I felt an ethereal connection to Tame Impala’s “Deadbeat”
“He’s kind of an underground artist. You probably wouldn’t know him.” If you’ve ever heard someone say this, in an ironic or serious manner, there’s a good chance they are referring to the man, the myth and the legend: Kevin Parker, more commonly known as Tame Impala. I have been a fan of Tame Impala for quite some time, and I was beyond excited by the release of his new music. On Oct. 17, he dropped “Deadbeat,” which has received mixed reviews since its release. Many people criticized the album for its departure from Tame Impala’s typical sound, but personally, I enjoyed this the most and thought it set “Deadbeat” apart from his prior work.
The album opens with a track entitled “My Old Ways.” This opening song is undoubtedly my favorite from the album. It begins with piano and vocals from Parker and quickly transitions into an electrifying beat. The bridge is absolutely beautiful, and I believe it is characteristic of Tame Impala’s usual work: exciting, new and simply hype.
Alternatively, I think that “Afterthought” differs from his typical sound, and still, I am a fan. This song is truly groovy, and although I have no rhythm, I find myself dancing every time I listen to it. Since Tame Impala is known for his psychedelic, indie sound, I feel that people often forget he is a strong writer as well. This song is proof of his writing abilities: it essentially tells the story of feeling unappreciated by one’s lover, and I thought the lyrics were very profound: “Are you parading all your lovers to bait me? You only call me to drive you to safety.”
“Deadbeat” also features “End of Summer” and “Dracula,” which Parker dropped prior to the album’s release. I feel that “End of Summer” is particularly unique sonically, and I can feel summer nostalgia creeping in whenever I listen to it. “Dracula” is perfect for the fall season, and it is truly fun and whimsical.
However, not every song is a banger. I found “Oblivion” and “Not My World” to be very forgettable, and I have not listened to either since I heard the album initially. People have criticized Tame Impala for his venture into the house music genre, and I have to agree that the track “Ethereal Connection” was dreadful. It is about six minutes long, and by the end of it, my ears just hurt.
Mostly, the album made me excited to attend the “Deadbeat” tour in less than a month. I cannot begin to imagine how incredible his new songs will be in concert, and the prospect of hearing my past favorite songs from him as well is beyond exciting.
Tame Impala’s previous work is hard to beat, which has its benefits and downsides. My favorite album of his is probably “Currents” (I know that’s basic, sue me), and I feel that it can simply never be replicated. Interestingly, one of the album’s core themes is growth and change, as exemplified in my favorite song, “Yes I’m Changing.” I feel that those comparing his newest albums to “Currents” are missing the point: although “Deadbeat” might not be the strongest, he will never make another “Currents,” and that’s okay.
Overall, “Deadbeat” is a very solid album, and I think that it is admirable for artists to explore new genres. While I do not believe that “Deadbeat” is Tame Impala’s best work, it still holds artistic merit, and I will be listening to “My Old Ways” every day until further notice.
