Tame Impala

This record is getting enough coverage all over the internet, so I really shouldn't even add to the cacophony with my two cents. And under most circumstances I wouldn't. If I didn't feel as strongly as I do about this single, I would just skip it. But "Elephant" by Tame Impala is easily the single of the year, and this should be shouted from the rooftops.

This is not to imply that the full record isn't worthwhile. No, in fact, Lonerism is a pretty great record. Much like their previous release, the latest from the Australian band pulls from the psychedelic-era Beatles cannon, and plunders the sunny and the trippy in equal measures throughout. The songs are solid and just complex enough to keep giving after multiple listens, while also keeping to the hook-laden catchy pop songwriting rule book.

But Elephant is more. Not only does it stand out on the new LP, it stands out in the music world. It marries the aforementioned psychedelia with a heavy glam rock stomp-along swinging beat, scuzzy guitars and enough fits and starts to keep things interesting throughout (Think Gary Glitter, Roxy Music and the Sweet). As it chugs along, begging for head banging and pogo-ing, it drops to a slinky velvet analog synth trail of discovery that just leads you deeper into the rabbit hole. This is the song that Jefferson Airplane would dream of; it's the song that the Raconteurs were looking to put on their debut. But "Elephant" bests them all, and just might change stadium intro music for the next few years.