Do You Really Live Without The Fear?

Tame Impala “Apocalypse Dreams”

People often point out how much Kevin Parker sounds like John Lennon – it’s so obvious that it’s just kinda hard to ignore. But on a musical level he comes a lot closer to Paul McCartney, particularly in his mid to late 70s period, or noted McCartney imitator Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. His music is a lot richer than anything Lennon did on his own, so some of the thrill is this kinda fanboy “what if?” situation of imagining that you’re hearing what it would’ve sounded like if John and Paul had actually been working together in the mid 70s. And I know putting it all in these terms diminishes Parker somewhat, but seriously, isn’t it compliment enough to suggest he’s working anywhere near the level of those dudes? He has a delightful grasp on melody, especially when it comes to his fluid bass lines, and a clever sense of structure. The musical curveballs of “Apocalypse Dreams” still take me by surprise, though I’ve heard the abrupt smash cut-style transition near the end several times over by now. I love that this song can start off as this sort of LSD-soaked Motown pastiche, but then shift its perspective a few times over. It’s like a pop song presented as a panorama.

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