Feeling All Kinds Of Different Things

Tame Impala “Is It True”

Tame Impala started off as a band that fit rather neatly into the box of “retro psychedelic rock band” but have gradually mutated to the point that their songs all seem to exist in the blurry space between genres. “Is It True” is mostly grounded in a Liquid Liquid/ESG post-punk space disco aesthetic, but the ambiance is as hazy and psychedelic as anything Kevin Parker’s ever done in this band. It’s sort of shocking to me that this song wasn’t selected as a single for the new record since the hooks are immediate and bold, whereas the last couple singles were a lot more vague and sedate. It also helps that the lyrics register more clearly than usual, as Parker tends to sing in a high coo that blends into the midrange occupied by his many layers of keyboards and guitars. He’s singing from the perspective of someone who isn’t quite ready to make long-term promises to someone who seems to have fallen in love with him, and while you could certainly read this as a sort of fuckboy anthem, I feel like this comes from a more sensitive and gentle place. He’s not willing to set up expectations he can’t deliver on, but he’s not exactly unwilling to see things through. It’s a “let’s wait and see and not ruin the moment” sentiment.

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