Album Review: "Deadbeat" - Tame Impala

Ashley Adams
Oct 30
6 min read

Kevin Parker has released his newest and fifth album Deadbeat with Tame Impala, a record exploring how depression takes a toll on you and why it comes to fruition in the first place.

My Old Ways
No Reply
Dracula
Loser
Oblivion
Not My World
Piece Of Heaven
Obsolete
Ethereal Connection
See You On Monday (You're Lost)
Afterthought
End Of Summer

The virtuoso Kevin Parker has ran Tame Impala with his endless musical talents since 2007, and eighteen years later, still manages to do this flawlessly. Tame Impala released debut eponymous EPs in 2008, the debut album Innerspeaker in 2010, the sophomore album Lonerism in 2012, the worldwide phenomenon Currents filled with hits in 2015, The Slow Rush in 2020, and now Deadbeat in 2025.

My Old Ways
The first track serves as the perfect introduction of an album, as it addresses the overall theme of Deadbeat. Parker sings about feeling inclined to turn back to the vices he once had but got rid of in “My Old Ways”. This causes him to begin traveling down into a deep pit of depression. Despite the solemn lyrics, the production is a funky melody consisting of upbeat and jazzy piano chords and a fun drum beat. It makes you want to get up and dance, and listening to several other tracks of the album will have that same effect as well, until you start paying attention to the lyrics and realize this is an album with lyrics of despair masked in cheerful production styles.
No Reply
One of the branches of Parker’s depression can be found on the album’s second track “No Reply”. He paints the relatable scene of not being able to leave the house and lying in bed all day because you don’t feel like you can do anything else. If you’ve personally experienced depression, you may have been in this kind of situation or something similar, where you lose all desire to do anything. In the lyrics, Parker explains that his depression got in the way of being with a potential significant other. He still likes this person, but can’t continue the relationship due to his current state, but still wants to once he heals.
Dracula
“Dracula” was released shortly before the month of October, and it’s the perfect song for the spooky season. Its “Thriller”-inspired production containing 80s synths and drums and vocal sound effects perfectly capture the theme of Halloween as well as partying that Parker sings about in the lyrics. He compares himself to a vampire because of his habitual behavior of going out at night, where he feels like he thrives the most. The lyrics also imply that, throughout this, he finds someone he believes he’s falling in love with and doesn’t want to be apart from, putting his friends aside to be with this person.
Loser
One of the first singles of Deadbeat and a self-deprecating song, “Loser” is the epitome of Parker feeling as though he’s at his worst. The sour end of a relationship has lead him to his lowest point, essentially feeling like a “loser”, and he can’t help but continuously focus on it and feel bad for himself. This could be the aftermath of what occurred in “Dracula”; perhaps Parker’s love interest does not want to follow the same rambunctious lifestyle he does. As Parker suffers from depression, he now feels even more inclined to turn to his vices that put him in this state in the first place.
Oblivion
Like the previous tracks on Deadbeat, “Oblivion” comes in with production elements that pack a punch, but so do the lyrics. Parker sings about how he feels less and less confident that he’s able to be with the person he wants to be with because of his depression. However, he really wants to make it work somehow, but if he’s still unable to, his depression will take a turn for the worst and he sees himself falling into despair. This a relatable occurrence for people experiencing depression, where you feel as though if one more thing goes wrong, you’ll feel like you will reach your breaking point.
Not My World
The sixth track of Deadbeat, “Not My World” features a distinct production style, as it turns instrumental halfway through with the additions of more synths and instruments. Parker reiterates how he physically can’t leave the house, as his depression has worsened and he wishes he could but he is unable to. At the same time, while he wants to even try to just walk outside, he feels as though it’s not meant to be for him to do this. This could imply that Parker is experiencing agoraphobia as another branch of his depression and is longing to have the same experiences as everyone else without being afraid to leave his house.
Piece Of Heaven
As the title of the seventh track of Deadbeat suggests, the production style is very lovely and sounds like a “Piece of Heaven” from how “heavenly” the synths are made to be. Listening to this song feels like you’re floating on a cloud. Parker sings about how he feels his love life has made a turn for the better, as he finally gets to be with the person he’s been longing to be with throughout the album. He explains that this is all that matters to him now. As the song concludes, the production completely shifts and becomes a piano ballad, with Parker’s vocals echoing like he’s singing in a church.
Obsolete
“Obsolete” truly provides such a groovy beat that is distinct to Tame Impala’s discography but is still so akin to Parker's signature sound at the same time. Parker sings about a relationship he is in which he feels him and his significant other have fallen out of love, and there’s no more chemistry. What happens in the relationship becomes repetitive and they both feels as though they’re trying to force themselves to stay together. Even though the lyrics don’t cover any positive or uplifting topics, this is yet another track on Deadbeat with production that puts you in a dancing mood.
Ethereal Connection
“Ethereal Connection” begins with aggressive and powerful drums. Nearly halfway through the song, the drums fade away and you hear Parker’s exquisite vocals as he sings about not wanting his relationship to end, as he feels as though him and his significant other are meant to be, and he is eager to try to make it work. He feels comfortable and safe with this person and has always felt loved in a way he doesn’t believe he could feel with anyone else. Eventually, the drums return before they leave again, and the production becomes a masterpiece of synths that you’ve never heard before.
See You On Monday (You're Lost)
More 80’s synths and jazzy piano chords can be found on the tenth track of Deadbeat “See You On Monday (You’re Lost)”. Against what he wanted in “Ethereal Connection”, Parker begins to accept that perhaps the relationship he is in is not actually meant to be, and that he and his significant other are drifting apart more than he initially thought. As she reiterates her feelings, he can understand her more and starts to agree that the relationship should end once and for all. The song’s production is unique because it doesn’t contain any drums and is like a song made for meditating, just with the addition of Parker’s amazing vocal talent.
Afterthought
In “Afterthought”, Parker sings about being rejected and dejected after his breakup. He feels he’s being betrayed by his ex and now can’t find a new person to be with because of her. He could be projecting onto her by saying she’s the reason for this, when it could just be himself. He could also be regretting breaking up with her and secretly wants to get back together, but knows this can’t happen, which is causing these emotions of upset.
End Of Summer
The last track and first single for Deadbeat, “End of Summer” is the sister song of “Ethereal Connection” with its drum-prominent production and instrumentation. It serves as the perfect conclusion for an album with its musically diverse and distinct soundscape. The lyrics completely summarize the themes of the album pertaining to how depression can take over your life and get in the way of things you were planning to do, and can even ruin the relationship you are in, which is what Parker emphasized throughout Deadbeat.

I've been a fan of Tame Impala for as long as I can remember and have always loved the music Kevin Parker makes, as its likes something you've never heard before. There's no doubt he's a musical genius, which he proves time and time again with each musical project he releases, including Deadbeat. This new record is the perfect look onto someone suffering from depression and agoraphobia and how quickly it can change the course of your life, and even yourself as a person, forever. Amongst this is funky and upbeat production styles that contrast but perfectly compliment the lyrics, making this another masterpiece from Tame Impala.

Written By Ashley Adams

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