By John Hiett
Tame Impala’s fifth album, “Deadbeat” released on Spotify and Apple music to mixed reviews. For those who don’t know, Kevin Parker is the multi-instrumentalist and singer behind the music project named, Tame Impala. Acting as a stage name, Tame Impala is best known for his synth-pop music and famous songs such as “Let It Happen” or “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” from the album “Currents.”
However, the mixed reviews aren’t from people who think the songs are necessarily mediocre or bad, but rather from his fans, who all favor their own specific style of album from Impala. Essentially, some fans view that Impala’s music beats are the core of his work and they feel he sacrifices them for more generic or lyrical music. They view his new album as a letdown or as Impala selling out. They can’t decide why they think it’s bad because they’re so blinded by their nostalgia for his past works.
There are people who love his albums like “Currents” or “The Slow Rush” which are more centered around the genres of synth and psychedelic pop. On the other hand, others prefer his earlier work with albums like “Lonerism” and “InnerSpeaker” which are more involved in the genres of rock and alternative music.
Impala’s new album keeps his unique style of heavenly beats and experimental musical techniques that all his fans love. In interviews, Impala revealed the motivation for the album’s name: it’s meant to be a celebration of the mundane moments of life. Impala mentions he would often think of himself as a deadbeat, a dropout or a failure at times.
To start, the album opens with “My Old Ways,” a song about how Impala finds himself slipping back into old habits and ways of life, with him learning to accept that everyone’s human and it’s okay to make mistakes. Next up, “No Reply” deals with the idea of a painful breakup but urges people to continue on through the uncertainty and opportunity of being single and free-spirited in life.
“Dracula” tonally shifts the album to a more 1980s, Michael Jackson “Thriller” vibe. “Not My World” highlights his conflict with his famous life in the music industry and his desire for a normal quiet life.
“Obsolete” portrays Impala’s regrets of a past love and how it now feels meaningless after everything he’s gone through. “Ethereal Connection” is more of a signature song of Impala’s, being over seven minutes long containing a slow buildup and harmony of literally ethereal beats and angelic vocals.
The last song in the album, “End of Summer,” focuses on the transitions in life, like nostalgia and missed relationships. The song centers on the idea of transitions leading to new beginnings.
From the start, Impala created this album to free himself from the expectations set up by his past work and to let his creative beat mixing and songwriting run wild. I can’t mention it enough, but the way the songs are constructed and how the beats are developed and mixed together is an audible treat that gives an out-of-body experience.
All of the songs are vast in their presentation of ideas and feelings, but they represent a core idea: appreciation and creativity inspired by life’s mundane moments. Impala recognizes there is enough mundanity in life, celebrating it through his whole album.
It’s only fair to respect the artist for letting go of something that would sell easily to pursue something he personally is passionate about. At the very least,“Deadbeat” is worth a listen. If the lyrics aren’t your jam, you can still find Impala’s creative and memorable beats ironically breathing life into an album named “Deadbeat.”
Deadbeat is currently available to listen on Apple Music, Spotify, and Youtube.
John Hiett is a senior biology major. He is passionate about any and all indie video games and loves getting coffee since starting college.
Images courtesy of Youtube.
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