Deadbeat
New Tame Impala album means another handful of weeks where I obsessively listen to the entire album -and my favorite songs from it- over and over and over until I simultaneously hate music and appreciate the album wholeheartedly. I'm still at the point where I really enjoy the album, which means I haven't listened to it through enough yet
If you are somehow unfamiliar, Tame Impala is a solo psych-pop/indie project from an Australian named Kevin Parker. His first album was released in 2008, and eventually gained widespread recognition from his 2015 album 'Currents' (One of the few albums I consider genuinely perfect). Blending interesting soundscapes with a strong representation of emotion, you would be hard-pressed to find a song of his that isn't unique in some way, one of the many reasons I adore his music.
His recent release, 'Deadbeat' is an introspective and self-depreciating perspective of a person who considers themselves to be a loser in some way. Much of the album explores this person lamenting over his failures, particularly with his relationship(s?) that keep failing. While similar in theme (typically heavy emotional aspect of various human relationships, whether romantic or parental), the tone of the album is significantly different from Kevin's previous albums. This album sounds different: heavier with a melancholic distance. The album makes you feel like you're heading to a dance club to escape whatever external problems you're facing. And very much unlike past albums, has a few songs that explore some genres of club electronica, like house and trance.
There are three standout songs to me: 'My Old Ways', 'Dracula', and the focus of the rest of this, 'Obsolete'. (If nothing else, go listen to Dracula and Obsolete, they are incredible pieces of music!).
In my opinion, Obsolete is the best song on the album, and one of the best songs in Tame Impala's discography. The song follows the tone and mood of the album, with a slower, kinda sad beat with lyrics to match. The story explores the soul-crushing feeling of obsolescence in a relationship - feeling like you and your efforts don't matter to the other person.
"Talk is cheap, but the words cut deep
Promises get old, they get hard to keep
Tell me, please, 'cause I'm losing sleep
Do you want my love? Is it Obsolete?"
This relationship has changed over time, the love that was there initially is now suspect.
The tone throughout this first section is consistent with the melancholy and muted feelings from earlier. The vocals and lyrics carry a feeling of desperation, a cry for understanding and to try to be on the same level.
Everything changes at 2:20.
The confusion turns to frustration and you can viscerally feel it. He is no longer asking for clarity, he's demanding it.
"Just tell me what is up, tell me what is up
I've almost had enough, you're playing with my love
Just tell me what is up, yes, really, what the fuck?"
And then... it's over; he got his answer.
The song takes one final turn, with a super sick repetitious melody. To me, this is the first and last section in the entire album that feels sure of itself, which is the perfect climax for the overarching theme of the album. Perhaps this finality of this interaction can wake him up to no longer be a deadbeat?
This switch is what makes this song, and Tame Impala as a whole, so special to me. It's rare to find music that evokes a particular emotion so strongly like this, but finding them and then obsessively listening to them is just such an enjoyable time.
Tame Impala never disappoints (except for Ethereal Connection, which follows Obsolete, I'm sure it has narrative purpose, but I don't really listen to them for 7 minutes of club trance lol). I'm very happy that Kevin continues to experiment within his own unique brand of music, I always look forward to anything new from him!
Hope you liked this weeks WMW, sorry it's a bit of a long one!
JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH out!
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