As one of the most pivotal indie juggernauts of the 2010s, lead singer of Tame Impala Kevin Parker had gargantuan shoes to fill with the release of his fifth studio album “Deadbeat.” In order to accomplish this feat, he had to ride off the career-high of the run from 2015’s “Currents” and 2020’s “The Slow Rush” and create something up to par with these modern masterpieces. Unfortunately, he did not accomplish this.
“Deadbeat,” a fusion of Parker’s traditional psychedelic rock sound and a new, house-inspired kick, failed to deliver the typical Tame Impala experience. “My Old Ways” kicks the record off with a “Let it Happen”-esque groovy, instrumental-heavy flare that fails to go anywhere, leaving the listener patiently awaiting its climax. Parker’s lyrics have been uncharacteristically uninspired and unexciting, with very rudimentary statements about his bad habits, like how Parker “[wishes he] had someone else to blame, well / [He tells] himself [he’s] only human.” The new house-inspired sound to the album shines in “No Reply,” which features a fun instrumental with lyrics and vocals by Parker that fail to go anywhere particularly interesting.
“Dracula,” the main single off of the project, is a highlight on the album. It is mostly fun, a perfectly okay Tame Impala track that is sure to leave long-time fans happy and critics content. The track “Loser,” however, adds nothing new or interesting to the conversation with thoughts of how “[Parker’s] a loser, babe / [He’s] a tragedy / Tryna figure this whole mess out.” In an album that tackles all of Parker’s worst habits, the lyrics need to delve deeper than just a “woe is me I’m so troubled” narrative.
“Oblivion” and “Not My World” are completely forgettable tracks that add nothing to the soundscape of “Deadbeat.” In a project that tackles Parker’s insecurities and bad habits, these tracks feel unnecessary and boring. “Piece of Heaven,” however, might be one of the best tracks on the album, as it feels like a return to Parker’s older sound, even with lackluster lyrics, but that’s to be expected with every track here.
The latter half of the project is just as the eighth track is titled: “obsolete.”“Ethereal Connection” is hands down the worst track, with seven-and-a-half minutes of excruciatingly plain and insufferable monotony Some of the blandest, most repetitious production Parker has ever produced. “See You On Monday (You’re Lost)” and “Afterthought” are completely fine, toeing the line of being not great and bearable, but ultimately being nothing to write home about. However, “End of Summer” is probably the best track on the project, ending it off on a fun note, with production that changes enough to make the seven minute runtime feel like just a minute too long as opposed to several minutes too long.
Parker has a tough decision to make for his next project: How does he keep evolving and shifting his sound so as to not become an obsolete snoozefest of an artist, but still capture the magic his band once had? Whatever the solution may be, “Deadbeat” isn’t it.
