As band names go, it doesn’t get much better than “Tame Impala.”
To start with, it’s got that touch of contradiction that works so well for rock bands. But the contrast isn’t as on-the-nose as it is with names like Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath or Guns N Roses. Tame Impala gets points for contrast, but also subtlety.
Phonetically, it just rolls off the tongue nicely. Tame Impala. The sequence of vowels is pleasing for some reason, interrupted only by gentle consonants like ‘m’ and ‘p’. It’s neither too long nor too short for a band name; it’s about as long as a person’s full name. In fact its syllable count mirrors the name of the multi-instrumentalist and mastermind behind the project: Kevin Parker.
Which brings us to another important ingredient in a good band name: relevance and meaning. Despite being Australian, Parker’s parents are from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa, both countries where impalas can be found.
Original, meaningful, easy to say, and memorable. Top marks.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. The hallmark of Tame Impala’s music is the bass lines. They tend to have a looping, infinite quality to them, which means you’re likely to have them stuck in your head all day. This one is a perfect example: notice how the track starts not on the downbeat, but with the last two beats of the bass line’s melody, as if you’ve joined it already in progress.
2. Sonically opposite to the bass lines are the high-tenor vocals. It’s like…it’s…sorry, this is the only comparison I can think of: it’s like if the Bee Gees were cool.
3. Tame Impala is also known for his dreamy, psychedelic soundscapes. It’s not overdone, but bits of reverb here and there go a long way. (Side note: in 2012 he helped produce an album by then-girlfriend Melody Prochet that spawned the dreamy track we listened to in week 413. That project was also superbly named – Melody’s Echo Chamber.)
Recommended listening activity:
Imagining what your family’s name would be if it was a band.