welcome to watch mojo
and today we're counting down our picks
for the top 10
tame impala
i'm still songs track
i am
for this list we're focusing on the best
tame impala tracks from official studio
releases
and extended plays what's your favorite
team impala track
let us know in the comments
number 10 half full glass of wine
recorded for tame impala's debut ep this
track is suitable for any road trip
[Music]
kicking off with a little high hat and
complimented by a filthy riff
half full glass of wine boasts an
undeniable retro vibe
and kevin parker's vocal delivery
conveys a sly
lackadaisical feel
lyrically it's a love story gone wrong
only the narrator doesn't seem all too
concerned with true romance
as he's clearly got other things on his
mind
it's a killer track and one that hbo
selected to close out a 2010 episode of
entourage
of course the zeppelin-like drum solo
doesn't hurt either
[Music]
number nine borderline when the song was
released as an album teaser in april
2019 it was one of the very first
all-original offerings from kevin parker
since currents
premiered on saturday night live the
upbeat and dreamy sound of borderline is
complemented by parker's musings about a
relationship on the brink of collapse
and the borderline we all walk between
misery and happiness
[Music]
[Applause]
it's another track that showcases tame
impala's ear for production
shimmery guitars satisfying synth bass
and simple yet effective drums
[Music]
while fans are still digesting the slow
rush this track is certainly a standout
number 8. apocalypse dreams despite the
title's dark anticipatory nature
this tame impala number lives in the
moment
[Music]
with apocalypse dreams it's almost like
parker's caught up in his own head
worrying about what could be and
stressed about what already is
[Music]
the composition leans more toward pink
floyd psychedelia than 21st century
trends
which gives it such a hazy feel in other
words the narrator shouldn't be fully
trusted
as he's clearly under the influence of
something whether it be his lonerism or
own self-doubt
as one of the album's early tracks
apocalypse dreams demonstrates the
band's astute production skills
number seven alter ego lyrically the
message is quite simple with this tame
impala recording
just be yourself
[Music]
music about dreams and the truth the
narrator relays a common feeling
yet the jarring and off-kilter
instrumentation sells the complete
detachment
incidentally the turbulent sound also
shows just how conflicted the narrator
seems to be
as his alter ego pulls him further away
from reality
thus producing the instability that
persists throughout
[Music]
[Applause]
by no means a traditional rock single
alter ego highlights the band's ability
to communicate with sounds and textures
[Music]
number six breathe deeper maybe the most
memorable track from this 2020 release
breathe deeper wastes no time in drawing
in the listener with its intimate yet
funky sound
[Music]
emotional piano chords form the
foundation here for kevin to express his
anxiety and uncertainty over difficult
situations
[Music]
it's a fitting track for the
overwhelming stress we all felt during
2020
instead of focusing on the future and
what troubles we might face
breathe deeper encourages us to look
inward appreciate what we have
and focus on the positives as few as
there may be
sometimes we all need someone to carry
us through so it's good to know that mr
parker has our back
number five mind mischief on the surface
this track seems to be a story of
unrequited love
[Music]
yet the title also references how one
can play tricks on themselves
placing heavy importance on details that
perhaps mean nothing at all
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
the meditative qualities of mind
mischief contrast the steady groove
complete with a dose of beetles like
psychedelia as the follow-up track to
apocalypse dreams
the song builds upon the loner concept
with the narrator lost in his thoughts
in second guessing himself time and time
again
[Applause]
all in all it's an evocative production
that succeeds through its lyrical
subtleties and insinuations
[Music]
[Applause]
number four elephants
given the metaphorical lyrics and bluesy
riffs this track naturally became a
favorite of movie and television
executives
with parker wailing on about big egos
and fragile psyches
the thumping base creates a distinct
garage rock feel
a sound that's more evocative of early
tame impala
[Music]
conceptually elephant strays from the
album's overall vibe
and according to reports tame impala
simply enjoyed the sound and wanted to
release the cut
as a result elephant gave them a
mainstream hit further cementing the
band as one of australia's most
successful groups of modern rock
number three the less i know the better
as the album's third single this tame
impala production is often correlated
with the massively popular and
surrealistic music video
[Music]
on its own though the disco inspired
track touches on a post-breakup emotions
and how you're typically better off
walking away
[Music]
contrasting the funky aesthetic the
narrator wallows in his misery
slightly hopeful yet still highly
skeptical about his ex's romantic wants
and needs
[Music]
whereas the central narrative fully
stands out certainly in the music video
parker's phrasing lends a dreamy effect
accentuated by the track's repetitive
outro
number two let it happen
[Music]
for their third studio release tame
impala further expanded their sound and
international appeal
with a highly relatable lead single
not only does let it happen promote
inner peace but the expansive sound
design
highlights tame impalas evolving musical
[Music]
freedom
certain portions of what it happened
become repetitive but this only
strengthens the core message
with parker's soft vocals finding their
way to the subconscious
although the track had modest mainstream
success the indie world welcomed it with
open arms
[Music]
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
why won't you make up your mind
[Music]
why won't they talk to me
[Music]
new person same old mistakes
keep on lying
[Music]
lost in yesterday
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number one feels like we only go
backwards
beginning with a declarative chorus this
tame impala classic
exemplifies the core of their modern
psychedelic vibe
it's all about lonerism it's all about
the romantic rejection that can make one
feel utterly helpless
the chilled out production sets the
shoegazing tone and
parker's high-pitched and strained
vocals embody the narrator's pure
dejection
[Music]
conceptually it's a brilliant mid-album
track for the album lonerism
and the lyrical simplicity exudes a
timeless feel
certainly when paired with tame impala's
moody aesthetic
it's an accessible track yet there's
also a touch of magical realism
as the narrator hopes to escape from
some type of fantasy
[Music]
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