Tame Impala Feels Like A “Deadbeat”
Album image via Spotify
Tame Impala is one of the most famous indie/alternative artists out there. Everyone knows him, whether it’s from “The Less I Know the Better” or the Barbie soundtrack. He’s the guy whose music feels like a full band, but it’s just one guy. Tame Impala is known for its funky grooves and almost ethereal mix of instruments, synths, and electronic techniques. Kevin Parker is considered a lyrical genius who combines these sounds with raw emotions. His last album, The Slow Rush, is a great example of this work. However, there’s been this bubbling under the surface; something is shifting. The band had a few singles and features with French duo Justice, Thundercat, Gorillaz, and he even helped with the recent Minions movie soundtrack. These collaborations left me feeling, What is Kevin cooking up for us next?
Deadbeat is undeniably different from the other Tame Impala albums. Currents and The Slow Rush were huge albums. They defined a time and era. Currents was seen as a revolutionary album and can be found in almost everyone’s record collection. The theme around Deadbeat that I can gather is that this is Kevin’s way of saying I just wanted to make an album. This isn’t a revolutionary album for the music world, but it’s still good. He feels like a “deadbeat” because he’s not breaking the mold; he just wants to make music.
Image va Instagrm
Unlike some of the previous albums, Deadbeat isn’t telling a cohesive story. Each song is self-contained. They vary in genre, feeling, and sound. It’s Kevin trying a little bit of everything. I quite enjoy hearing him branch out from techno-dance on "Ethereal Connection” to Enya adjacent sounds on “Piece of Heaven”. Even lyrically, the songs differ from track to track. I love how fun the lyrics of “Dracula” are: “I'm on the verge of caving in, I run back through the dark/ Now I'm Mr. Charisma, fuckin' Pablo Escobar (Escobar) / My friends are saying, "Shut up, Kevin, just get in the car" (Kevin)” Kevin gets emotional with feeling dejected in “Afterthought” with: “I can be emotional / If you need me to / Tell me, what do I say to turn this around?”.
Deadbeat is something entirely new, and that’s what I love most about it. Each song is a different taste of what is influencing Kevin right now. The sounds on this album are exciting as you listen to each track. It’s dancey, it’s magical, at times ravey. It’s unlike anything I’ve heard before, yet it sounds like so many other things I have. Deadbeat feels like Tame Impala at its best, yet at its worst. Like so many artists before him, Kevin Parker is free. Free from the expectations of others in the industry and beyond. I will be adding some of these tracks to my rotation, like “Piece of Heaven”, “Dracula”, “My Old Ways”, and “No Reply”. Others might grow on me or never make it like “Oblivion”, “Obsolete”, and “Ethereal Connection”. Simply because they’re not my vibe. People online have been saying that they’ve lost hope in Kevin Parker because of this album. I think he’s just getting started. This album feels like a way for Tame Impala to be imperfect and to try a little bit of everything. If you’re a fan of indie, alternative, techno, or electronic, give Deadbeat a listen.
