GUM
The Underdog
Spinning Top
Apr 18, 2018 Web Exclusive
One of the most impressive things about Tame Impala—apart from their three terrific full-length albums and mercurial live performances—is just how talented all members of the band have proven to be individually. It’s a well-known secret at this stage that Kevin Parker masterminded the majority of their studio records and continues to be active in solo projects as well as in POND, but Cameron Avery is a lesser-known Impala cog who released a fantastic record last year and now Jay Watson, drummer with both Tame Impala and POND has released his fourth album under the moniker GUM.
Featuring expressive and choppy beats, colorful arrangements, and pop melodies to rival some of the best out there, The Underdog pitches Watson, for the first time, as an artist in his own right. It’s easy to hear the contribution that he made to his work with POND and Tame Impala on this record as well as hearing how those experiences have influenced his own sound. The raw and rough edge present on 2010 Tame Impala release Innerspeaker would perhaps be the best thing to compare The Underdog to. Tracks such as “S.I.A.,” “Serotonin,” and “Couldn’t Get Past My Ego” all do well from mirroring this obvious influence.
It isn’t all sunshine and delight for the Australian psych whizz though. The album, overall, still carries with it a sense of underground fuzz and indie grit that is fine in and of itself, but begins to wear a little thin, especially as it’s the fourth GUM album. It thus feels stagnated and regressive, which ultimately results in the album that is an interesting enough listen, but one that won’t live long in the memory or heart of the listener. (www.spinningtopmusic.com/pages/gum)
Author rating: 6.5/10
Average reader rating: 7/10
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