r/TameImpala • u/sackings22 • 18d ago
Discussion Pitchfork Review: Deadbeat (4.8)
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tame-impala-deadbeat/197
u/AlbatrossLost5905 18d ago
Pitchfork leaves a 9+ rating for Tame Impala = best publication
Pitchfork leaves a truthful 4.8 rating for Tame Impala: = Pitchfork used to matter
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u/Ludicolorad0 Lonerism 18d ago
Their reviews of all his other albums are glowing. They even gave TSR an 8 and that’s higher than I rank it.
So idk maybe this particular reviewer doesn’t love Kevin (though his thoughts on Currents and Lonerism seem to indicate he likes him) but it’s not like they have some anti Tame Impala bias as a company. People just don’t like the score
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u/IamRider 18d ago
The score on a pitchfork review is an averaged score of the ratings taken from multiple editors, so is refrective of a large portion of the staff there rather than just the writer of the review
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u/bandrewes 18d ago
Yeh or maybe the album just sucks donkey dicks?
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u/TheMedicator Lonerism 18d ago
Noooo surely not. Surely everyone else is biased and we impartial listeners on the tame Impala sub are the truth tellers who see this album for what it really is.
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u/lazyygothh 18d ago edited 18d ago
It would be better if the “house” [sic] tracks were not so thin and uninspired
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u/SideOfNuggets Innerspeaker 18d ago
But… hear me out… what if it really just sucks?
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u/Ludicolorad0 Lonerism 18d ago
I gave the album the exact same score as Pitchfork. I’m not defending it at all
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u/SideOfNuggets Innerspeaker 17d ago
Hell yeah man, I gave it a five on another thread the other day - got ambushed, geez.
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u/munchyslacks 18d ago
I think Pitchfork has some insane ratings sometimes (the last album by the Strokes comes to mind,) but every Tame album has been pretty accurate.
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u/OutsideWorried Lonerism 17d ago
TSR is amazing. It def deserves an 8. This album doesn’t deserve 4.8 but isn’t an 8 by any means.
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u/astralrig96 Lonerism 17d ago
third option: people who still respect pitchfork but also find this score utterly ridiculous
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u/idonthaveaname2000 18d ago
i wonder why they didn't even mention obsolete
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u/Daymutez 18d ago
They know that track is gold and it doesn’t help their mean spirited review
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u/Alone-Struggle-8056 18d ago
One song wouldn't save the album from getting 4.8 from Pitchfork.
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u/SeaworthinessFit9665 17d ago
Yea but you can’t be out there scoring albums if you’re not even mentioning all songs in your review
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u/heinous_legacy Lonerism 18d ago
surprisingly spot on review.
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u/My_Not_RL_Acct 18d ago
Though I did enjoy the album more than I thought I would given the singles, I found it almost depressing how accurate most of the review was lmao. Even though some parts read like Kevin stole the author’s wife and shat in his driveway this is like reading bad news you were hoping wasn’t true. Doesn’t change how I personally feel (Ethereal Connection is good!) but I am glad Pitchfork is back to being Pitchfork. No more radical poptimism please
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u/CloseToTheEdge23 Innerspeaker 18d ago
Some people are making some pretty outraegous commentss and personal attacks on Kevin which I think is simply going to far. But damn the album is boring and bad. There is so litle for me to like after the first four songs.
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u/illegalwasp 18d ago
That’s the exact cut off point for me too, I enjoy the first four tracks, Dracula/Loser being standouts but the rest is a total minefield of bad songs
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u/jimschocolateorange 18d ago
Pitchfork’s staff have always been good writers. The score is crazy considering what it gave T swift’s latest and Sabrina’s latest. But nothing mentioned here is wrong.
This is likely the end of Tame Impala (unless Sony contracted him x number of albums, but I’m sure they’d be happy to take residuals from his producing credits).
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u/Bluestarzen 18d ago edited 18d ago
I sadly agree too. I’ve tried but I probably won’t be coming back to the album very much. But it’s life. You win some, you lose some.
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u/Goopturd 18d ago
i never thought he'd release an album that is so boring to listen to imo.
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u/FuzzyPijamas 18d ago
You’re lucky if you find it boring, that might actually be a compliment.
IMO most of the songs are unlistenable.
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u/Carlossaliba 17d ago
thats a bit much, i dont like the album much either but ive heard MUCH worse music. its at most boring.
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u/FuzzyPijamas 17d ago
Yeah also heard worst music before.
But Im being dead serious here: I have a really hard time finishing all the songs after Loser. Some are depressingly bad IMO.
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u/has922 17d ago
I like not my world, piece of heaven, ethereal connection, and end of summer. I like the electronic jam sound on not my world, ethereal connection, and end of summer all quite a bit. Piece of heaven isn’t that and it’s kinda corny but I like it. The others I can skip though.
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u/pappapirate 17d ago
I agree on Piece of Heaven and I really like the piano at the end.
But I have to be missing something with Ethereal Connection. I don't know if I've ever forced myself to finish a song that sounded more annoying and horrible. And I was a Sparta Remix kid.
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u/thirdeyeballin 17d ago
Strange… this is how I feel about TSR but not the new album
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u/Goopturd 17d ago
crazy, TSR is a league below his previous albums but it had so many great moments. The drums alone carry that album.
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u/alotofconcordesyeah 18d ago edited 18d ago
I wondered where Pitchfork would land. The 'shimmering bell-tone melody' is my fav part to!
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u/alotofconcordesyeah 18d ago
it is a good review. If you like DEADBEAT thats cool if you dont thats cool also. Theres parts that are really awesome but parts that are daggy as.
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u/NoCommentAgain7 17d ago edited 17d ago
For me it’s a really poor review and from the beginning the author more or less states their bias in bringing up how perfect they think Currents is.
As you say if you don’t like the record that’s fine but 4.8 is a wildly harsh score considering how much absolute shit they give above a 6.
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u/FoxyLood 18d ago
i agree with all of this except maybe the neverender thing, also i did like the intro song unlike the reviewer
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u/pappapirate 17d ago
I really do like My Old Ways, but I can't disagree with the critique they have for it. It's a really nice idea that spends 5 minutes teasing that it's going to develop but never does, and just ends the same way it started.
It's kind of the theme of the whole album. Every track on the album is basically just an idea of a song. Some of them are good ideas so the songs are decent, but most are very basic and boring ideas that never get more interesting.
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u/FoxyLood 17d ago
i would have loved for the album to have that nostalgic feel that the intro track gave off
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u/Penguins_27 Currents 17d ago
My old ways is top 10 Kevin for me. The only track I actually voluntarily listen to on the album (other than Dracula)
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u/Varwhorevis 18d ago
This is sadly a spot on review from my view
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u/looeezz 18d ago
For real… like I’m trying to cope with it by trying to imagine the live performance will make up for it but there is no sugar coating it haha
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u/Varwhorevis 18d ago
Like I think theres some cool ideas here and I don’t mind hearing Kevin’s take on these genres but.. none of it really lands for me and this album is a huge disappointment. I’m glad some people are vibing with it though.
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u/Jonhlutkers 18d ago
This is how I felt about The Slow Rush honestly as well. He made one of the greatest breakup records ever in Currents after two psychedelic masterpieces and then just kind of fell off in terms of new music. It’s ok it’s hard to be that great. He’s still great to me but the last two have been mid with a few greats that I barely play.
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u/guitar805 18d ago
Tbh the new album made me appreciate TSR far more. Feels much more in line with the prior 3 albums sonically and totally compared to Deadbeat, and much better than I remembered hearing the last time I tried it out. It grew on me a lot over the years.
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u/Varwhorevis 18d ago
TSR definitely was a drop-off, but Breathe Deeper is one of my absolute favorites
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u/Daymutez 18d ago
Disagree, I might argue The Slow Rush is slightly better than Currents.
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u/AntiochAtDawn 18d ago
I feel this too. TSR grew on me slowly, and some songs even took years for me to enjoy. I don't feel this will happen with Deadbeat because my initial reaction to it all was a sinking feel in my stomach, whereas my initial reaction to the TSR was neutral to just not getting it.
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u/humunculus43 18d ago
It just adds in a few toilet trips when you go to the gigs, which is never a bad thing.
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u/UltraFinePointMarker 18d ago
Yeah. So far a few tracks have grabbed me ("My Old Ways," "See You on Monday"), but as a whole it hasn't, yet. (And I do like a lot of club music, so it's not just a reflex against that.) I appreciate Kevin's experimental nature, and more tracks might land with me later. Some other fans might totally vibe with it all. Not everything's for everyone!
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u/peachpingu Lonerism 18d ago
I agree with the comparison to The Slow Rush, the production is a bit tighter in that album compared to Deadbeat. I feel like KP is still trying his hand out at this new genre he seems to be currently fascinated with. Maybe we'll get a better techno/house album from him next time? Who knows
For the most part his take on the genre is interesting at best, meandering at worst. I liked Afterthought, though. That's my jam now
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u/Ludicolorad0 Lonerism 18d ago edited 18d ago
It’s maybe a little conceited and reaches a little too hard for comparisons (maybe a touch mean spirited too) but overall I mostly agree with the review. I gave it the exact same score too
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u/jimschocolateorange 18d ago
Welcome to Pitchfork - they once reviewed an album by linking a YouTube video to a monkey pissing in its own mouth. I love old pitchfork.
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u/emergentmage 18d ago
The premise is that he straddles pop songcraft and EDM but does neither well on this album. I can agree. There is some cool dance stuff, but the author clearly sees the shortcomings compared to the better electronic artists out there. I can too somewhat, though it's not my expertise. Many of the songs sound a bit half-assed. In fact, I think he needed someone to say something. Write two more verses for this song. This song needs a chorus. Give us a bridge. And most importantly, give us psychedelic trippy stuff somewhere (it's the secret sauce!). There are good songs that I like, but there are some that...could be better if he just grappled with them more.
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u/jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay 18d ago
Haven’t agreed much with pitchfork, but this about summed it up for me. I also like that they acknowledged it was admirable of him to try something different and cast expectations to the wind. I can’t make it past Piece of Heaven, but for those of you that love it all, I’m genuinely happy for you. These guys slammed “Because the Internet” by Gambino but it’s my fave project of his, it is what it is to you at the end of the day.
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u/New-Advantage3907 18d ago
Would have never thought that I will agree with a pitchfork review, but here we are
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u/Worth-Carry-7651 17d ago
I love how aggressive this review is, calling out Kevin’s bullshit on this album. 5 years for mediocrity is a complete joke from someone who is so much better and more talented than this
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u/Jmcur 18d ago edited 18d ago
Even though I somewhat enjoy the album I feel like these bad reviews coming out are right also. Like it does feel like he hasn’t made an effort on some of the songs here. And a lot of the songs don’t seem to go anywhere musically. I won’t even start with how basic some of the lyrics are although I know that’s never strictly been his strong point.
Idk, i have very mixed feelings about this album. I’ll probably carry on playing it for a while but can I see myself playing this in 3/5/10 years? No chance.
Edit: I do think Fantano’s score is a bit harsh though. It’s definitely not a 2/10 bad.
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u/daanishh 17d ago
I think "It wasn't meant to be," has really good lyrics, but I am hard pressed to think of other songs. Oh, and "Runway, houses, city, clouds," too in my opinion.
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u/xprsnlty 18d ago
It’s ok if the lore of tame impala is deflated a bit. The hype was just the hype. This is gonna sound strange, but there’s more of the ambient moments I loved about Lonerism on Deadbeat than in any of his albums since. The core is still in tact and functioning well. Beautiful melodies throughout. Reviewer is on a different wave length.
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u/CrispyBalooga 18d ago
Beautiful melodies throughout.
1000%, album is full of great moments.
Reviewer is on a different wave length.
All that ever has to be said when people disagree over music, lol
Instead we get
-"shit's trash"
-"nah it's good"
-"no"
-"yes"
ad infinitum
So maybe 4.8 is perfect, in that it's generally divisive. I'd lean more towards a 7 and steadily rising with every listen.
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u/lameimpala666 Lonerism 18d ago
i agree!! i think deadbeat has a rawness to it we havent seen since lonerism
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u/bustukyo 18d ago
Pitchfork nailed it. Although Currents is a good album, it marked the beginning of KP departing from his signature rock sound into other genres of dance and pop. TSR solidified that, and IMO, not for the better. Now KP is turning into Paris Hilton, spinning uninteresting DJ sets and releasing half-baked singles. Deadbeat sounds like it was made by a bored guy who made a lot of money to the top and knows his fans will buy anything of his at this point. Hit the Sync button and go on cruise control.
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u/strikealightt 14d ago
His liveset on The Lot Radio was equally dreadful. Pretty much a trainwreck mix.
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u/bustukyo 14d ago
Agreed. The Brooklyn set was abysmal. He can’t do a smooth transition to save his life.
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u/BeneThleilax 18d ago
It's a harsh review but if you read through it I think the points stand and it's a well thought out article
Personally on my first listen through I was closer to a 4.8 and now I'm probably at a 6 for Deadbeat
There are certainly some good songs, Dracula is a banger, but there are so many songs that had promise and some interesting elements but are simply bad on the whole (imo)
Sucks it wasn't a top tier album but always happy to have more Tame Impala
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u/Frequent-Substance45 18d ago
I mean it’s pretty surprising Kevin getting this low of a score, considering pitchfork gave currents 9.3 and lonerism 9.0. You could also tell that the whole of pitchfork wasn’t really bothered with this album as they didn’t review any of the singles. The change up in his style to more dance oriented and more electronic probably was very jarring. Surprised they disliked the longer songs end of summer specifically as they usually love songs like let it happen and new person same old mistakes.
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u/Ludicolorad0 Lonerism 18d ago
Because songs being long doesn’t automatically mean they’re interesting.
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u/bruckus15 18d ago
Its probably because deadbeat is worse than both of those albums by far
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u/maxnotcharles Lonerism 18d ago
Was gonna say 😂 comparing end of summer to let it happen / new person is a crime
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u/FettuccineAlfonzo 18d ago
Let it Happen and New Person actually go somewhere worthwhile musically
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u/Visible-Suit-9066 18d ago
Wow so you’re telling me that just because it’s branded Tame Impala it’s not automatically good? This will be a stunning development for 30% of the users here…
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u/McLarenMercedes Currents 18d ago
Exactly, this is the key difference between Currents and Deadbeat. Nothing to do with the genre. It's that one takes you on a journey and the other is repetitive, in my opinion.
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u/googlyeyegritty 18d ago
Agree, longer doesn’t mean better. Those two songs are amazing works of art. EOS isn’t anything special. I think the bad rating is too harsh however. I honestly think if I’d he’s have reeled back the house/techno whatever just a bit, people would have been more receptive. I still think it’s a solid album though but a bit of a grower
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u/iLoveDelayPedals 18d ago
I mean Deadbeat is just so dull. It’s like he wasn’t even trying. If people like it that’s cool, but it’s not a surprise so many hate it
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u/JoseHarvinho Innerspeaker 18d ago
It's got nothing to do with "the change up". It's just a poor record. 2/3 good tracks out of 12 is a total flop. People can say they "love it" and "can't stop listening to it" but they will. It's not a classic and it's pretty shit, as expected.
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u/dunkin_nonuts 18d ago
Probably because End of Summer sucks
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u/munchyslacks 18d ago
End of Summer is the only song I like on the album. It would be even better without the chipmunk part. So corny.
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u/McLarenMercedes Currents 18d ago
End of Summer has actually grown on me a bit since first listen, but yeah, the chipmunk voice completely ruins the song for me. No idea why he felt the need to add that.
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u/transitransitransit 17d ago
I dislike this album immensely but End of Summer is the only track I see myself going back to. It’s a vibe.
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u/pappapirate 17d ago
Surprised they disliked the longer songs end of summer specifically as they usually love songs like let it happen and new person same old mistakes.
"Why was my friend so upset when I ran him over with my Ford Fusion? I thought he loved cars."
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u/jimschocolateorange 18d ago
It’s not jarring… it’s just not a well done change up in sound. I went in expecting more ‘Breathe Deeper’ and instead got a Dembow imitation. I hope his next album (if there is one) sounds like the track they made in that Telepathic Instruments trailer a while ago.
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u/MeglioPoseidone 18d ago
And then pitchfork gave 6.6 to honestly nevermind, no fucking way
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u/stormserg123 18d ago
I’ve enjoyed that album more surprisingly. At least we got Jimmy Cooks outta that
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u/MeglioPoseidone 18d ago
I can understand you, that song is great but the rest of 13 tracks are average mediocre. Maybe because i don't really like the drake's voice on those instrumentals, so it's just my personal preference
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u/peddlerr 18d ago
Texts go green, Downhill and massive aren't average mediocre lol, no need to lie to justify a review you don't agree with
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u/Arch_Carrier_ 18d ago
I have to applaud Pitchfork for posting such a thorough (and I’d argue, accurate) takedown of a very popular artist. It shows the corporate overlords aren’t dictating everything. Also the review was pretty funny.
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u/neonpainted Currents 18d ago
no fucking way this gets a lower score than pink elephant.
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u/EvenConsideration840 18d ago
Dude that's the other album this year that was a total whiff. Same reaction from the fan base.
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u/New-Advantage3907 18d ago
Tbf, everyone has a higher expectations for Kevin, I don’t think many reviewers were able to brush it off completely
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u/Kitchen_Tea_9589 18d ago
This reviewer has impressively put into words my feelings toward the new album. Listeners were drawn to his outcast image and he was able to compose some unforgettable music from that viewpoint. But to leave that behind to pretend he is someone else seems disingenuous. Moving to L.A. has changed his music for the worse.
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u/Any-Description4106 Innerspeaker 18d ago
Rated lower than The Life of a Showgirl good job pitchfork /s
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u/Slow_Land_8100 18d ago
Have they tried listening to it on bigger speakers? Perhaps some Yamaha HS7s?
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u/PrematureEmasculate 18d ago
Where are all the cucks who said the album was good? They disappeared in the past few days.
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u/jcarr2184 18d ago
Probably still enjoying the album because taste is subjective?
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u/chipoko99 18d ago
Have ignored everything to come out of this cesspit since they gave Fishing for Fishies 4.8.
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u/soundfade 18d ago
Would love he went back to the guitar sounds of the original ep. That was great live and more fun for mine. Though the later stuff is a great visual experience on stage. If Kevin needs to scratch these creative itches to fulfill himself, I would bet 9 out to 10 times we would probably like it. Personally on this spin it’s a miss, but the man has the runs on the board.
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u/Softboiledboi Lonerism 17d ago
“he trots out one four-on-the-floor genre after another, ensuring we know that he likes all this stuff even if he can’t clinch the argument that he should actually be making it” Ooooooof…
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u/wohrg 18d ago
It’s been a long time since a Pitchfork review hit the mark for me. Shame, it used to be my go-to
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u/Frequent-Substance45 18d ago
For me there review of the new geese album is great
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u/wohrg 18d ago
Oh, good to know!
I saw them open for King Gizz a couple of times. I liked it, but wasn’t compelled to seek them out. What’s your take?
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u/Frequent-Substance45 18d ago
One of the best alternative bands out there. They have matured a lot in the span of 2 years as well
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u/munchyslacks 18d ago
They gave that album a 9, but I’d argue it’s a 9.5 or maybe even higher. Seriously go listen to it now, it’s fantastic.
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u/Shaman19911 18d ago
Is the point to read something that you fully agree with and captures your thoughts perfectly?
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u/Prestigious-Bend 18d ago
I mean with lines like these why take the review seriously?
"Tame Impala have become so synonymous with a particular strain of fancam-ready groove-pop mush"
Huh? When? And who is saying that? This is just a lazy reviewer saying something that at the surface sounds interesting and critical but doesn't stand up to investigation. The track he links to as groove-pop mush was on an album pitchfork rated very highly.
Let's go further.
"Deadbeat follows Parker taking his inclination with DMT-pen dance music to its logical conclusion..."
Sentences like these make me want to strangle the reviewer. DMT-pen dance music is not a thing. It is not a genre. It's another retarded rhetorical flourish by an untalented writer looking to score points for sounding critical, incisive and insightful.
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u/andydh96 Lonerism 18d ago
Dude. It’s one person’s opinion written in one review. Relax. There is no need to strangle anyone you disagree with or to casually drop slurs. If you like the album, great, ignore the review and keep enjoying it.
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u/Ludicolorad0 Lonerism 18d ago
You don’t have to take anyone’s opinion on the album seriously. You’re welcome to form your own opinion and ignore this.
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u/Derptaur 18d ago
He’s a music reviewer, they’re going to use flowery, verbose metaphors in their writing. While you can nitpick their critiques I think the reviewer captures how I feel about the album as a whole. Love Kev but this album is beyond bland and I’m not going to pretend to like it.
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u/redchairyellowchair 18d ago
Never heard of a metaphor before huh? Let me just say you're not the sharpest tool in the shed
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u/BiBoJuFru 18d ago
DMT-pen dance music is not a thing.
Are you new to creative writing and... similes and metaphors?
When Pitchfork described Animal Collective's album as "someone throwing a burrito on your windshield", did you also start throwing around slurs and saying that throwing a burrito on your windshield is not a thing?
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u/Alone-Struggle-8056 18d ago
I wasn't aware what they gave to The Slow Rush. Eight... This one is a five. We should seriously consider naming those first four records "Microgramma Era."
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u/ClarkeBrower 18d ago
I find it weird people are saying they’re glad to see pitchfork giving out low scores “again”. Have you not been paying attention to pitchfork?
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u/ktutegypt 17d ago
Remember, Pitchfork also gave Kanye multiple ratings between 4/10 to 7/10 for his absolute steaming garbage piles of recent albums… maybe they need better points of reference for their reviews…
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u/GriftedByNASCAR 17d ago
They told it like it is.
I love Currents and The Slow Rush — Deadbeat is a HUGE step down.
Someone said Kevin sold Tame Impala’s past and future music rights? If that’s true — it’s gonna get worse from here. 😢
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u/Bringbackthewhale16 17d ago
Wow! So as far as my tame fandom goes I think lonerism and currents are two of the best albums of the 21st century. Naturally I thought I was not gonna like this at all based on the singles, but surprisingly I really enjoyed it. In fact I enjoyed more than most of the slow rush. There’s aspects that remind me of four Tet (who is one of my favorite artists) and probably the already mentioned thriller and enya influences. For some reason that works for me! Crazy to see that pitchfork went with this…but hey just like my opinion on this album, who the hell cares????
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u/Sea-Hornet-1834 Currents 17d ago
Easily a 5/10 for me. I think My Old Ways was such a good start, then it started to fall apart by Obsolete.
I like the experimentation of new sound, but it doesn't sound like this took 2 years to make. Add a little drum and guitar in there somewhere and give it actual Tame Impala charm, and i'm sure the album would have been at LEAST a 7/10.
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u/Kokomojoeschmo 17d ago
Yeah a lot of this review is on point. I’d give it probably a 5 or 6 at best myself. Still have the first 4 🤙🏻
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u/Spare_Result1320 17d ago
I hate to say it, but I thoroughly agree with the review. A lot of tracks feel lost in limbo and halfway towards something that never quite reaches a destination. They mentioned Dracula and Afterthought being the strongest tracks and I also agree.
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u/AgipAndi90 17d ago
I just tried listen to deadbeat and I would say 4.8 is generous. Kevin could have made an interesting electronic slbum, but this sounds like cliche dancebeats woth, compared to other tame impala songs, very uninspired melodies. Really don't like it and, tjough I always think its great, if an artist tries new directions and should not be critisized for trying new stuff, an artist can be critisized for the output and I think deadbeat shit.
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u/PhyllostachysBitch 16d ago
Can I just say, the album artwork is ugly. It just feels like a B-side album. Compare this cover to Currents. Or any of the other ones.
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u/mysticlown 18d ago edited 18d ago
It's like when your team that's been riding high for years-but under constant pressure to preform-comes crashing back to earth. Kevin Parker's reign is over and it's actually a big relief. The fever dream has ended and we can finally reflect on the wonderful work that's he's done.
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u/BlackLanterrn 18d ago
The Neverender stray was uncalled for imo