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By: Amanda McMillan I wouldn’t consider myself someone who spends a lot of time on YouTube. I’ll watch the occasional linked video, perhaps some movie trailers, or a music video. Every so often (that is more and more recently with all the extra time on my hands), I will go down a YouTube rabbit hole watching videos of cover songs. I love covers so much! There are some covers that become the most famous version of the song, like Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll” (originally by the Arrows) or 90s classic “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia (originally by Ednaswap). There are others that are just so well done that they are almost better than the original, such as “Man Who Sold the World” by Nirvana on their MTV unplugged appearance (originally a Bowie song), or even Adele’s “Lovesong” (originally by The Cure). Of course, there are always bad covers, or some artists that are really hard to do justice. But my favourite section of YouTube are the famous artists covering other famous artists on shows like BBC Live Lounge or triple j’s Like A Version out of Australia. So with that in mind, I welcome you to take a trip down this YouTube blackhole with me. I have compiled a shortlist of some of my favourite covers performances…originally it was over 30 videos long but even I felt overwhelmed by that! This is as much as I could spare. Wicked Game – London Grammar (Chris Issak Cover) “Wicked Game” is probably one of my favourite songs of all time. It’s so beautiful and sad, but kind of cool. It makes for a great song to cover because it’s not particularly complicated so it allows for a lot of interpretation but has such a focus on vocals that any band can really make it their own. This is one of my favourite versions because they make it extra haunted. Let It Happen – Meg Mac (Tame Impala Cover) A lot of artists cover Tame Impala on Like A Version, likely because they are the most famous Australian band and this is an Aussie show. This cover is really cool, and a gorgeous re-arrangement. It brings a whole new interpretation to this song. Dreams – Lily Kershaw (Fleetwood Mac Cover) Stories is a YouTube channel where session and up and coming musicians cover famous songs. Not all of them are noteworthy, but this is probably the best cover of this song I have ever heard. It’s stunning, and has its own twist but still encapsulates the essence of the original song. The ukes could easily make it feel twee, but Lily Kershaw’s voice is so soulful that it takes it to another level. Chicago – The Staves (Sufjan Stevens cover) I have long been a Staves fan, mostly because I am a sucker for sisterly harmonies (hello HAIM, Joseph, First Aid Kit, etc). This is a beautifully simple song, ripe for covering by just about anyone. There is something both delicate and sweet about this cover, as it is effortless and calm. With voices like that, The Staves can truly do no wrong. Do I Wanna Know – Dua Lipa (Arctic Monkeys cover) Is there anything Dua Lipa can’t do? This stripped-down version of one of the more emotional songs by the Arctic Monkeys is hauntingly stunning. If there was any doubt about whether Dua Lipa can truly sing, this is your proof! The girl has pipes and range for days. Now I’d like to see this turned into a duet with Alex Turner! If anyone can make it happen, it’s the BBC Live Lounge. Feels Like I Only Go Backwards – Arctic Monkeys (Tame Impala cover) Speaking of Arctic Monkeys, this is like the world’s colliding for me! It was a toss-up between this Live Lounge cover and their cover of Drake, but this is the one that I go back to on a more consistent basis. Alex Turner’s voice is so different from Kevin Parker’s, that it brings more of a melancholy vibe to it than the original. Slowed down and stripped back, this really takes on a life of its own. Someday – Julia Jacklin (The Strokes cover) This is such a daydream of a cover! This version almost creates a ballad out of an otherwise messy alt-rock song, but it still has that hazy, hooky, sound to it. Julia Jacklin’s twang gives it something new without making it feel too different or removed. Shake It Off – The Screaming Females (Taylor Swift cover) For whatever reason (probably on the Taylor Swift end of things), the AV Club removed the original video of this. Nonetheless, this is one of the wildest covers I’ve ever heard. I was instantly in love with it and became a Screaming Females fan because of this. It’s so grungy, and Marissa Paternoster’s voice is so distinctive, it brings the most perfect juxtaposition to what was the biggest pop song of the year. No Scrubs – Jorja Smith (TLC Cover) Smith’s voice is smoother than Normandy butter. She can make anything sound beautiful, and this truly iconic song is no different. This is a commonly covered song (because it absolutely slaps), but this version has so much soul and is so intimate that it feels extra special. Black Hole Sun – Jennah Bell (Soundgarden cover) Another one from the Stories YouTube series is one of the best versions of the song I’ve ever heard. This song is based on simplicity from a progression point of view and, like almost everything Chris Cornell sang, it was all about the vocals. This version is no different. Also, her dog is there! Cry Me A River – Methly Ethyl (Justin Timberlake cover) This is yet another cover session that turned me into a fan of a band. This turns what is already a very vibey song into a whole new beast. That bass line? The falsetto? It’s got all the pieces we love about Justin Timberlake but filtered through guitars. Methyl Ethyl is a very talented band out of Australia and the arrangement of this cover is testament to their instincts. My Sharona – Royal Blood (The Knack cover) Who needs a guitar? Not these guys! This is such a metal version of this song, with just drums, a super distorted bass, and vocals. The original is very much pop, New Wave “one-hit wonder” (side note Get The Knack, the album this song is originally on is a lot of fun!), so this is a very different take on it, but that’s what makes it so great. Heart-Shaped Box – Glass Animals (Nirvana Cover) I am a Nirvana purist, so I don’t always have a ton of faith in Nirvana covers, but Glass Animals is so talented and interesting that I knew they would make something cool out of it. What’s great about his video is that he walks us through the process of making this cover in quarantine in his home studio. So, production nerds, this one’s for you!

By: DJ Waves I hope everyone is well, keeping busy, and staying safe! I’ve had a lot more time on my hands, so I’ve been reading! Check out some recommendations and reviews below of music-related books. “ACID FOR THE CHILDREN” – FLEA (For fans of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, SoCal 90s scene) Part journal entry style musings, part sensitive ruminations, RHCP bassist Flea takes readers down memory lane as he retells pivotal moments of his upbringing. A softer side to his seemingly wild exterior, this memoir gets deep into Flea’s head and heart about the experiences that shaped him leading up to the creation of the band with friend Anthony Kedis. “CLOTHES, CLOTHES, CLOTHES. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC. BOYS, BOYS, BOYS.” – VIV ALBERTINE (For fans of British punk and riot grrrl era bands) An incredibly raw and vulnerable story, The Slits’ guitarist Viv Albertine gives a gripping retelling of her experiences in the riot grrrl movement. Brushing shoulders with artists like The Clash and Siouxsie Sioux, Albertine recounts the struggles of teaching herself guitar, navigating leading a female lineup in a male-dominated industry, and ultimately finding herself on her path to success time and time again. “DAISY JONES & THE SIX” – TAYLOR JENKINS REID (For fans of Fleetwood Mac and 60s/70s rock bands) All the sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll glamour of the sixties/seventies music scene explode in the tale of Daisy Jones & The Six. An oral history of the band as told by its members and entourage; the story is so whimsically told that you’d swear the band was actually real and not just a fictional homage to classic rock stars in their Hollywood heyday. “MEET ME IN THE BATHROOM: REBIRTH AND ROCK AND ROLL IN NEW YORK CITY 2001-2011” – LIZZIE GOODMAN (For fans of LCD Soundsystem, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Music journalist Lizzie Goodman weaves stories from 2000s era bands to paint a picture of the scene that put indie rock on the map. Gossip-fueled stories from musicians, record label owners, journalists, and more give a candid look into not just the music scene but the actual relationships between those involved. “THE ROLLING STONE INTERVIEWS” – JANN S. WENNER AND JOE LEVY (For fans of larger than life personalities such as Hunter S. Thompson, Kurt Cobain, & John Lennon) Cultural icons, rock gods, and artists alike come together in this collection of interviews pulled from the years of Rolling Stone magazine. Secrets of their art, scandalous tales of their scene, and personal insight are laid out on the pages of interviews with everyone from Eminem to The Dalai Lama. Follow DJ Waves.

By: Gemma Mastroianni A Path Untold is a musical vision project curated by Daniel Merrill (formerly of Aligning Minds) from Baltimore. The project has been growing and nurturing a unique dance and psychedelic sound for years. Today, Merrill just dropped the Lone Dweller EP. The collection of music takes on a lush, melodic, future garage-influenced sound that tells its story through the lens of the current pandemic the world is facing. It’s honestly a breath of fresh air compared to a variety of tracks that have been released with themes of isolation and repetitive lyricism. The EP was written and produced in just five weeks. Merrill saw this EP as a challenge to get the music out as quickly as possible in hopes of staying relevant to the current situation we face so that we can relate to this music at the moment, and that he succeeded! Each track is a window of emotional reflection as a result of witnessing the unprecedented changes in the society and world around us. “Point B – Fossils (A Path Untold Remix)” is a lowkey dance track, giving me some Thom Yorke vibes. You can vibe out and feel the heavy bass that drowns in and out, with feminine vocals layered beautifully over top. All of the music was written in social isolation, as an expression of the spaces between personal and collective isolation, sharing the hope that this time can result in bringing us closer together as one, as opposed to dividing. “Into The Fray”, the mid-point of the EP, picks things up even more with deeper and diverse bass. I especially admire the amount of detail in between each hit of bass, and there is an immense amount of beauty to take in within this track. I love how the track starts off on a bit of a darker note, and then ends off with a hint of darkness, but has you dancing. “Unity Veil” starts off quiet and atmospheric, but quickly changes into an experimental dance track. The song gives vibes of the struggle we are all undergoing but gives a glimmer of hope. One hundred percent of album proceeds will go to the Ecuadorian Amazon to emergency funds for the Siekopai indigenous community. Ecuador has been among the hardest-hit countries in Latin America, and our greatest fear– that indigenous peoples in the Amazon would be infected by the virus without adequate means to protect themselves– is now a tragic reality. The Siekopai nation in Ecuador is made up of just 744 people and 185 families living across six villages, and Siekopai leaders are deeply concerned about what will happen if the virus continues to spread. With your support, we continue to be able to mobilize information, food, and medical supplies to indigenous communities across the Amazon. I encourage you to sit back, relax, and let this album take you through the mystic journey it perpetuates. It is evidently very carefully crafted, and you will discover something new on each listen as you become more and more interested in what each detail has to offer. Follow A Path Untold on Facebook, Instagram, and Soundcloud.

By: Gemma Mastroianni I discovered RALPH TV through Nice Guys Radio many months ago, and they have quickly become one of my favourite Indie bands. I love their groovy vibes and unique sounds. Arguably, I think Indie bands can learn a lot from this episode because of their work ethic, willingness to be experimental, and more. I was so excited to hear that they would be joining me for my final episode of Wavy for the season to discuss their latest record, that I’m in love with! I was also eager to hear more about the Indie side of the U.K music scene. RALPH TV, from Brighton (UK), blends dreamy melodies, tight grooves, and interchanging vocal lines that combine to create off-kilter tracks marrying pop sensibility with distinctive lo-fi wooziness. Deriving influence from classic artists such as Shuggie Otis and Sade to more contemporary acts like Jerry Paper and Connan Mockasin. They are signed to French Indie label ‘Nice Guys’. Check out the episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow RALPH TV on Instagram.

We understand it’s tough times, and hope that our live music sessions can provide you with some relief. If you are looking for free mental health or addictions resources, please click here.With that said, here is your week nine lineup and set times! May 18th | Dartmouth | 8PM EST Toronto’s own groove grass music. May 19th | Nicole Haber | 8PM EST Singer and songwriter. May 20th | Andrew Shier | 8PM EST Lead singer of Ten Minute Detour. May 21st | Nutrients (Q&A) | 7:30PM EST A Toronto band. May 22nd | Phillip Vonesh | 7PM EST Singer and songwriter. May 22nd | Ester | 8PM EST Chicago based. May 23rd | New Islands | 8PM EST Groovy tunes. May 24th | Lazy Trail | 8PM EST

By: Gemma Mastroianni Photos by: Dakota Arsenault and Gemma Mastroianni Daydream – a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one’s attention from the present. Are you a sparkling water fan, or do you enjoy hemp products? Daydream is Canada’s first hemp and adaptogen infused sparkling water containing no sugar or caffeine. The unique blend of ingredients works with the body’s immune system making it a go-to beverage to increase focus, reduce stress and fatigue. The drink comes in three different flavours, all being delicious and enhancing your relaxation experience. What is in the drink? Hemp extract, Shisandra, Moringa, and Ginseng. The ingredients promote balance and clarity, stress reduction, antioxidants, and improve your focus and memory. We are excited to present a playlist for each flavour, to enhance your Daydream experience. Cucumber Lime This flavour is all about keeping it casual and cool, and so is this playlist. Kick back, relax, and mellow out to this playlist filled with dreamy and psychedelic tunes. Blackberry Chai Blackberry Chai creates an otherworldly connection. With this playlist, you can vibe out with some friends, dance, and experience a combination of beats like never before. Peach Ginger This flavour has the reputation of being nostalgically refreshing, so this playlist features a variety of alternative rock tunes that represent the same thing. You can order your drinks here, or pick some up at your local independent coffee shops, grocery stores, Healthy Planet Ontario, or Sobeys. Follow Daydream on Instagram.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Many artists have pulled back releases understandably so due to the current situation we all find ourselves in, but I give props to the artists who have decided to proceed. Check out some of my favourites: Forever – Sweet Tooth This song is light and uplifting, which is exactly what we could all use during these challenging times! The vocal reverb in the chorus creates the perfect texture for this vintage-esque track. I also love the breakdown at the 2:00 mark, giving the song a hint of psychedelic vibes. I’m definitely going to be bumping this one all summer long! Ascots – Quinn Mills I love the thick bassline this track starts off with, setting the stage for this grunge-rock song. The track has some attitude and edgy riffs, with crisp and cool vocals that overlay it beautifully. The chorus is incredibly catchy, and the song ends with listeners just craving for more- which is why you also need to check out his brand new EP! Fool’s Gold – Small Town Stripclub This blues-inspired track has nice progression, John Mayer inspired vocals, and leading up to a heavy chorus. I like the hints of electric guitar throughout the song, which add a subtle detail that makes the song have an edgier twist to it. The visual-heavy video is actually quite unexpectedly psychedelic but fits very well. I highly recommend you give it a watch. Hostage – Maya Malkin Maya Malkin evidently has an excellent understanding of how to construct a catchy pop-tune. The song has excellent structure, and I love the dream-pop vibe of the chorus. If you listen closely, the production has a lot of detail that makes this such a fun and dreamy song that glimmers. Ballroom Blitz – Church on Sunday I first heard Church on Sunday play this cover at their Lee’s Palace show, and it was one of the most memorable performances of the show. I love that they customize the intro to their band members, and set the tone for an upbeat and fun track that’ll get you dancing. The cover is spot-on, with a bit of a heavier tone to it. I was also very impressed with the production, which can be tricky when doing covers. Well done! Watch Your Step – Nickie Minshall This song reminds me of a Lapsley song, with some beautiful reverb that compliments the track perfectly. The song is light, feminine, emotional, and the vocals are evidently the highlight of the song. Chering – Luge I love this track! It’s the perfect mix of rock and roll, but also has a dancey vibe to it with a Luge unusual twist. This track was pretty unexpected, but so well executed. I Can Do What I Want To – Command Sisters I love the mixture of pop and rock in this new tune, and the rock is really heavy. Pop-rock can be pretty light these days, but the Command Sister’s are pushing boundaries and I’m so here for it. Check out the home-made artsy music video.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Soundtrack Photographer and TikTokker (is that a word?) Jayben Favila joins me to discuss everything TikTok. To my surprise, it has had a way bigger impact on the music scene than I originally had thought! We discuss the different social groups on the app (such as furries, e-boy, and e-girl, etc.) the random and ever-changing algorithm, hype house drama, the Chinese government, and more. Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow Jayben on TikTok and Instagram.

Week eight, let’s go! We understand it’s tough times, and hope that our live music sessions can provide you with some relief. If you are looking for free mental health or addictions resources, please click here. With that said, here is your week seven lineup and set times! Quinn Mills – May 11th – 8PM EST Alt-Pop/Rock Nice Going – May 12th – 8PM EST Garage Indie, Pop-Punk, Emo. Sophie Terraso – May 13th – 8PM EST Indie Pop-Rock Uma Bloo – May 14th – 8PM EST Uma Bloo is a multi-faceted project. Focusing on emotive music and character performance, Molly Madden invented an otherworldly, immersive artistic experience. Peeko – May 15th – 8PM EST Atlanta-based indie, rock band. Formed in early 2018. The Fame – May 16th – 8PM EST An indie-rock outfit born in Toronto, Canada. The Fame is Brandon Samuel, Yu Miyazaki, Andrew Spurio & Rodrigo Aguero. Joe Nebulous – May 17th – 8PM EST queer / twee pop / seeking intimacy / don’t call me joey

We’re all stoked to see that Spotify is putting together playlists customized to their user’s pets. A few of us on the team we’re eager to show you all what all of our pets are jamming out to, in combination with telling you a bit about their personalities. Check out the playlists and info below: Oskar the Beta Fish Owner: Tye Hardy Oskar is a legendary, lazy fish. He sits in his castle all day, just hanging out. Sometimes he pops out to stare at my computer monitor. I like to imagine he’s intellectual [sentient? Smart?] enough to enjoy the TV shows I’m watching. When he’s not just chilling in his castle, he’s usually swimming at the surface of his tank wanting food, and he can EAT. These traits make him nothing less than a king. Because of his chill, laid back nature, he probably enjoys listening to artists such as Post Malone, Rocky Votolato, Rush, A.A. Bondy, and more. Buddy the Poodle Owners: Tressa and Gemma Mastroianni Buddy is a 16-year-old miniature poodle. As much as he prefers having all of his owners home, he spends a lot of time alone and napping or laying down. He enjoys being petted or having his ears rubbed for about a minute, but otherwise, he likes to hang alone. You can most likely catch him napping throughout the day or staring out the front door waiting for his mom to come home. When he wants someone’s attention, he will find them, stand in front of them, and stare until he gets it. He gets super hyped for treats; specifically, bananas (as seen in my photo), pizza crust, or on occasion a lick of ice cream. In his old age things have become a bit blurry and he trips in the grass or bump into stuff, but he is pretty resilient so he gets right back up and keeps trottin’ along. His taste is quite versatile and in his playlist, you’ll find a wide variety of tunes from rock to indie electronica to R&B. Five Owner: Dakota Arsenault My wife and I adopted our greyhound Five, seven years ago, when he was three years old from a Toronto group called Greyhounds in Need of Adoption (GiNA) that rescued retired racing dogs from the US and helped them find forever homes back in Canada. Five had a pretty decent racing career, winning a few races and placing often in almost two years on the track. He ended up getting a hock injury (back leg) and usually, that would mean the end of a racing greyhounds life, but luckily Five was his owner’s favourite and he was put through rehab and eventually made his way to us. When we adopted him they recommended we didn’t let him run at full speed as he might reaggravate his injury, lucky for him he now hates to run. For some reason, Five would rather spend 20 hours a day sleeping or laying in bed. He loves to go out for walks, but sleeping in the sun in our living room or on his big comfy bed in our bedroom is what he rather do. Greyhounds don’t bark or make a lot of noise (some roo, which is both adorable and obnoxious) so you need to pay attention to their micro emotions to see how they are feeling. Five is great at letting us know when he wants a treat, or some attention, or more often than not to just be left alone. At the dog park, he’s fairly anti-social ignoring dogs that want to play and instead walks around the perimeter to smell where other dogs have left their marks or going up to the owners who give him attention. While answering the questions about my pet’s personality to generate this playlist I was curious at what would be pulled. I listen to just about everything and was a bit disappointed that most of the tracks chosen were things I have been listening to in the last month and mostly were dance-pop songs. Five usually leaves the room when we watch a movie or play music because the noise annoys him. There are a couple of good tracks that might suit his personality, but that might just be me enjoying them too much and projecting. Valiant Owner: Alyssa Keighan Valiant is a spunky 15-year-old shih-tzu with a heart of gold. Though his puppy days are long gone and he lives that “senior citizen” life, he would like to think that he has quite a big personality for being such a small dog. Ideally, he enjoys spending his days happily trotting alongside his mommy following her wherever she goes and playing a really fun game of “chase after my sister Alyssa” where he tries to lick her feet and she runs away. He can’t see very well anymore so he is a little clumsy and bump into walls and doors sometimes, but he still loves trying to catch the butterflies and rabbits outside in his backyard. After his long days of napping and playing, he loves to eat his favourite food – which is whatever his sister or mommy is eating – and then he cuddles with his best friend and favorite toy, the red squeaky plush dog. Sometimes (a lot) he can snore loudly and fart in his sleep, but Valiant promise’s it’s just another one of his many endearing qualities. On his playlist, you can expect to find a little bit of everything. Sheryl Crow, Tame Impala, Clairo, Rihanna, Drake….the playlist is quite robust and has is a great option for every mood, just like Valiant! Ru Owner: Amanda McMillan Ru is a rescue pup, so she’s generally kind of skittish and anxious. But she has a very playful and silly side, and is a little bit sassy when she wants to be! Her day consists of a morning bathroom break, followed by breakfast, and then naps until about 11:45 when she starts to beg us to go outside to play. After her afternoon frolic, she will either nap or wander around the house, trying to sneak up on the bed or catch a patch of sunshine in the back room. She is very prompt about when she expects to have dinner (5:30) and will remind you if you are late to serve her! She likes a quiet evening, cuddled on the couch, or taking some “me time” elsewhere. She often puts herself to bed around 10:00, after she’s been out for a sniff and a pee. She loves squeaky toys and tennis balls and will do just about anything for a treat. The music on her playlist is pretty varied for the most part but has a general synth or electronic vibe to it. I discovered a few gems on this list that I will be adding to my own playlists! Ru’s response to the music so far has been…uninterested. Better luck next time, Spotify!

By: Amanda McMillan When Aussie group Tame Impala released their debut album InnerSpeaker in 2010, it was difficult to determine if it would have any staying power. When it was dropped onto the music scene, surrounded by bubblegum pop stars, it felt like a fever dream. The top-selling artists at the time were Rihanna, Ke$ha, and a very fresh-faced Justin Bieber. Although MGMT had broken out of the alt-rock box and managed to trickle into the mainstream with their trippy major hit single “Electric Feel” a couple of years prior, alt-rock had certainly lost its steam coming out of the aughts and pop was more than dominating. Tame Impala’s nostalgic psychedelia seemingly came out of nowhere. With an undeniable likeness to the first side of The Beatles’ Revolver, InnerSpeaker brought a certain late-60s vibe into the 21st century with a lot of distortion and digitized synth, like it ran everything through the Matrix. A little chaotic and busy at times, the album is perhaps a nod to Australian ‘party culture’…or merely opening the door into Kevin Parker’s brain. In that way, Innerspeaker truly stood on its own, unique not only sonically but also from a production perspective. Kevin Parker wrote, recorded, and produced a majority of the album himself (with help from Jay Watson and Dominic Simper). Similar to the writing and composition of the 60s, Parker created an album that felt like some sort of sonic experiment. He takes his time to get to the point, and now that we have the benefit of being able to reflect on Tame Impala’s discography as a whole, InnerSpeaker was evidently just the beginning. It almost seems as though Parker was playing around, trying things out, and he decided to hit record. To say this album is experimental is an understatement, especially when you look at what it was surrounded by at the time. Almost defiant of the Music Making Machine, it wasn’t put out to appease a specific sub-genre of listeners, it was meant to call into question the entire process of making a record in a new decade, in a new era of the music industry. In his own words, Kevin Parker explains the album as lo-fi and gritty, but at the same time arranged in an electronic manner. So it’s less like a band recording in a room. Things come in and out – a drumbeat sounding more like it’s been sampled for example. It’s funny how your objectives change throughout the project, though. In the end, I think I was a little disappointed that I didn’t make it as face-punching as possible. A little rambling at times (the longest song stands at over seven minutes), the album doesn’t really have the same stand out moments that the rest of his discography would end up having. But, it’s still hard to believe that an album like InnerSpeaker, in its infinite strangeness, is one that Parker considers to be something he toned down. It would seem that the focus for Parker on this album was to create a “wall of sound” that he would then use as a bit of a baseline for the sonic identity of Tame Impala. Lyrically, the album explores themes around relationships, self-doubt, and feeling like an outsider. Perhaps it is from these themes that Parker didn’t feel her could land on something “face-punching”, as his focus was more on introspection and passive observations rather than movement and force. Generally speaking, the album went on to be quite successful from a critical perspective. Among its accolades it was named Rolling Stone’s Album of the Year, it won a J Award for Australian Album of the Year, and ranked 43rd out of 50 on Pitchfork’s Top 50 Albums of the Year. For a debut album from a non-American band, that’s a pretty good record. However, it’s their sophomore release Lonerism that would end up being Tame Impala’s most critically acclaimed album, going on to again win the coveted title of Rolling Stone Album of the Year, place Tame Impala as the first band to ever win two J awards, and win a Grammy for Best Alternative Album. One might argue that without the momentum and experimental nature of InnerSpeaker, the gospel of Tame Impala that would eventually follow, would perhaps have never been preached. InnerSpeaker is the kind of album that meanders more than anything, but it is certainly a reminder that all who wander are not lost. While Lonerism, and indeed later Currents may be thought of as the bigger prizes in the band’s initial trio of work, InnerSpeaker simply requires a little more work from its listeners. Instead of handing us a shiny platter, InnerSpeaker has us panning for gold. Ten years later, the little nuggets shine just as brightly on their own as they did before. The album is far from perfect, and in Kevin Parker’s own evaluation of his work, it is, perhaps in some places, lacking. But it was the start of something bigger than this collection of songs, it was the foundation upon which Tame Impala would inevitably build a home and invite us all inside. For me, this is not an album I go back to on a regular basis (the way I do with Currents and more frequently now The Slow Rush). My personal Tame Impala journey did not start with this album, but rather somewhere in-between the release of the singles “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” (Lonerism) and “Let It Happen” (Currents). I had to work my way backwards to this first release (and even further for their initial EP). Realizing that it had been ten years since its release, I thought it was as good a time as any to give it another spin. Trying to track between placing myself in 2010 and knowing what I know now from the band, it was difficult to get into a headspace for this album. But once I let go of all of that, I started to hear things that I hadn’t noticed before and it made the album feel almost new again. If you haven’t revisited this album in a while, or if you haven’t listened to it at all, I highly recommend giving it a whirl. Like every Tame Impala album, there is plenty to explore and uncover, and although this album has aged, it still sounds just as sweet.

By: Gemma Mastroianni I was honoured to have Taylor of Local Natives on Wavy this week! We chatted Violet Street Remixes, how the band is getting through quarantine, and new releases coming our way soon (one tune is in collaboration with Sharon Van Etten!) Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can listen to the album here. Follow Local Natives on Instagram.