Innerspeaker

The term Psychedelia used to denote a distinct and relatively brief period in rock history, the roughly two and a half years between Rubber Soul and Music From Big Pink. But these days, bands exploring the lysergic realm have over 40 years' worth of influences to play with, from the druggy garage rock of the Nuggets era up to Animal Collective and beyond. Tame Impala's debut full-length (following a 2008 EP) draws freely from all of its psychedelic forebears, but synthesizes these influences into a timeless sound that isn't beholden to a particular time or place. Although Tame Impala is nominally a band, Innerspeaker was recorded and almost entirely performed by singer-songwriter Kevin Parker, giving it the pleasantly claustrophobic sound that comes from layers of overdubs. Dave Fridmann's trademark lashings-of-reverb mix enhances that insularity, but Tame Impala's secret weapon is that Parker is actually a gifted pop songwriter instead of just another stoner with a great record collection fiddling with his effects pedals. The fact that the voice he uses to sing high harmonies with himself often sounds uncannily like Paul McCartney doesn't hurt either, but it's solidly melodic, memorable tunes like "Solitude is Bliss" and the swirling "Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?" that rises Innerspeaker over its neo-psych contemporaries.