Tame Impala : Deadbeat

It felt like for a very long time that Kevin Parker could do no wrong. Tame Impala was this ever expanding collection of psychedelic rock with pop turns and Beatles-esque melodies strewn throughout acid-burnt guitar solos, to die for drum grooves, and the sense this Australian musical wunderkind who could do anything. His decade-run of albums that included Innerspeaker, Lonerism, Currents, and The Slow Rush saw Parker evolving his sound, adding more pop and dance turns while still staying true to his psych rock roots.

After a five-year break Tame Impala returns with the dance-heavy Deadbeat. Those fans complaining a decade ago that Parker’s going in a direction that is decidedly not psych rock will not have much to enjoy here. With Deadbeat Parker fully gives in to his DJ fantasies and turns in a very club-ready record. There are hints of the Tame Impala of the early 2010s, but only a few.

If you were confused and mildly annoyed at lead single “End of Summer”, that feeling will stay throughout this album. That’s the theme throughout Deadbeat. Songs like “No Reply”, “Oblivion”, “Not My World” and “Ethereal Connection” are Tame Impala in rave mode. With almost monotone vocals layered over, these songs feel like they exist for a dancefloor only. Catchy melodies are few and far between. Of course they’re produced exquisitely because Parker is an accomplished producer as well as a musician, but if you’re looking for hints of Lonerism or The Slow Rush, you’ll need to put those albums on. If you want Tame Impala’s Justice album, then you’re in luck.

There are moments of more melody-driven songs, like singles “Loser” and “Dracula”, but those are few and far between. “Dracula” and “Afterthought” come dangerously close to being a rip-off of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at times. “Piece of Heaven” is dance-centric, but it’s also a lovely song at the center with Parker’s knack for melody and harmony front and center.

If you were hungry for some more sun-fried Aussie psych pop you will be disappointed with Deadbeat. Parker leans very heavy into his love of club music here, and pretty much never relents. I can tell with each listen the album blooms a bit more, so there’s that. But this is not your 2010s Tame Impala. This is Kevin Parker in full on DJ mode.