The opening track, “My Old Ways,” begins with distant piano and acoustic singing covered by a static reminiscent of the radio. This juxtaposition from the typical music of Kevin Parker, more commonly referred to as Tame Impala, is indicative of his first album in five years: “Deadbeat,” came out on Friday, Oct. 17.

This album is an interesting divergence from the psychedelic music that launched Tame Impala out of the indie sphere. It takes a lot from electronic-pop, with each song being some combination of electronic pop and psychedelic, varying in its mix of each. 

One could easily imagine oneself jumping around at a Miami rave to songs like “Afterthought.” In contrast, songs like “Loser” prove that Tame Impala hasn’t completely departed from the lyrics and instrumentation that made him famous. That’s the kind of song that I listen to and drift off to when I need to relax. I highly recommend the experience.

I became a Tame Impala fan within the last year after a friend mentioned them in passing. For those who remember my article about my mental tail-spin at the hands of “Smile 2,” his album “The Slow Rush” played a large part in my recovery, specifically helping me get an occasional ounce of sleep between hours of paranoia. 

“Deadbeat” is an interesting case; the album itself is distinct from previous Tame Impala works, but each song is also different from the next. It feels like an experimental album where Parker tries to find something that sounds good, only to discover that everything he makes works well.

I don’t often listen to the lyrics in Tame Impala songs, if I’m being honest. I’m too entranced by the otherworldly feelings evoked by his music. The sound of his voice plays into that psychedelic vibe without even being able to register what words are flowing out of his mouth. 

As such, I made a point with this album to unpack the meaning behind the words Tame Impala uses. As the album title implies, Tame Impala sees himself as a disappointment of a father, referring to himself in a self-depricating manner throughout these song,  but particularly in “Loser.”

“Tried to correct it, I think I wrecked it / Man, it’s a crisis, I’m never like this / That’s how my life is, you couldn’t write this (ah) / I’m a loser, babe (babe) / Do you wanna tear my heart out? / I’m a tragedy.”

Most of this struggle comes from his time away from the house while touring and the other responsibilities that come with stardom. As this album is his first since becoming a father, this balance is understandably hard to find. 

Parker recently had a second child, making this even more difficult for him. The pressure from fans for artists to release music consistently is a challenge for many in the industry, so a personal life balance becomes nearly impossible. 

It is unfortunate to see great artists struggle with the arm-twisting we as listeners subject them to, but I hope this album helps Parker make peace with it to some degree.

During my first listen, I challenged myself to come up with a one-word summary of the album and my experience with it. The word that came to mind was “ethereal,” and I thought it fit well. I was proud of this revelation until I realized the ninth song on the album is titled “Ethereal Connection.”

On the bright side, I know that even Tame Impala agrees with my original assessment. 

This album was delightful to me but has been controversial for many others. I think the switch to electronic was done well, and he keeps the feel of his previous music well enough that it isn’t too jarring yet feels fresh to his discography. 

I think that this shift was a reflection of Tame Impala’s changing life and he now feels that he can’t write the same music because he isn’t that person anymore. His core musical beliefs remain in tact but from a new lens, which was very satisfying for me as a listener. 

Hopefully this will be able to satiate me as I wait another five years for Tame Impala’s next album. 

Degear can be reached at [email protected].