Tame Impala is another band that has not previously tamed us (and if we had to pick a muscle-car, we were always bigger Bel Air fans).  Leader Kevin Parker and band attempt to walk that fine line between enhancing the currently-fashionable mid-’60s psych-fuzz sound and merely rearranging the deck chairs on the H.M.S. Revolver or the SS Revivalist.  Having lived through the earlier era, we are predisposed to shrug off new purveyors of the old sound (Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, etc.) unless they really enhance the ole tropes.  And this is why we have heretofore resisted Tame Impala.  We just haven’t been “hearing it.”

But Tame Impala has been receiving near-universal raves for their recently released album, Lonerism (produced by Dave Fridmann).  With their Beatles homages and Parker’s Lennonist vocals and sway, it’s no wonder the British media in particular have been falling all over themselves to heap praise on the band.  But Tame Impala has also been at the top of the American college charts and indie-radio playlists (Lonerism was last week’s top-played album on KCRW).  So we’ve been forced to reassess.

And reassess we did when we caught Tame Impala on Later with Jools Holland this week.  We were completely taken aback (not just back) by their performance of high-and-lonely song, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.  You can assess with us below.  Feels Like We Only Go Backwards sounds a bit of Grizzly Bear/Flaming Lips run through a Motown filter, with heartfelt, hurting lyrics and singing.  The band also performed Heaven off the new album (re-mixed thereon by none other than the master, Todd Rundgren), which to our ears is psych-fuzz circa late ’60s with some modest updates.  We prefer the former song, though we acknowledge the spot-on psych-signposts and fuzz-semaphores of the latter song, along with the instrumental acumen and adroit drum-fills thereon.

Check both performances below.  We’re going to pay stricter attention to this band and will report back our decision another day.  You do the same, and we’ll compare notes.  I’d say check them out on their North American tour (see the dates below the videos) that will begin in February, but yet again (WTH?) California has been passed over.  Likely because, you know, California just hasn’t really shown itself to be worthy in the music realm.  Lame Impala?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DANmDX28jEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwpVO7QMc0w&feature=channel&list=UL

Tame Impala Tour Dates:
February

19- New York, N.Y. @ Terminal 5
20- Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
21- Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat’s Cradle
22- Asheville, N.C. @ The Orange Peel
23- Athens, Ga. @ The Georgia Theater
25- Houston, Texas @ Fitzgerald’s
26- Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
27- Dallas, Texas @ Granada Theater
28- Tulsa, Okla. @ Cain’s Ballroom

March

2- Louisville, Ky. @ Headliner’s Music Hall
3- Milwaukee, Wis. @ Turner Hall Ballroom
4- Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
6- Chicago, Ill. @ Vic Theater
7- Detroit, Mich. @ St. Andrews Hall
8- Columbus, Ohio @ Newport Music Hall
9- Toronto, Ontario @ Kool Haus
11- Montreal, Quebec @ Corona Theater
12- Boston, Mass. @ House of Blues