One media product that has changed my life is the album ‘Currents’ by Tame Impala. The album was released on the 17th of July in 2015 by Modular Recordings and Universal Music Australia, including 13 songs with a combination of guitar and synth sound. Tame Impala is a music-project created by Kevin Parker who writes, records and produces all songs by himself, and records in his home studio in Fremantle, Australia. Parker claims the inspiration for ‘Currents’ comes from Fleetwood Mac, and the pureness and cleaness of their songs influenced a more streamlined style of music, and was also intended to give listeners more of a dance-oriented album, contrasting his previous psychedelic-rock sound. The album explores personal transformation and potentially the result of a relationship breakup, however, Parker claims the album claims it to be about breaking up with himself and another part of himself.
Currents is the 3rd album of Tame Impala, which won both best rock album and album of the year in 2015 and is ranked 382nd on the Rolling Stones list of ‘the 500 greatest albums of all time’ which claims that the album is a ‘modern Australian classic’. The success of the album led to Tame Impala headline Coachella and Glastonbury. I chose this album for the media product that changed my life as I believe its relevance has become a part of my life. I first discovered the album in 2019, which resulted in tame impala becoming one of my favourite artists at the time as his music was so easy listening and diverse.
My favourite songs from the album are ‘Let It Happen’ and ‘Cause I’m A Man’. ‘Let It Happen’ is easily a modern classic at 8 minutes long. The song's title alone connotes the idea of freedom in letting go and allowing anything to happen. This may be interpreted as Kevin Parker letting go of his past selves worries and doubts in regards to expectations as an artists as of the lyric ‘It’s always around me, all this noise, but, not nearly as loud as the voice saying let it happen’ with ‘all this noise; representing his deeper thoughts. The repetition of ‘let it happen’ may also implicate the acceptance of the fact that life is ultimately limited and constantly changing and to avoid fearing it. Overall the song's potentially ‘deep’ meaning lyrics do not distract from the catchy and upbeat main riff that plays after the build up of lyrics and more muted music. ‘Cause I’m A Man’ is also one of my favourite songs from the album as of the songs' synth-heavy sound and catchy guitar riff. The song is about the concept of men specifically in relationships and how their own pride can be both their greatest weakness and strength as they challenge living up to masculine stereotypes and need to prove their worth referenced by the lyrics ‘can never accept defeat and let it slide’ and ‘my weakness is the source of all my pride’.
Overall, I would recommend this album to anyone and I believe that everyone should listen to it at least once as the style of songs throughout the album are all so diverse and can appeal to anyone as they are all brilliantly produced.
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