‘Currents’ Turns 10: How Tame Impala’s Masterpiece Redefined Modern Music

It doesn’t feel real that Tame Impala’s Currents is turning 10. For many of us, this album wasn’t just a collection of songs, it was a soundtrack to an era of self-discovery, heartbreak, and change. I still remember the first time I heard Let It Happen, those looping synth arpeggios felt infinite, like the sound of a mind unraveling and rebuilding all at once.

When Kevin Parker released Currents on July 17, 2015, he didn’t just pivot auditorally,  he completely reinvented Tame Impala’s identity. Moving away from the guitar-driven psychedelia of Innerspeaker and Lonerism, Parker leaned into shimmering synths, pulsing basslines, and falsetto vocals that carried a raw vulnerability. It was bold, unexpected, and ultimately, game-changing.

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Tracks like The Less I Know The Better and Eventually weren’t just hits—they became emotional touchstones. The Less I Know The Better even took out #1 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 of the Decade, cementing its place in Australian music history. The album swept the 2015 ARIA Awards, winning Album of the Year and Best Rock Album, while critics hailed it as one of the decade’s defining releases. Rolling Stone later ranked it among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

What makes Currents so enduring is how it straddled worlds. It spoke to indie kids and pop fans alike, catching the ears of artists like Harry Styles, Rihanna, and The Weeknd, who would all go on to collaborate with Parker or cite him as an influence. It paved the way for Tame Impala to headline Coachella, sell out arenas worldwide, and shape the sound of modern pop.

Listening back today, it still feels timeless. The emotional weight of New Person, Same Old Mistakes hits just as hard, the woozy beauty of Yes I’m Changing feels just as bittersweet. Parker himself once said Currents was about “transformation”—but it transformed us too.

Ten years on, Currents hasn’t aged a bit. It’s still the sound of falling apart, moving forward, and finding peace in the chaos.