FortonServices wrote: I can't get into the latest one though. I have the same problem with the new Tame Impala and UMO. They seem to have all lost a bit of edge.
I dug the new Tame Impala, but it was a slight disappointment. I understand the change, though, as they had to progress so they didn't get stale. I thought Parker could have experimented more with the synthetic sound which he chose to colour the record with.
Tracks like Past Life and the various interludes (Nangs & Disciples) showed what he could do if he tried not necessarily create a pop song per say, but more push the envelope on what a song could be.
I wanted more experimentations of structure and ideas, like I loved how on past records he'd write pop songs which would veer off into jams while still being incredibly structured (Remember, Kevin recorded Keep On Lying entirely by himself, every note there is intentional and planned), or just not hang on the pop song structure.
Currents is a very well written, but very standard pop record, with all of the positives and negatives which come with a pop record.
On the other hand, I feel the new UMO is their strongest work yet, and at only 9 tracks, not a single one of them is a dud.
It's funkier, livelier, and has more energy than anything I've heard from the project.
I also feel the record has stronger song writing and is more impressive on the production side, with more layers and intricacies than ever before.
