Surprised I’m the first comment on this page...oh well, anyway here goes:

I think Tame Impala is quite possibly the most progressive band of the 10’s so far, particularly Kevin Parker. He effortlessly blends Psychedelic, Progressive rock, 70s funk, and countless other genres. I for one believe that all of their three full length LPs are great works of art and experimentation that could pave the way for a future psychedelic resurgence in the popular consciousness.

Hopefully the next album in the Tame Impala discography will blow all my pre conceived notions out of the water, and really cement their place as one of the most important bands of their era. Give it some time, and a little luck, and hopefully Tame Impala will be seriously considered for induction.

Also, I think the album “Currents” and the song “The Less I Know The Better” should become essential albums and songs, respectively.

Posted by Tyler Partnow on Friday, 12/28/2018 @ 19:36pm

Tyler, I saw these guys about 3 or 4 years ago at Bunbury Music Fest in Cinn. They played in a driving rainstorm. Got in 7 songs before they had to quit. Felt like I was watching the band on the Titanic, as the rain was intense.

They are troopers, that's for sure. Mr. Parker is a very talented individual. Want to see them again.

Posted by Paul in KY on Saturday, 12/29/2018 @ 09:20am

I think they are very consistent and innovative and have a solid shot of making it if they keep up the good work.

Posted by David on Saturday, 07/27/2019 @ 13:51pm

Kevin Parker is nothing short of a musical mastermind. He’s up there with Kendrick Lamar as the best musician of the 2010s. I’m certain Tame Impala will get in.

Posted by Hobby on Monday, 09/9/2019 @ 19:08pm

From my experience with the band's catalog so far, Tame Impala sounds like if the Beatles formed a massive supergroup with members from Cream, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Bee Gees, Depeche Mode, and Radiohead. I'm really impressed with their music, and was even more surprised about Kevin Parker (founding member) being a dead ringer for John Lennon. I'm starting to think about adding these guys on my most wanted list of future eligibles who I think should get inducted years from now. While I do hear some innovations, but the only trouble is they do have some fan-service elements that could make the Hall keep them off, unless Kevin Parker and the company keeps innovating and expanding their musicianships.

Posted by The Dude on Monday, 05/25/2020 @ 20:34pm

The Dude -

I'll make the case for them. They're only about halfway to eligibility so it's still a long way off, but I think that Tame Impala is a likely contender to get in. They are one of the very few rock acts of the 2010s to have achieved the balance of both widespread critical acclaim and commercial success, so that definitely gives them a leg up. Lonerism and Currents are both among the essential albums of the 2010s, and although their new album The Slow Rush doesn't quite live up to those two, another album cycle with the reception of the two that I mentioned could seal the deal for them. As far as innovation goes, they're not reinventing the wheel, but they have carved out quite a unique niche for themselves in combining the modern indie rock aesthetic, psychedelic production, and danceable funk grooves.

Posted by RG on Monday, 05/25/2020 @ 22:15pm

The late 60's and 70's influences got me listening to Tame Impala, but I will say the indie rock aesthetic is what helping them to get a lot of critical acclaim, so I think they could be playing the Hall game by being a Hipster band the best as they could with some spin. That's how Radiohead got in. As for commercial success, their popularity is mostly booming in the home country Australia, and it'll take a little bit of time to grow in the States and even the UK - but seeing them inducted as an FYE might not sound possible for those guys.

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 05/26/2020 @ 08:38am

Tame Impala is really one dude: Kevin Parker. The others are just salaried to help replay the music in live settings.

Posted by Paul in KY on Tuesday, 05/26/2020 @ 10:07am

I agree that they probably won't be an FYE - once we get past like, The White Stripes, almost all future FYE's will probably be pop or hip hop artists because that's just where the zeitgeist has been for the last 15 years.

"the indie rock aesthetic is what helping them to get a lot of critical acclaim, so I think they could be playing the Hall game by being a Hipster band the best as they could with some spin. That's how Radiohead got in."

I'm very confused about what you mean by this, Dude. Are you saying that Tame Impala are intentionally making music that appeals to hipsters in order to secure a Hall of Fame induction 14 years from now? And that Radiohead (a band that famously did not care one bit about being inducted) did the same thing? How would becoming more of a "hipster band" help artists get inducted? Also, how are you defining the term hipster here? Because I think that term became generalized and overused to the point of meaninglessness about 10 years ago.

Posted by RG on Tuesday, 05/26/2020 @ 11:00am

If that's how it was built, then Kevin treats Tame Impala as a music project rather than a band like Trent Reznor's approach with Nine Inch Nails.

Once TI becomes eligible and gets inducted years from now, Kev will be the only addition from the name and brand.

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 05/26/2020 @ 11:00am

@ RG

Most music critics -who aren't really that open minded as they want us to think- are hipsters; they like listening to bands they hear from college radio and at coffee shops that meets their cultural styles and values. Granted, there are non-hipster bands who came from the college scene like the Cure, REM, U2, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and even Green Day and Nine Inch Nails, but they shared similar cultural values and politics with most of the critics who are don't mind listening to their stuff (Dave Matthews Band is pretty much the only exception I could think of). I know the term "hipster" is very confusing, but I'm actually using it properly - NOT as derogatory. Hope that explains it more clearly.

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 05/26/2020 @ 11:19am

Dude -

It clears up what you're saying a bit but I don't agree with you. I will agree that a lot of music critics are not as open-minded as they claim to be, and that they do have a tendency to get stuck in bubbles of music that are intended to appeal to them. However, I think that the way that you are phrasing it is seriously oversimplifying an entire subgenre. Take Radiohead, who you brought up, for instance. Their critical acclaim comes from decades of pushing music in innovative and enjoyable directions through the fusion of their 90s alternative rock roots and experimental/electronic elements. Similar reasons for Tame Impala, as well as every other major critically acclaimed indie/alternative rock band that could one day be a Hall contender. These bands might not be your personal taste, but there are plenty of reasons that critics and audiences like them other than their popularity on college radio (a format that has not really been a relevant tastemaker since the Internet took off), the idea that they are cool to like, and appeal to their shared cultural values (read: liberal?).

Posted by RG on Tuesday, 05/26/2020 @ 12:58pm

@ RG

Actually, terrestrial radio is the number reach in America, so there a plenty of people who care about companionships and local-related stuff that internet does not offer at all (or maybe at least not yet) and not everyone could afford it, so there are a good amount of non-commercial stations still going on right now, especially at collages.

In a political sense, I do agree most music critics tend to be more left-wing leaning. They're more likely to give a low score for an album by an act who find his or their lyrics to be racy and "manly" enough to be considered as sexist in their opinions. Pretty much sums up why a lot of bands outside of the college scene have never been beloved by critics cause it's more to do with their musical styles and/or cultural differences than their qualities. I sometimes like to refer Radiohead, the White Stripes, Arcade Fire, and Tame Impala as the "Coffee Shop" bands cause their the types of bands you would hang out with Starbucks and PJ's while the bands who have never been a critics' favorite like Kiss, Def Leppard, Mötley Crue, and even the 2000's active/arena revivalist rock groups are more like guys you hang out with at bars.

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 05/26/2020 @ 13:39pm

If Kevin Parker was around during the 70's, he would be considered one of the greatest rock artists of all time

Posted by Nick on Monday, 07/17/2023 @ 02:16am