pièce de résistance.
34. Music To Walk Home By
As the name suggests, this is the perfect song to get you from the bus stop to your house at a leisurely pace. It’s not a taxing listen, you might be tempted to do a quick and discreet skip as the music fills your ears, hoping nobody notices or is filming your unavoidable expression of gratitude for such a graceful sound. The drum fills are magic, instantly transporting you to a hazy summer evening getting home from work where your plans include very little other than chilling and possibly consuming precisely one beer.
33. Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control
If you had to pick one song that fully embodies the sound of Tame Impala in 2012, this is likely to be it. It’s a very Lonerism song, marrying all elements of their sound together into one palatable jam. “I know it’s crazy, but just don’t think of it like that. Nothing has to mean anything”, an anonymous woman tells us. It serves as a reminder that thinking deeply about things is often a recipe for anguish. Just relax, enjoy the damn song, basically.
32. List Of People (To Try And Forget About)
Another B-side gem from Currents, this track would’ve sat nicely in the mix on the album, but not everything can fit. We’re lucky it still got a small-scale release because it deserves to be heard. Of all the B-sides Tame Impala have released, Currents’ castoffs are the strongest, I think. The band is in a position now where even the stuff that lands on the cutting floor is pure gold, shitting all over other bands’ absolute best effort. That’s a pretty strong legacy to have, considering we’re just three (almost four) albums deep into their world domination. Imagine the unheard greatness that’s sitting on a hard drive somewhere in Kevin Parker’s studio because it didn’t make the cut. Fuck.
31. Nangs
Their strongest interlude yet, Nangs is just too damn short for comfort. It’s 1 minute 48 seconds long and demands to be listened to on repeat because you feel cheated when it ends after the first go. You have to manually set your player to repeat because just as you’re getting into the groove of this jam, it ends. It’s not a bad complaint to have, being left wanting more. Ironically, the lyrics “But is there something more than that?” ring true as you wish the song didn’t end so soon. There’s undoubtedly a 10-hour extended version of Nangs on YouTube somewhere, so thank you to whoever has done that.
30. Past Life
“I was picking up a suit from the dry cleaners…”, we’re told over the sounds of what can only be described as an intergalactic fairytale. This song has the difficult task of following ‘The Less I Know The Better’, on Currents, so it was always going to be a tough undertaking, but as is classic Tame Impala, brilliance prevails. Who knew a mundane heavy-Australian-accent-narrated tale of a trip to a dry cleaners could make for such compelling listening? Not only is he a musical prodigy, Kevin Parker is now a remarkable storyteller of the insignificant side of life. Save some talent for the rest of us, buddy.
29. Prototype
Tame Impala absolutely boss their way through this Outkast song which you can somehow tell is going to be pure magic from the very first note. It proves that the guys can be as impressive in a stripped back context playing a song that isn’t even theirs, just as much as they can continue to breathe new and exciting life into one of their oen tracks that’s 10 years old every time they play it live. I’m not going to say that this cover is better than the original. I would never dare say that, as it would be treasonous. But what I am saying is that it comes very, very close.
28. Expectation
A thoroughly satisfying listen, this song is best served when you’re doing something physical to get the most efficient output. I recommend sticking it on when you’re six minutes away from your intended workout finishing time to give you a gentle boost. There’s periods of low intensity scattered throughout so you can catch a quick breather, but ultimately this is going to help you to reach your goal, whatever it is. Just don’t listen to it while you’re hoovering. You won’t hear it properly and that is an injustice to the band.
27. New Person, Same Old Mistakes
A few weeks ago I saw a tweet suggesting that this track was written by Rihanna and subsequently covered by Tame Impala and while it was very clearly a joke aimed at stirring up some outrage, the replies all took the bait and music, as we know it, died there and then on the spot. In the grand scheme of things, good for Rihanna for having the ability to spot a banger and perform a cover staying very close to the original, recognising that you cannot improve on perfection. The best part comes exactly halfway through the song when Kevin Parker hits notes most male vocalists can only dream of. Sing it, sis.
26. ‘Cause I’m A Man
Parker described the song as being “about how weak men are… and how we make all these excuses”, which is fair enough, but if a man had wronged you and wrote this song to explain his actions, you’d swiftly forgive any grievances. Apparently the vocals were so tough to nail on this track, he recorded them 1,000 times to produce the flawless finished product we’re left with today. Haim did a decent remix of this track and no, it’s not called ”Cause I’m A Woman’, although that would’ve been kind of funny.
25. Lucidity
Throughout this list I’ve been struggling to describe why I like certain songs. My brain’s default reaction to every Tame Impala song is “Yeah, just really good, isn’t it?” and I can’t get any further than that on this occasion. Lucidity is just bloody good. It sounds nice, fits in well on InnerSpeaker and slaps just as hard today as it did in 2010. I was today years old when I learned that ‘lucidity’ is an actual word and not a figment of Kevin Parker’s imagination. It means ‘clarity of expression’, so that’s good to know going forward.
24. Confide In Me
Get this song on the next Bond movie soundtrack immediately because I refuse to accept anything else in its place. What a perfect interpretation of Kylie’s 1994 hit song, which embarrassingly I hadn’t heard before Tame Impala covered it. To spot the ability to transform this song into such a cinematic and massive sound is just the tip of Kevin Parker’s genius abilities. Honestly, everyone’s life is divided into two parts – the time before they heard Tame Impala cover ‘Confide In Me’, and the time after.
23. Reality In Motion
From Currents, this track feels as close to the old Tame Impala as we’re probably going to get. I love and fully embrace the new direction they took with this album, but it’s nice to have a little nod to the past sometimes as well. It’s a throwback to the Lonerism days, but looks back with the knowledge of what lay ahead, kind of like when your older sibling goes away to college and returns home for the first time. They’re a bit different, they’ve experienced more of life than they had previously and they just can’t wait to tell you to get lost when you ask them to play PlayStation with you because they’re just too cool for that kind of nonsense now.
22. Mind Mischief
From the first guitar chord the tone is set for what is guaranteed to be a slow but punchy little jam that’s best enjoyed late in the day, ideally with a beer and a cigarette. Just as the lyrics say, “Me and my love we’ll take it slow”, the song follows suit. Nobody’s in a hurry when they’re listening to Mind Mischief. You’re sitting down somewhere, shooting the breeze. Everything is easygoing. They should play this song in shopping centres during Christmas so everyone would calm down and take a deep breath, or possibly at the dentist when you’re about to get a root canal. Laughing gas sales would tank, but Tame Impala record sales would soar.
21. Disciples
Another subtle nod to the Tame Impala of former times, this Currents track pays homage to their older stuff while still containing elements of the future thanks to the gentle synth additions. It’s a short track, clocking in shy of two minutes, sandwiched between the very 2015 sounds of ‘Past Life’ and ‘Cause I’m A Man’, proving that Tame Impala know how to make an album track list flow just as much as they did in 2008. Imagine if Disciples played straight after ‘Let It Happen’? It would be chaos. Mass unrest would ensue. Sirens. Screaming children. It just doesn’t bear thinking.
20. Powerlines
Who says Tame Impala songs need to have lyrics to be good? Certainly not I, nor anyone else with half a brain. This belter is the second track on their Currents B-sides & Remixes album and it slaps so hard it’s in very real danger of being threatened with an ASBO. It feels like Nangs part II, this time giving us an appropriate length of a song clocking in at a deeply satisfying 4 minutes and 20 seconds long. It’s unlikely they’ll ever play it live in full, but if they do, please can somebody record the footage and send it to me. I will repay you with baked goods and my utmost gratitude. Thank you.
19. Solitude Is Bliss
A very likely addition to every Tame Impala live set, hearing this song live takes you to another dimension once you see the lights display perfectly in sync with the drums. They tend to speed the song up in the live version, which somehow manages to take the song from a 10 to an 11 on a scale that should technically end at 10. “You will never come close to how I feel” is a very apt line as it expresses the typical Tame Impala fan’s attitude towards other bands. Sure, you can like other musicians, but it’s a different kind of adoration. That’s probably what the lyrics meant, right? Sure.
18. Endors Toi
Aspiring musicians, take note. This is how you build a song. The intro is a masterclass in luring people into your track and then backing it up with a satisfactory payoff. Literally translated, Endors Toi means ‘Fall asleep’, but having tried and tested this hypothesis, it doesn’t work. Listening to this song before bed causes you to feel more awake than before, inevitably ending up going through Tame Impala’s entire back catalogue trying to tire yourself out. Trust me, it doesn’t work. Maybe listen to Norah Jones instead?
17. Eventually
Just a ruddy good song, innit? Starts off sounding like a band that are yet to afford roadies trying to set up their amps down in the local pub with minimal disturbance to the patrons, then gets swiftly on track to produce what I can only describe as a dangerously groovy vibe. This is the kind of song that convinces you to go on a night out when you’re undecided. It was the fourth song Tame Impala dropped before Currents was released, as if the world’s appetites weren’t sufficiently whetted by then. It’s a confident song and therefore a genius final release before the album, almost saying “Yeah, you’re going to want to download the record now, maybe twice”.
16. Desire Be, Desire Go
The only Tame Impala track to make it from their debut EP to their first official album, this was an excellent choice and one that solidified their musical prowess from very early on. They cleaned it up a little compared to the EP version, but still maintained that grubby and loose feel to it, somehow. This is a good palate-tester of a song. If you’ve got a friend you’re trying to convince to love Tame Impala, this one will either hook them or leave them mistakenly disinterested. It’s a great representation of Kevin Parker’s ability to match his unique vocal talents perfectly in time with his freakishly gifted ability to produce audibly-pleasing music.
15. The Less I Know The Better
It’s their most listened to track on Spotify and deservedly so. This song slaps so hard, it’s going to prove to be a leading cause of arthritis among youths in fifty years time. The track inspired Tame Impala’s iconic ‘Fuck Trevor’ t-shirts that every fan worth their salt has tried to recreate in DIY fashion for their gigs. Kevin Parker has often described the song as being “dorky”, but regardless of that accuracy, it’s still A Certified Bop. There’s a solid amount of fun in this song and I defy anyone to listen without at least tapping a toe in unison with the beat. It was born out of KP’s love of disco so you owe him at least a modicum of respect by dancing as you’re listening, either internally or aggressively externally.
14. Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind
It was the fourth single to be released from InnerSpeaker and intros with three hi-hat hits on the drums which Kevin Parker included as a nod to Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya!’ which adopts a similar rhythm throughout (think of the clapping part). If you’re lucky enough to see Tame Impala live, you’re pretty much guaranteed they’re going to play this track as it’s a fan favourite that brings another dimension to life itself when it’s performed right in front of you. This was the song played during the band’s live television debut when they appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon back in 2011. It also features on A$AP Rocky’s ‘Sundress’, just in case you ever wanted to hear what a perfect hip hop and psychedelic rock marriage would sound like.
13. Apocalypse Dreams
Completing the trio of perfection that is the opening track listing for Lonerism, Apocalypse Dreams was the first release from the album and came in the form of a free download one sunny June day in 2012. It starts off like a jaunty little upbeat number that would comfortably accompany you on a dash to make the train in time for work, then things slow right down as you finally get on board and allow your mind to drift off while the world whizzes past, or at least that’s what I imagine when I hear it. It’s just a good song, it’s lively, light at first then shows a little depth, then goes back to fun town. There’s even a hint of The Edge-inspired guitar effects during the breakdown in the middle. Lovely stuff.
12. Sundown Syndrome
The band was way back in its infancy in 2009 when Kevin Produced this undeniable banger and released it as their first official single. There’s a goddamn kazoo and it still somehow manages to sound like auditory perfection. Name another band that can incorporate a kazoo into their sound and not make it cringe? You cannot. You simply cannot. Think back to 2009. You were a punk, a buffoon. Imagine hearing this song on the radio. Although it’s medically unconfirmed, I’m pretty sure it could’ve straightened out hardened criminals were they exposed to its delicacy which, and I cannot stress this enough, makes a kazoo solo sound good. Kevin Parker is a wizard.
11. Half Full Glass Of Wine
2008 this song was released, over a decade ago on their debut EP and it still holds up with the same confidence as any one of their more recent tracks. It was the very first Tame Impala song I ever heard and I was immediately hooked. The Beatles-esque vocal effects, frantic hi-hat and guitar intro, catchy lyrics and the concept of a glass of wine ever being half full, this is perfection from a band that was during the very early stages of figuring its sound. Hearing this song live is a treat as it regularly gets extended into a lengthy chaotic burst of energy with an improvised jam smack bang in the middle. What a debut EP. Good grief.
10. It Is Not Meant To Be
Show me a better opening track to an album and I will show you the mirror so that you can see what a liar looks like. This belter of a song invites you into the world of InnerSpeaker and lets you know that greatness lies ahead. For years, Tame Impala would open their live shows with this dizzying fusion of guitar prowess, but then they replaced it with a more slowed down version that hits on some cinematic vibes of grandeur. I went to see them live at the Manchester Arena and was lowkey mad that I probably wouldn’t get to hear the original version after they played the slower intro to start with. Then halfway through the set they dropped Is It Not Meant To Be in its authentic form, and reader, I lost my fragile little mind, learning that it’s not just an opener, the song works enviably well in any position on a setlist. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
9. Elephant
Here’s where things get tricky because as I have previously stated, every single Tame Impala song, bar precisely none, is a remarkable display of musical genius. Even ranking them is doing a total disservice to Kevin Parker’s witchcraft-like abilities. But I’ve started this mammoth task and I intend to see it through. Elephant could be #1 on the list or it could be #52 depending on the day. This isn’t a song you listen to while you’re at work, drafting an email to your boss begging for some time off. No, this is a song you sit down in a dark room and close your eyes so that every note is getting your full attention. I’m struggling to articulate why it’s such an unapologetic bop. Right when Kevin Parker whispers “here it comes” in your ear halfway through the song, that is precisely how I want to die.
8. The Moment
Back to the 2015 era of Tame Impala for this futuristic sounding track that you are legally obligated to click your fingers perfectly in time with. “It’s getting closer”, although we’re not quite sure what it is, but we’re in the capable hands of Kevin Parker who’s inspiring us to do our best and rank these flawless songs from worst to least best, although technically it should’ve been called from best to best because goddamn it this is an impossible task. The Moment should be played before all major sporting events, especially The Olympics, to hype up the athletes and inform patrons that they must make their way to their assigned seats before things kick off. Please take note of your nearest emergency exits and restrain yourselves from being rowdy during the games. Thank you.
7. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
An anthem like no other, this song reaches vocal pitches that no man alive should be able to reach. At every Tame Impala gig I’ve been to, the audience’s participation is always requested for this song, not that it needs to be asked because you’ll hear every man, woman, child and animal yelping to reach the dazzling heights of Kevin Parker’s vocal range. Arctic Monkeys did a cover of this track and it’s absolutely essential listening to hear how such an iconic song can still maintain its uniquely identifiable Tame Impala vibe while sounding as though it’s happily lending itself to any other musician’s style. If you don’t know every word to FLWOGB off by heart, take a few moments to learn it and then we will reluctantly accept you back into the Tame Impala Fan Club.
6. Sestri Levante
Although it never appeared anywhere officially as a studio recording, this track taken from Tame Impala’s Live Versions album deserves a lot of clout for its simplicity yet delightful sound. It paves the way from ‘Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?’ into ‘Mind Mischief’, clocking in at just under a minute of indisputable funk. It acts as the perfect entrée, but one you’re likely to return to the restaurant exclusively for. Sure, it cleanses the palate, but it’s hugely memorable. Lyrics aren’t necessary, nor is a huge scale of production. Sestri Levante sounds like a structured jam session and leaves you wanting more. One listen isn’t enough. They could repeat the entire song four times and then we might come close to feeling sated. Get that track on an album, KP. Or play an extended version specifically at the next gig I attend. Thank you.
5. Let It Happen
“Woah. Where the fuck did that come out of?”, said every Tame Impala fan when this lead single from Currents dropped, ending a three year gap in production since Lonerism was released. Tame Impala burst back into prominence with an almost eight minute belter of a tune showing the world that although their sound has evolved, they still have the ability to produce some of the greatest songs ever made. A logistical nightmare for radio stations, Let It Happen sounds like a busted record player halfway through as it builds into a confetti-explosion-worthy drop during the live shows. This song was made for an audience. While it sounds perfectly adequate through whatever headphones you prefer, hearing the drop in a live setting will open your third eye. That eye now belongs to Kevin Parker, and he fully deserves it.
4. Why Won’t They Talk To Me?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eNEak4lXuw
Yes, Tame Impala can harmonise and shame on you for ever failing to predict that fact, heathen. In a follow-up question from InnerSpeaker where they want to know why you won’t make up your mind, Tame Impala now want to know why they won’t talk to them on this Lonerism track. It captures the feeling of being a loner, trying to figure out how you’ve gotten yourself in that position, partly blaming others when in reality it could be your own actions that are at fault. Whatever the underlying meaning, this song is so easy to listen to, people have probably lost control of their vehicles from grooving out to it, then quickly regained control long enough to write a blog post about how Tame Impala are the greatest band alive. Standard.
3. Vital Signs
Thirteen million YouTube views confirm that even Tame Impala’s cover game is stronger than most. This infectious rendition of the Midnight Juggernauts’ track is officially more popular than the original, but that’s not to do first rendition a disservice. While the song sounds nothing like Tame Impala have ever produced themselves, it proves that there is a trademark but also indescribable sound that they emit. One that can cast greatness onto anything it touches. They can cover Kylie, Outkast, and a now a band you likely didn’t know about until this cover filled your ear holes with joy. A cover song! In the top 5! It beggars belief! But truly, this is perfection. Thank you Midnight Juggernauts for facilitating Tame Impala’s worldwide domination.
2. Beverly Laurel
A B-side! At number two! I hear you. But allow me to justify my reasoning. This song kicks ass. It should’ve made the Lonerism album, or failing that, been shoehorned into Currents if possible. It’s one of, it not, Tame Impala’s best tracks. This marries Tame Impala’s two key strengths: the ability to make you dance, and their skill in being able to make you want to sit down and marvel at their ability to produce a belter of a song. It’s a hidden gem that deserves worldwide adoration. On Friday, Tame Impala released ‘Patience’, their first song in four years, and it flows with Beverly Laurel so well, it’s frightening. If ‘Patience’ is anything to go by, there’s possibly going to be a Beverly Laurel-esque feel to this upcoming record and I couldn’t be happier about it. Treat yourself to a hit of Beverly Laurel today.
1. Alter Ego
I’m struggling to articulate anything more intelligent than ‘It just fucking slaps’ for this one, but I will try. Alter Ego completes the dream trio of opening tracks on Tame Impala’s 2010 ‘InnerSpeaker’ album bulldozing through your eardrums at a leisurely pace, destroying anything in its path. That is how you write an intro for a song, ladies and gentlemen, so take note. Then everything is stripped back to allow the vocals to shine, followed by a perfect marriage of music, vocals and Kevin Parker magic exploding through your body. If you listen to this song without thinking ‘Fuck. Tame Im-fucking-pala’, you’re not listening properly. If you’re on the fence about becoming a diehard fan, this is the song that hooks you. Hearing this song live is what I imagine and hope ascending into heaven is like. This is Tame Impala in their absolute prime and although their sound continues to evolve, a song like this still slaps as hard today as it did almost a decade ago. Fucking yes.
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