Tame Impala [real name Kevin Parker] returned this October with his new album Deadbeat after a five year hiatus from his previous studio album The Slow Rush. But unlike anything in his catalogue, Deadbeat brings something fresh to the table.
The album starts off with “My Old Ways,” with a demo style intro that gives his listeners a picture of what’s inside his mind. The song may be representative of multiple topics, and since there is no concrete answer, it’s up to the listener to decide, a feat that may have been intended. Some listeners draw parallels to relapsing or drug addiction, while some view it as coming back to the spotlight with a new album. Regardless, this is one of the best parts of the song and how it challenges listeners to draw their own conclusions about the songs meaning.
Songs like “Dracula” showcase how this album differs from his others. This track starts to make it clear that this album is heavily influenced by dance genres and hints of pop. It seems like these songs were made to be enjoyed in party or club settings, something different from his other bodies of work. However, the tracks still have the quintessential Tame Impala feel that we’ve grown accustomed to, with punchy drum kits, effects, and instruments that make his tracks fun. “Dracula” will most likely be the most popular song on Deadbeat with its feel good vibe and its ability to be played in different settings. And for good reason; this song is catchy and a very enjoyable listen.
Loser comes next, a more traditional psych-alt style song. Although it doesn’t share the more common dance/pop theme of the album, this song fits perfectly at the fourth slot. This song tells a story, even further aided by a phenomenal music video. The video portrays Parker [played by Joe Keery] getting in an argument with a female character, and spending the rest of the day at a corner store drinking beer, smoking a littered cigarette, and a scratching a lottery ticket on the floor. With largely one shot scenes, the video puts the title of the album into perspective. The final scene involves Keery on the stoop of the corner store and switching Parker in the exact same setting, clothes, and body position, before switching back to Keery. The video adds a visual beauty matching that of the song. Keery is a brilliant actor (and musician in his own right) and played Parker in a way that just made sense.
“Oblivion” and “Not My World” are more traditional house tracks that neither hit nor miss. There’s nothing inherently unique about these tracks, in fact they sound run of the mill. They’re not bad listens by any means, but they didn’t stand out to like other songs on the album did. In contrast, “Piece of Heaven” was a fantastic blend of pop, dance, and Parker’s ‘normal’ Tame Impala sound. Everything about this song is incredibly put together. The synths pair with the organ, and the song is brought together by sparkling sounds in the background. The lyrics are inviting, definitely worth learning. “Obsolete” brings a more upbeat vibe, again mixing pop and dance into one. The strong baseline and a a few fun guitar riffs provide a foundation for the rest of the song. This track is a really great listen and could easily be people’s favorite on the album.
The 9th track “Etherial Connection” provides listeners with the longest song, and is the song most heavily influenced by deep house. There are no lyrics until about three minutes in, letting the instrumental do the heavy lifting. The bass on this song is ridiculous, but not in an overpowering way. Deep house can get a little frantic at times and while that does make the genre what it is, this track does a good job of balancing. If there was a way to describe this song, it would be like going to the club and drinking too much but instead of throwing up you sit in the corner and let the music sober you up until you’re just okay enough to get back on the dance floor.
“See You On Monday (You’re Lost)” is the most heartfelt of the album with a patient piano melody accompanying the lyrics. The layered lyrics are quite beautiful, but with each verse and chorus (for the most part) having the same cadence, it can lull you to sleep, which isn’t inherently a bad thing. “Afterthought” jumps back into dance, with an 80’s style pop drum track and a looping bass line that makes for a good song. “End of Summer” is another seven minute track that rounds out the album with a traditional house sound. This song was released as a single before the album was rolled out, giving fans a preview of what the full album would sound like, so it seems fitting to be the last song.
The main thing I like about this album is the creativity that went behind it. This album is what being creative is about. Not often do you see artists switching up their sound. At times, they are scared to make that transition. Tame Impala is no stranger to pushing musical boundaries, so it’s not a shock he was able to create a good dance album. The album, as we’ve come to expect from his releases, was well produced and mixed, and showed the musical prowess and ability that Parker has. It seemed it was a test that he passed.
My only small complaint with the album is that I feel like it was played a little safe. The direction of house and dance was a welcome one, and one I think he did well for the most part, but it lacked conviction at times throughout the album. I would’ve loved to see how songs like “Oblivion” and “Not My World” would’ve sounded if he let loose and got weird with it. Some songs just felt a little tame, no pun intended.
With small critiques in mind, this album was surprisingly not well received by some. Some fans were disappointed that it wasn’t another Currents or The Slow Rush, but why would it be? It seems like when an artist wants to experiment with their sound, it is immediately put to bed by their fans or community, especially with dance music. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of Drake, but take Honestly, Nevermind for example. People hated this album when it first came out, but months later, fans really like how it differs from his catalogue. I have zero doubt that Deadbeat will follow this same pattern.
Even I, as a listener, fall into this line of thinking at times. I love an album so much that I want the next one to be exactly the same. But we, as listeners, have to realize that artists create based on their personal feelings, their experiences, and to boil it down, what they want to do. Artists, good artists at least, do not create art to solely satisfy their audience, it has to satisfy them too, and if it doesn’t, than the final product will always be insincere and inauthentic, feelings that are easy to spot as a consumer. Tame Impala, or any artist, cannot stay still in a comfort zone forever; as an artist it’s stifling. Creativity is not linear and this album really emphasizes that.
While it’s not my favorite album by any stretch, I think Deadbeat was extremely solid, and may open the doors for more creativity in the alternative space, which is always encouraging.
So, should you listen? Our answer: Yes.
*Here at Exit Eight, we do not rate albums. Music is a subjective art form, so I encourage you to give Deadbeat a listen and make your own conclusions.