there's been like 3-4 threads about these guys, so I'm gonna use the very first one. CLOSE EM ALL.
Currents leaked, I decided to have a full listen, no interruptions or distractions, here are my thoughts.
It's pretty great. Maybe a step down from Innerspeaker, or equal to.
Still has Kevin's great ear for production, sounds brilliant on headphones, just sound-wise it's a knock of out the park.
Guitars play a much smaller part in the album, with keys and vocals being the main focal point for most of the time.
The mix of modern r'n'b with funk influences, and the use of synthetic strings and brass make it sound like a weird mix of Thriller and The Soft Bulletin, which I totally get behind.
Its sonic palette isn't as diverse as what Lonerism was, though, and I feel that could be a hindrance for some, as pulling the songs apart may be more difficult.
I can see it growing, though. For sure.
I can't see it hitting the spectacular explosive qualities of Lonerism, but in the same sense, Currents is also a bold statement.
That seems to be a thing where Kevin hasn't really stepped out of line with yet, all of Tame Impala's records have felt like cohesive pieces of work, instead of a collection of songs. Currents sounds like it's saying something, but if you compare it to what Lonerism was saying, the message is a little less obscured and more straightforward.
Fave tracks would be
Eventually (I totally underwrote that track initially, it has a great sense of dynamics and the chorus melody is irresistible.)
Past Life (Probably the most experimental cut, but it's also paired with the stickiest melody. The heavy hip hop beat and the blown out bass with the phasing and droning synths, all together create a surreal mood that is utterly intoxicating. The way it leads into Disciples really works well, too.)
Reality in Motion (I read NME's review, and they said this was one of the weak parts, which I don't agree with at all. I feel it's the poppiest song on the album, it's got a great chorus, and the lyrics are relateable, and is pretty darn upbeat at that. I'm surprised this wasn't chosen to be a single, really.)
I didn't find a single song to be bad, there were one or two forgettable tracks, but with a sound that's so homogenous, some things do get lost in the mush.
Hell, even the singles I was initially apprehensive on have grown on me. I jammin to I'm a Man while I was listening, for sure.
score (in p4k terms): 8.7