New Music Monday #26

Lonerism (Album)

by Tame Impala

Equal parts psychedelic rock, dream pop and indie delight; Tame Impala's Lonerism comfortably stands as one of the finest releases of the year. If you've heard and loved the ridiculously catchy single 'Elephant,' you're sure to get a kick out of their entire new collection of tracks that place these Perth lads in the upper echelons of not just Australia's music scene, but the music scene. Period. 'Be Above It' creates that dreamy 'floating on a cloud' vibe that immediately makes you wish for long summer days with friends. Festivals, picnics in the park, drinks at the beach... all complimentary settings for such a song. It's a vibe you won't be able to shake throughout the album, particularly on the tracks 'Music To Walk Home By' and 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.' The latter is such a brilliant 60s psychedelic throwback that you'll curse later as you dig out the old Jefferson Airplane albums you no longer tell anyone you have in your collection. 'Elephant' is just the best. It makes me want to dance. Doesn't it make you want to dance? Let's dance! As you get to the final number, 'Sun's Coming Up,' you can't help remembering the feeling of the perfect night out. You walk in the door, a huge smile on your face and you for a moment you fight the urge to fall asleep because you don't want the night to end. Then, just before you crash, you reflect on all of the night's fun and say to yourself that you can't wait to do it all again sometime soon. With Lonerism you can do it again. And again. And again and again and again.  

Matt Bond gives Lonerism four Michael Hutchence's out of five...

Bless This Mess (Single)

by Lisa Mitchell

Album: Bless This Mess (October 12, 2012)

Lisa, I love you. It's just that... I CANNOT UNDERSTAND 75% OF THE WORDS YOU ARE SINGING. Enunciate, darling. Enunciate. Somehow, I still really find myself enjoying 'Bless This Mess' and I'm somewhat excited about hearing Bless This Mess later in the week.  It's just that... I WISH I COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SINGING. That is all.

Matt Bond gives 'Bless This Mess' three Kylie's out of five...

Gold Dust (Album)

by Tori Amos 

What happened Tori? You’re like the George Lucas of the music world; you just can’t keep your sticky fingers off your own work. I like the concept of re-working your songs, because some of them were genuinely incredibly beautiful, but that’s just it, you haven’t done enough to make me re-fall in love, they’re just your songs, again, covered by an orchestra and yourself. Were you waiting for someone to do a tribute album but no one was interested so you did it yourself? You’re a little bit lost aren’t you? You're so lost you don't even deserve two Tori heads and you've forced me to give you one Germaine instead. This isn’t interesting or new or amazing like I know you can be Tori, this is just a bit dull and lazy. 

Jo Michelmore gives Gold Dust one Germaine Greer out of five...

NEW MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK

This Fire

by Birds of Tokyo

Album: This Fire EP (2012)

These kind of clips always intrigue me. I’ve never really been able to work out how they do it, but I guess that’s why I like writing about music clips as opposed to making them. It must be a special combination of a fantastic song and beautifully shot images, because for almost four minutes nothing really happens but I just can’t stop watching to see what’s going to happen next, which is kind of….nothing much. The song itself is mesmerising, with the chant “this fire this fire we let it all burn” repeated over and over and over and from first listen I’ve been a little hypnotised, I just can’t stop singing. It’s almost disappointing when it ends; something keeps making me press play to experience those lines again and again. The EP is full of similar depressing beauty, four tracks that show a band willing to experiment with their own sound without alienating their fans. If this is the new-ish direction they’re taking, I’m looking forward to hearing the new album sometime early next year.

Jo Michelmore gives the 'This Fire' video four Michael Hutchence's out of five...