The Best Psychedelic Rock Groups of 2017
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A list of the best psychedelic rock groups of 2017. These bands will take you on a trip with their mind-bending sounds and hypnotic grooves.
The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977. The mainstay of the band is singer Richard Butler, who co-founded the band with his brother Tim Butler on bass guitar. The Psychedelic Furs biggest hit, “Love My Way”, was released in July 1982. In February 2017, the band announced a reunion tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, which will kick off in San Francisco on April 28 and end in Boston on May 20.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American musical project and band led by Anton Newcombe. It was founded in San Francisco in 1990. The group was the subject of the 2004 documentary film Dig!, directed by Ondi Timoner, which documented their long history of interpersonal tensions. The group recorded and performed prolifically between 1994 and 2000, releasing nine albums over six years, although their activity slowed considerably afterwards due largely to Newcombe’s struggles with heroin addiction. Musically, the Brian Jonestown Massacre incorporates elements of 1960s psychedelic rock, garage rock, folk music and country music into their own unique brand of neo-psychedelia. They have been championed as one of the premier “revivalist” groups of the 1990s and 2000s for their sound as well as for their lengthy recording output.
The Flaming Lips
Formed in Oklahoma City in 1983, The Flaming Lips are one of the most well-known and respected psychedelic rock groups of all time. They have continued to evolve throughout their career, always keeping their sound fresh and innovative.Their 13th studio album, “Oczy Mlody”, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim. It is a perfect example of their ability to stay relevant and exciting after all these years.
The Dandy Warhols
One of the more underrated psychedelic groups of the last two decades, The Dandy Warhols formed in 1994 in Portland, Oregon. While their sound has morphed over the years – going fromTired (1996) to Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia (2000) to Welcome to the Monkey House (2003) – they’ve always had one foot in the past, paying homage to their ’60s and ’70s predecessors while still managing to sound fresh and relevant.
Their most recent album, Distortland, was released in 2016 and finds the band returning to their roots, with an ethereal, reverb-drenched sound that channels The Velvet Underground and The Doors. It’s a welcome return to form for a group that’s always been at their best when they’re looking back – while still managing to move forward.
Tame Impala
Tame Impala is an Australian rock band formed in Perth in 2007. The group’s musical style has been variously described as psychedelic pop, dream pop, and neo-psychedelia. Kevin Parker is the only constant member of the band, with other members joining and leaving as the band’s sound has developed over time.
The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2010 on Modular Recordings. It reached number four on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart and was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2011 Grammy Awards. The group’s second album,, Lonerism, was released in 2012; it topped the ARIA Albums Chart and received positive reviews from critics. In 2014, Tame Impala won Best International Group at the BRIT Awards then toured nationally across Australia before performing at Lollapalooza Berlin, Splendour in the Grass and Austin City Limits Music Festival. Current members *include Kevin Parker (lead vocals, guitar, bass), Dominic Simper (guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals), Jay Watson (synthesiser; percussion; backing vocals), Cam Avery (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Julien Barbagallo (drums).
