There’s a lot of different kinds of music out there, and some of it’s really good. Duh. But to someone who isn’t exposed to much outside of the mainstream, this can all seem pretty overwhelming. So, in an attempt to make things a little bit easier for those just getting into music, we’re going to run through our top picks for the best psychedelic music albums. Are there even any other kinds? Well… Probably not, but you get the idea.
Thee Oh Sees
Thee Oh Sees are one of the few psychedelic bands that have been around for, well, ever. The band formed in Irvine, California in 1992, and have been going strong ever since, releasing 12 studio albums and a wealth of EPs, singles, and other releases along the way. In addition, the band have been prolific producers, putting out five collaborations and five studio albums, under their own name. The band’s sound is a somewhat unusual blend of garage rock, surf, and psych-rock, but is always captivating and unique. Thee Oh Sees’ sound has been described as being a “psychedelic garage rock” band, and whilst this probably isn’t an entirely accurate description, it is a good starting point to understanding their music. They’re definitely not a wispy-folkie band, but neither are they the kind of band that’s likely to make your average rocker sit up and take notice. Thee Oh Sees’ sound has evolved over the years, with their debut being a far- flung garage rock album, whilst their most recent work is a bit more psychedelic. The band have a lot of great tracks on their back catalogue, and we’d recommend checking them out if you get the chance.
Tame Impala
From their namedrop-heavy album cover art to the way their music has been described as sounding like “a late-night drive through a surreal dreamscape”, it’s pretty clear that Tame Impala are all about psychedelic music. Originating in Perth, Western Australia, the group were formed in 2009, and are best known for their 2015 album Currents, but have also released a number of other interesting tracks along the way. The band’s sound is a unique blend of psychedelic rock, indie, and dance influences, meaning their music is always interesting and unique. Tame Impala’s sound is one of the most interesting and unique in the current psychedelic scene, and is certainly worth checking out if you’re interested in finding out more about this kind of music. The band have been described as a “psychedelic rock band”, but this doesn’t really do them justice. Their sound is very much their own thing, and is much more experimental and unique than the average psychedelic band.
Spectrum Deluxe
Spectrum Deluxe are a band from Los Angeles led by singer-songwriter Tyler Pope. The group’s sound is a unique blend of psych, rock, and pop, with a few jazz and blues influences thrown in for good measure. The group’s sound is very hook-driven, but also has a lot of depth and substance to it. Pope’s voice is a fascinating blend of psych sound effects and accessible pop vocals, meaning the songs are always interesting and easy to get into. The band’s sound is a very interesting one, and is probably best described as a blend of psychedelic and pop, but it’s also got some great depth and substance to it too. The lyrics are often metaphorical and surreal, and the music is always catchy and memorable, making for an intriguing, rewarding experience.
Tycho
Tycho is an American electronic band formed in 2004, led by synth player Scott Hansen. The band’s sound is a unique blend of psychedelic, progressive, jazz, and electronica influences, and is often described as “cinematic”. The band’s sound is often very dynamic and cinematic, with the music often having a great deal of depth and substance to it. Tycho’s sound is a very unusual one, and is one of the most unique sounds in the current psychedelic scene. The group don’t typically use guitars or traditional instruments, instead using only electronic music, but the music still feels organic and grounded in the real world. Hansen’s voice is a thing of beauty, and the lyrics are often very insightful and meaningful.
Shpongle
Shpongle is a psychedelic band formed in London in 1996. The group’s sound is a unique blend of psych, rock, electronic, and Indian influences, and is often described as “surreal and spiritual”. The group are known for their eclectic, eclectic style of music-making, and you can expect a lot of variety and variety in the performances of each and every one of their concerts. Shpongle’s sound is a very unusual one, and is one of the most unique sounds in the current psychedelic scene. The group don’t typically use guitars or traditional instruments, instead using only electronic music, but the music still feels organic and grounded in the real world. The music is often very rhythmic and hypnotic, making it easy to lose yourself in.
Dead Meadow
Dead Meadow is an American psych band that formed in New York City in 2005. The group’s sound is a unique blend of psych jams and dreamy, psychedelic pop, and is often described as “journey-like”. The band’s sound is very captivating and melodic, with the music often having a great deal of depth and substance to it. The group’s sound is a very unusual one, and is one of the most unique sounds in the current psychedelic scene. The band don’t typically use guitars or traditional instruments, instead using only electronic music, but the music still feels organic and grounded in the real world. The music is often very hypnotic and rhythmic, making it easy to lose yourself in.
Electric Wizard
Electric Wizard are an English psychedelic rock band formed in Birmingham, England in 1991. The band’s sound is a unique blend of garage rock, stoner rock, and psychedelic influences, and is often described as “heavy and fuzzy”. The band’s sound is a very heavy one, and is one of the most unique sounds in the current psychedelic scene. The band don’t typically use guitars or traditional instruments, instead using only electric guitars and bass. The music is usually very fast and heavy, making it easy to lose yourself in. The band’s sound has evolved over the years, but can generally be split into two distinct eras – the first being their “southern sludge” era, and the second being their “heavy and fuzz” era.
Sturgill Simpson
Sturgill Simpson is an American country singer-songwriter and guitarist best known for his Grammy-nominated 2016 album A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, which was described by many as a psychedelic album. The name Simpson is also widely associated with psychedelic music. The name comes from a combination of a country artist and a Simpsons character, with Simpson being shortened from Simpson’s Coochie. Simpson’s sound is a blend of country, alt-country, folk, and blues, and is best described as “rich and well-crafted”. The music is often very intimate, personal, and relatable, with the lyrics often having a great deal of depth and substance to them. Simpson’s sound has evolved a lot over the years, with his early work being described as “rootsy and swampy”, whereas his recent work has been described as “country-tinged folk”.
Conclusion
Many people think that psychedelic music is just a novelty thing that’s only for hippies, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Psychedelic music is actually very accessible and enjoyable, and can appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. If you’re interested in trying out a new genre of music, or just want to expand your musical palette, then you should definitely think about giving psychedelic music a try.
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