Tame Impala — Deadbeat (Album Review)

Tame Impala’s “Deadbeat” takes listeners on a moody, mesmerizing ride through love, loss, and late-night introspection — all wrapped in their signature psychedelic polish.

STREAM

TOP 5 SONGS

5. Dracula

This track will have you cursing the sunlight.

“Dracula” is funky, spooky, and smooth — exactly the kind of eerie groove that only Tame Impala could pull off. The bass is thick, the synths are rich, and it all feels like a midnight fever dream. Lyrically, the track explores temptation in the dark — the pull between what you should do and what you want. It’s about the person who lingers in your mind long after the lights come on, the one you only see at night. You hide in the thrill, knowing it’s fleeting but craving it anyway. It’s dangerous, sexy, and hypnotic — a perfect opener that sets the tone for the rest of Deadbeat.

4. Oblivion

I feel like I was taken to another dimension during this song.

This one is a vibe. “Oblivion” blends a pulsing club rhythm with Kevin Parker’s signature smooth, airy vocals. The contrast is magic — the beat keeps your body moving while the lyrics hit you right in the chest. There’s a quiet sweetness here, a kind of unspoken intimacy that makes it more than just a dance track. It’s romance without the dramatics — simple, honest, and beautifully understated. If “Dracula” is the dark side of love, “Oblivion” feels like the light finally peeking through

3. Loser

Ever feel like you’re just not it?

“Loser” leans into a more psychedelic and slightly grungy vibe, layered with playful guitar riffs and an upbeat tempo. It’s messy — but intentionally so. The song captures that feeling of being overwhelmed, of trying to hold it together while everything around you falls apart. It’s brutally self-aware and oddly comforting. You’re a mess, you know it, and somehow that’s okay. Even as chaos unfolds, there’s a glimmer of connection — someone who sees you, flaws and all, and decides to stay. The contrast between the distorted guitars and shimmering pop beat makes “Loser” one of the most relatable and addictive tracks on the project.

2. My Old Ways

Hey, we all have our vices.

Dark, heavy, and beautifully tragic — “My Old Ways” dives into the cycle of relapse and self-sabotage. It starts slow and smoky before dropping into this deep, layered soundscape that feels almost cinematic. The lyrics touch on addiction and temptation, but what makes it powerful is its open-ended feel. It could be about a substance, a relationship, or even a mindset you can’t quite escape. The emotional weight of this one is real — it’s the sound of giving in to something you thought you’d outgrown. It’s hauntingly relatable, proving that even when Tame Impala gets dark, they still make it sound stunning.

1. Piece Of Heaven

There’s always one place where you feel warm and carefree.

This is Tame Impala at their softest and most romantic. “Piece of Heaven” starts with lush strings and this dreamy, floaty energy that feels like sunlight in sound form. Then the beat drops halfway through, blending bubblegum and electro-pop influences into something that feels carefree and euphoric. It’s about comfort, connection, and the peace of simply being with someone — lying in their space and feeling like you belong there. It’s light, hopeful, and feels like the perfect closer for such an introspective album.

SONG BY SONG RATING

My Old Ways (4/5)

No Reply (4/5)

Dracula (4/5)

Loser (4/5)

Oblivion (4/5)

Not My World (3.5/5)

Piece of Heaven (4/5)

Obsolete (4/5)

Ethereal Connection (3.5/5)

See You On Monday (You’re Lost) (4/5)

Afterthought (4/5)

End Of Summer (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(78%)

Deadbeat is everything Tame Impala does best — genre-bending, introspective, and effortlessly cool. It’s a collection of songs that sound completely different from one another, yet they all fit perfectly under that hazy, hypnotic Tame Impala umbrella. The band weaves between funk, indie, grunge, and dream pop like it’s second nature, never losing their sense of identity along the way. Lyrically, the album explores themes of love, escapism, and emotional burnout — moments when desire and destruction intertwine. It’s both heavy and hopeful, grounded and otherworldly. Deadbeat doesn’t shy away from pain or self-reflection, but it also doesn’t drown in it. Instead, it feels like a sonic cleanse — a reminder that even when life gets messy, it can still sound beautiful.

Loading poll ...