SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TAME IMPALA – DEADBEAT

TAME IMPALA
DEADBEAT
COLUMBIA RECORDS

After five years, we welcome back Kevin Parker to the musical world with the anticipated release of his sixth studio release, Deadbeat. The album is quintessential Tame Impala from start to finish, with standout tracks perfect for the upcoming southern hemisphere summer. Sonically, the album has created a free-flowing world, full of danceable tracks, but below the surface of transient beats lies an album that contains a deep look into Parker’s self perception.

No matter the quality of the tracks, Deadbeat consistently stays true to itself within the lyrics and remains topically relevant to the title of the album, implying that Parker himself is truly a Deadbeat. This theme of self loathing whilst balancing love in the limelight becomes blindly obvious in multiple songs as the album constantly yo-yos between Parker reaching out in yearning for his lover and then drawing himself back in with songs filled with internal depreciation and proclamations of inadequacy. There are many songs on the album where Parker laments his shortcomings then follows up with a shallow statement about trying harder, only to fall back into his shortcomings in the next song. The storytelling within Deadbeat allows the listener to develop a deep sense of empathy for Parker, however, this ‘woe-is-me’ aspect of the lyricism becomes tiresome as the listener finally gets fed up with Parker’s repetitive thematic writing.

As per usual, Deadbeat contains a plethora of well-curated tracks that are harmonious and highlight Parker’s production and creation skills. My personal qualm with the instrumental is that after the halfway point of the album, it all bleeds into one sound, something that is too homogenous, like an over-beaten batter that leaves the album ending flat. The album’s lead singles, “Dracula,” “Loser,” and “End Of Summer,” were brilliant release choices that encapsulate the major themes and sounds of Deadbeat within only three songs. When all three singles are listened to together within the whole body of work, you can piece together the puzzle of the album, which ultimately creates a brooding yet danceable cohesive work. Due to the album’s lull in the second half, I believe it would have been more beneficial to change the order of the tracks to create a dichotomy within the sounds, as the album towards the end lacks variety.

Deadbeat is sure to be well received by Tame Impala’s fans but isn’t where I would recommend starting the listeners’ Tame Impala journey. Whilst Deadbeat is a welcome addition with some brilliantly curated tracks, it is not recommended listening and is not a contender for album of the year.

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