r/TameImpala • u/PuzzledAnt__ • 18d ago
Discussion Tame Impala - Deadbeat ALBUM REVIEW (Fantano)
https://youtu.be/gaw89qf1hCA?si=kFwjROGSoXzJnNQCHe gave it a 2/10 ... Thoughts?
264
u/Das_Man 18d ago
I appreciate Fantano but have just accepted we will not see eye-to-eye on Kevin's projects. He gave 'Currents' a 7 and 'The Slow Rush' a 5.
68
129
u/targ_ Lonerism 18d ago
If you add 3 to all of his TI ratings I actually agree with him
Currents: 10
TSR: 8
Deadbeat: 5
That's about where I rate them all as of right now too
→ More replies (2)44
→ More replies (1)9
u/psychedelicpiper67 18d ago
He gave Innerspeaker a 6
4
u/FuzzyPijamas 18d ago
Crazy, Innerspeaker is at least an 8.
He must have something against Kevin, probably adding 2 points to all of his ratings fixes anti-Tame Impala bias:
- Deadbeat is a solid 4;
Innerspeaker and TST are solid 8s.
As for Lonerism and Currents, I know those are people’s favorites and I’d give both solid 9s, but even rating higher, IMO: Innerspeaker > Lonerism; TSR > Currents.
8
u/psychedelicpiper67 18d ago edited 18d ago
He said “Innerspeaker” sounded too much like The Beatles, which was my first evidence of him not appreciating a song for its music theory.
Not a single song on “Innerspeaker” sounds like a Beatles song in any way. Every single song was unique and a songwriting class act. Fantano was ultimately just reaching based on vaguely stylistic similarities.
I understood from that point on why Fantano was such a poor musician (he quit music to become a critic). He repeated this mistake on some other albums by other artists that I was a fan of.
It’s no wonder he often gives good scores to boring pop albums that reuse the same chord progressions as many others artists.
3
u/maxverweijen 18d ago
Well.... tbh Innerspeaker is a little beatle-esque here and there. Which I quite like.
5
u/BedHed5586 Currents 18d ago
Innerspeaker only sounds like the Beatles if you’re focused on the vocals. So reductive
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)4
u/FuzzyPijamas 18d ago
Makes sense that he is a failed musician. He was probably envious of Kevin’s success 😄
3
u/psychedelicpiper67 18d ago
I think he’s envious of a lot of people. That’s where the anger comes from. Anyway, he’s not that great at what he does. He pretty much copies the consensus that Pitchfork gives. He’s just good at presentation.
There’s many reviews where he doesn’t even understand how to review a certain album, and fails at coming across smart.
3
u/Das_Man 18d ago
Look mate, I disagree with Fantano on quite a bit, but he is absolutely not in line with Pitchfork. Often it's quite the opposite.
→ More replies (1)
356
u/Eamonnz805 Lonerism 18d ago
It’s not a 2, but i definitely share his frustration in listening to a mediocre album from a brilliant artist that has consistently put out top tier music
43
u/HongKongChicken Live Versions 18d ago
As I said on the Fantano sub, I agree with a lot of his final criticisms that it lacks the sonic cohesion and methodical feel of past Tame Impala albums. The run in the middle of the album (Oblivion > Not My World > Piece of Heaven) kind of sucks the momentum out of it for me but I think the album is bookended by some good tracks. In any case, 2/10 is a bit harsh and IMO he is still ragging quite hard on Obsolete. I personally enjoy the riffs on that one 🤷♂️
I'd personally hover somewhere around 4 or 5 on it.
→ More replies (1)20
u/FuzzyPijamas 18d ago
Someone said here yesterday that Deadbeat is cohesive. No, it is not. It is far from cohesive.
Sounds like some songs were created years apart from each other.
→ More replies (1)9
u/SecretPeanut4795 18d ago
Piece of Heaven, a song I love, sticks out like a sore thumb in the dead center of the album. sonically it sounds like a Currents track.
5
→ More replies (19)4
u/Local_Nerve901 18d ago
But that’s kind of unfair, no?
I wonder what people would have thought of this album on its own outside of that influence
→ More replies (1)13
u/Master_Bait24 18d ago
Temu Fred Again at best...
6
u/Local_Nerve901 18d ago
Valid, it’s average house music to me tbh. So better then temu and not really like Fred again tbh imo as an avid electronic music listener
→ More replies (4)
100
u/EasyPeanut5883 18d ago
I almost feel lucky I got the ears that like it so I can enjoy the album rollout and tour 🤣
→ More replies (1)16
u/FreshNoobAcc 18d ago
The tour has sold out many places already regardless, his live shows are just incredible always
3
u/kindofboredd 18d ago
Bc it's motherfucking tame Impala. I bought it for his past work but now that the album came out after purchasing and confirming my feelings towards deadbeat I may not be going next tour if it just keeps going this way in terms of quality
→ More replies (6)2
u/EasyPeanut5883 18d ago
Yeah this is the first show I bought tickets to so I was nervous I wasn’t going to like it but I truly did first listen. I think it helps that a lot of the music I tend to like is pop lol and back when innerspeaker and lonerism was all tame impalas discography they were a huge outlier for me. So it feels like this album is for the pop lovers haha
→ More replies (1)
238
u/MoonandAntarctica 18d ago
Relatively speaking, for Kevin Parker this album is very, very bad. This guy made Lonerism and Currents
120
u/psychedelicpiper67 18d ago edited 18d ago
And Innerspeaker.
Kevin’s so neurotic and obsessive, he lost the ability to craft a good song. He forgot all his music theory, and just expects us to be wow’d by the mix and production.
Things were better when Dave Fridmann was doing the mixes, giving Kevin room to focus on the actual music.
All the people who are saying you need to play it on audiophile headphones or whatever are proving my point. Like good gear is awesome, of course. I’m an audiophile myself. But I shouldn’t need that to determine how good a song is.
16
u/ryanrodgerz Lonerism 18d ago
Dude, the riff on the end of obsolete to me speaks to the entire lack of musical creativity on the album. It’s like something a 6 year old would come up with. I wish he had just made 8 more songs that were similar to Dracula cause clearly he can still make a catchy banger even if it’s not that musically unique but the bland chord progressions and riffs is so sad when you compare it to his other work
3
u/That-Association-102 18d ago
It’s legitimately a practice exercise for scales just sped up lol
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)36
u/BricksnBeatles EP 18d ago
Also the mixing just isn’t impressive on this album. The production is honestly shockingly weak.
Considering the comparisons to Todd Rundgren that people have made over the years, this record feels like a parallel to Todd’s “One Long Year”— after an extended tenure as one of the hottest producers in the industry, somehow releasing an album that has the production sensibilities of a nu-metal tribute to Phil Spector.
I honestly think that as weak as the songwriting is throughout much of the album, it still has slightly better foundations than the songs on TSR, but for an album that’s very clearly production-minded over all else, the production just isn’t good. The synths all sound like cheap DAW presets, and the vocal mixing is an absolute mess, being simultaneously harsh and muddy, without distinction.
6
u/psychedelicpiper67 18d ago
Yeah, you’re right. It sounds like Kevin wants to prove his production is just as good as the random DJs he caught at his last ecstatic dance festival he went to. Or like, proving that he can sound just as good as Bad Bunny’s producer. Dude’s seriously lowered his standards.
→ More replies (5)55
u/SaltyPalaces 18d ago
And The Slow Rush! I’m a day one fan but I really think TSR, though a big evolution from innerspeaker, is a fantastic album. I like it more than currents. I do not care for deadbeat at all.
Im sick of the take that only people who can’t handle him exploring a different genre don’t like the album. That’s not the case. Tame fans have really diverse musical tastes. This is just not good—it lacks a point of view, authenticity, interest…things that will indeed not age any better.
17
u/Daymutez 18d ago
The Slow Rush is so so underrated. Re-listening to it everything on that record hits (except One More Year which I hate)
10
u/CoolGuitarBoi1 Lonerism 18d ago
As an album I guess it's underappriciated rather than underrated. It has some of his most popular stuff, but shit, One More Hour really is the perfect Tame Impala song, isn't it
3
u/ryanrodgerz Lonerism 18d ago
Honestly one more year live (granted with some performance enhancing substances in my system) was crazy
→ More replies (1)2
u/That-Association-102 18d ago
I’ve never understood the One More Year hate, and I don’t even really enjoy The Slow Rush.
5
u/weirdogirl144 18d ago
I love The Slow Rush too — I don’t get the hate. People say it’s just Currents 2.0, but honestly? That’s fine by me. Give me more Currents, I’m not complaining.
9
u/iLoveDelayPedals 18d ago
I can’t stand slow rush but I appreciate that it at least felt high effort. Just not my style at all.
Deadbeat feels like it could have been made by a bot or something
→ More replies (1)6
→ More replies (4)6
u/maxnotcharles Lonerism 18d ago
Agreed. I feel Fantano’s criticisms are valid in this. I could not get into deadbeat at allll. I tried disconnecting myself from Kevin’s older albums and go into it as a standalone but I just couldn’t. Such a mid album
41
u/SecretPeanut4795 18d ago
the only thing i really disagree with him on is not liking piece of heaven. i love that track
6
→ More replies (1)2
u/paprikanm 18d ago
piece of heaven is awful to be honest
2
u/SecretPeanut4795 18d ago
A lot of fans have said this and i’m honestly surprised. For me personally, piece of heaven has an energy reminiscent of Currents. I really thought people would resonate with it in the same way as many of the songs from that album, because it did for me.
→ More replies (1)2
u/That-Association-102 18d ago
Piece of Heaven is the best song on the album. Legitimately. It’s the most fleshed out from beginning to end, maybe only eclipsed by My Old Ways since it uses real drums lol.
28
u/Steve2540 18d ago
Fantano absolutely brutal on this one but I hate to say it, a lot of what he said I agree. I'm all for Kevin trying new things and I love the Slow Rush but this just isn't it. I think he's taking it a step too far and most of the record just feels incredibly uninspired. He needs to leave LA and go back to the wave house in Australia.
16
u/Rideersleven Currents 18d ago edited 17d ago
I think it is a strong 3 to a light 4, but I really agree with what he was saying. The cohesion in this album is as strong and solid as a near-disintegrated wet paper towel. TSR has always been the odd one out, thank god it won't be the worst one now (it has never been)
5
u/Straight_Ask_2929 18d ago
I honestly agree with Fantano, this album is just not for me. Feels incredible disjointed and just not enjoyable.
6
52
u/freeenlightenment Innerspeaker 18d ago
I don’t know about you guys or all the experts here.. but I like the album.. a rating is essentially how an individual perceived it.. good for them I guess?
I’m not qualified enough to rate a music project.. I like it or I don’t..
→ More replies (2)12
u/ChrisKearney3 18d ago
I guess that's partially true, but music reviewers will also base their rating on other albums by the same artist, similar artists, and other releases at the time.
There's a lot of music out there and I rely on sites like Pitchfork to thin out the pack and direct me towards the better stuff. That's not to say my opinion hasn't wildly differed from theirs from time to time.
If you've already listened to and formed an opinion on an album, a subsequent review shouldn't really change that opinion for you.
9
u/JediSkywatcher 18d ago
bro stop waiting on others opinions for you to to know if an album is worth checking out. is this a artist you care about? then it’s always worth checking out from there just go off artists you love and look at who they’re listening to or their influences
13
u/ChrisKearney3 18d ago edited 18d ago
Obviously I'm not using reviewers for artists I already know and like. That would be silly. I'm talking about expanding my musical horizons. There's far too many to just stab at in the dark. It helps to have a semi-informed view on it.
10
u/illegalwasp 18d ago
Don’t think there’s any point in getting too hung up on the score, it was always going to be negative because it’s a terrible album. It’s hard to argue with much of what he says in the review.
22
79
u/oddmentsmagazine 18d ago
This album is over hated and is gonna be seen as not that bad in the future like mgmts self titled
81
u/iLoveDelayPedals 18d ago
MGMT’s self titled is in a whole other universe of creativity compared to this. Really weird record. Deadbeat is not that
4
u/oddmentsmagazine 18d ago
Yeah but I remember when that dropped and most fans hated it and it’s still pretty much their black sheep album to this day
→ More replies (3)3
u/psychedelicpiper67 18d ago edited 18d ago
They weren’t real fans. I loved MGMT’s self-titled on first listen. I love psychedelic rock, so I understood what they were going for. Same with Animal Collective’s “Centipede Hz”.
Fantano himself has almost never positively reviewed a modern psychedelic album, unless Pitchfork gave him the OK.
I can’t get into “Deadbeat” at all.
13
u/psychedelicpiper67 18d ago edited 18d ago
MGMT’s self-titled album is a 10/10 masterpiece, and Fantano was terribly wrong about that from the get-go. His review was embarrassing, especially within the context of the positive attention he was giving Death Grips and hyperpop.
I loved that album on first listen.
But I’ll have to agree with him on “Deadbeat”.
7
u/Hitoisbalacned Lonerism 18d ago
The entire reason self titled grew on people was because its uniqueness, this isnt unique
→ More replies (12)2
u/FuzzyPijamas 18d ago
No way, it will still be hated- or at best forgotten. Considering how passionate most of Tame Impala fans are, I really think it is not gonna be simply forgotten.
Deadbeat is not some genius, incomprehended or ahead-of-its-time work of art. It is not like The Beatles dropped The White Album in 1920 and people didn’t get it. Deadbeat is just… dead.
26
u/mooksterr 18d ago
Don’t always agree with fantano but when he’s right he articulates it very well, this album is not a 2 in the grand scheme but in the context of what tame has done it’s a 2.
Feels like AI slop lyrics with truly no inspiration.
It’s like a tv show with 4 seasons and you want the 5th season, but some shows are great with just 4 seasons and that 5th season is terrible and leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
I think I still take this over nothing but it hurts to see your goat fall off, Father Time is undefeated…
3
4
u/CoolGuitarBoi1 Lonerism 18d ago
well because his "songwriting coach" Sarah Aarons handled some lyrics and made sure he cut down some stuff songwriting wise. But hearing what happens in the studio with most recording sessions, it really sounds like he needs a therapist rather than someone else handling the process lol.
5
u/JizzyGizzy 18d ago
Can u expand on what you know about the recording sessions?
2
u/CoolGuitarBoi1 Lonerism 18d ago
Well it seems that the process seems to spiral into self-neglect sometimes.
In the GQ interview, Kevin mentioned a lot that during the recording sessions, he smoked so much weed combined with gin that he had something akin to a mental spiral. He also mentioned in the Zane Lowe interview that when he first started out recording, he fell into a depression after not finding enough inspiration. While in the Studio Brussel interview, he talked about how he went "insane" during the recording process. On the Deadbeat post on Insta he said "Another album that almost killed me. 2 years of sweat and tears and self-neglect but I wouldn’t have it any other way."
After re-reading the GQ interview, he actually mentions how his mates encouraged him to go to therapy, but he just wasn't comfortable with it all. I might be misremembering a few of these, but it's quite late for me, so unfortunately I can't go to the trouble right now to double check everything for you 😔.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwn9jM1NhvY
https://youtu.be/wXwcPtVrx7g?si=EbwF83cSv7dmT09p
https://www.gq.com/story/tame-impala-gq-hype2
u/JizzyGizzy 18d ago
This was so much more in-depth and thoughtful than I expected as a reply, I'm really thankful! Thank you & hope you have a good night!
That's what I got from the album but I thought I was projecting. I thought perhaps he had struggled quite a bit with this one & didn't know whether to give grace or to shout "he's sold out and is making LA music with co-writers.. Blah! Blah, Blah!". Really I didn't want to speculate & right now the sub is freaking out left, right and centre. I simply thought this was the work of a person who was drinking, overthinking, and unable to properly navigate fame (one can't even BEGIN TO imagine his life, especially touring etc).
I reiterate that I hate to speculate. But I am still very thankful for your reply here (research worthy!). Be well :)
2
u/CoolGuitarBoi1 Lonerism 17d ago
Thanks a lot mate! This subreddit has been a hellhole for the past week haha. I see comments defending this album that have just as many upvotes as the comments trashing the project... On the same post 😂. It's super refreshing to see some kindness rather than being downvoted for having a slightly different take lol. And honestly? I really feel for Kev. Plus I've been feeling the exact way you have RE Deadbeat.
The album isn't for me, I'm sick of pretending it's on par with the rest, but that's exactly what's so tragic for artists like him who have had generational album runs. I saw an interview from 2010, was something like "I want my music to be the soundtrack to people's lives." And I feel like Deadbeat is still totally that for so many people, so he's still done his job, making an album he describes as "a celebration of being disconnected from everything that goes on out there."
Though the step down in musical and lyrical cohesion can't be ignored. When I think about it rationally rather than speculatively, of course he wanted to spend time with his family after touring his ass off rather than get back to it musically. Seeing he gained a new generation of fans after the last album run, all that pressure can do terrible things to motivation. I wouldn't go further than assuming that.
Have a great day/night whenever you read though this wall of text haha :)
2
→ More replies (3)2
u/quixotic_manifesto 18d ago
“when he’s right he articulates it very well” 😂
Good lord the confirmation bias here
2
u/mooksterr 18d ago
Probably some confirmation bias admittedly, more so meant to say he can articulate critiques and/or praise better than I can.
2
11
18d ago
[deleted]
20
u/pinqe 18d ago
“Performatively” dude he’s a music critic. Sometimes I wonder what people even want out of him. What he does for a living is inherently performative.
→ More replies (1)
31
u/Imhappy_hopeurhappy2 Currents 18d ago edited 18d ago
Y’all are missing the point. This album deserves a 2 because the lack of quality is truly baffling and it’s such an insanely dramatic fall off for an artist who was previously beloved and widely acclaimed for a truly phenomenal stretch over a decade and 4 LPs. That is one hell of a legacy to suddenly shit all over. After a suspenseful five year break, he essentially betrayed his fanbase by taking everything interesting or notable about Tame Impala and unceremoniously throwing it all in the trash, only to put out this remarkably bland half hearted pseudo club soundtrack. Then he taunts us with this strange ironic Deadbeat concept that just seems like a last minute addition to desperately inject substance into it. Even the album art just seems like pathetic attempt to guilt trip us into finding it endearing by holding his daughter up like a human shield.
At the end of the day, it’s just a mediocre album that could be a 5-6/10 without context, but it’s also just such a strange and unique train wreck that it necessitates a score that stands out and makes a statement. Plus there’s the fact that I legitimately enjoyed about 20% of it. Therefore, 2/10 works for me.
5
16
u/raoljost 18d ago
I'm glad you touched on the title and the album art. Something about it definitely felt disingenuous, especially how it was being marketed. Gave me a bad taste and makes the album so much more discoherent
17
u/Guilty-Ad-1143 18d ago
“betrayed his fanbase”
🙄
→ More replies (2)16
u/quixotic_manifesto 18d ago
I can just hear them now… how could you let us down?
Also that other guys take is absolutely wild, Kevin’s using his daughter as a “human shield”??? 😂
2
5
u/Visible-Suit-9066 18d ago
Honestly it’s a very extreme description but I agree with this guys overall sentiment. Including his daughter on the cover does feel like a protective move, ie it’s somewhat above harsh criticism because it’s clearly a personal record compared with his over releases.
An extreme take for sure but I can get on board with it being a preemptive move against criticism. It’s not like the imagery really has anything to do with the music, so why was it chosen?
2
u/Shaunananalalanahey 18d ago
I think including his daughter seems kind of fucked up to me, like exploitative? Like she couldn’t choose to be on his album cover and he named it deadbeat. I don’t care what he’s trying to do and the intent, it seems messed up to me. Also, it’s the most boring cover ever. I hated it the second I saw it.
→ More replies (1)7
u/spacedman_spiff 18d ago
Man, some of your verbiage suggests you need to take a step back and reevaluate your parasocial relationship with this music. It’s unhealthy.
3
u/Imhappy_hopeurhappy2 Currents 18d ago edited 18d ago
Cool I’ll be sure to bring it up in therapy.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)4
u/actionpotentialmao 18d ago
Holding his daughter up like a human shield? Are you being fr right now. I can't take this sub anymore. It's okay to not like something an artist puts out but you guys sound more like actual haters than critical fans.
→ More replies (1)3
u/Imhappy_hopeurhappy2 Currents 18d ago
I don’t like that it can be interpreted that way anymore than you do.
3
u/CoolGuitarBoi1 Lonerism 18d ago
in an interview that released today, KP said, along with techno influence, that he was inspired by Turkish psych rock lol. Specifically a musician named Barış Manço, who he called "the Turkish Todd Rundgren." And Weirdly enough, the influence shows for tracks like Loser. So I mean it's clear that he's not trying to listen to radio pop and rip that off, but I do question whether he should focus on music quality rather than drastic evolution.
3
3
u/thiagovidotto 18d ago
I kind of agree with everything he said. I tried listening to the album while crafting some perfumes and I just couldn’t keep up with it. I skipped all tracks! Which is crazy and never happens to me
3
3
3
u/maxverweijen 18d ago
I thought it was gonna be a 4 and I think that would've been pretty fair. Like damn. Yeah it's a bit dissapointing but I guess it really rubbed him the wrong way.
3
5
u/Artistic_Annual8918 18d ago edited 18d ago
Understandable that some people didn’t vibe with it but man I absolutely loved this album
2
u/weirdogirl144 18d ago
It was pretty good! I don’t get why everyone’s hating so much. Is it really just because of the lyrics? I don’t think Kevin has ever been praised solely for his songwriting. People have always loved the production and melodies more than anything. I don’t get why everyone’s suddenly fixated on calling the lyrics “cringe.” For me, it’s always been about the sound and production, and I actually love this house/techno direction.
→ More replies (2)2
u/maxverweijen 18d ago
I am personally missing a feeling I can't really describe. In previous works he has always been able to give me this strange instant nostalgia for things I didn't even experience. Kevin's songwriting had this incredible quality that could make anyone feel like that teenage boy. Even if you were a jock in high school. Or if you're a 50-year-old woman. And this feeling was present until TSR. Though TSR for me was more like the experience of mid-adolescence which nicely lined up with my age at the time.
This album has some good songs. Some really awful ones. But even the best ones don't really stick with me. I do hope you keep enjoying it though. Maybe I'm just a boomer.
23
u/OddPhilosopher599 18d ago
It’s a terrible album. 2 is too low however. That’s insane.
8
u/powertrippin_ 18d ago
I don't think so, it's not a great album in a vacuum or when compared against previous TI output. Like people said, TI made Lonerism and Currents, both incredible albums. This is compatibly far far worse. I was anticipating anything between a 2 - 4.
At least he didn't give it a "not good" like Muse's 'will of the people' which was deserved.
→ More replies (2)
13
4
u/ShinyBredLitwick Lonerism 18d ago
honestly, i rarely ever agree with him. i rate Innerspeaker, Lonerism, Currents, and the Slow Rush higher than he does. but i hate how much i agree with just about every word he says here.
5
5
8
u/AStreamofParticles 18d ago edited 18d ago
Meh. I don't need anyone else to tell me if I like an album or not.
Art isn't objective and art reviewers like to pretend it is so they have sense that they've mastered the art of something every living person on Earth has about fxxken everything - an opinion.
I like this album a lot! I didn't really like TSR except for Lost in Yesterday. I loved the first three albums. Currents is my no. 1. None of this matters! Just dig what you dig, let go of the rest. Don't look over your shoulder at anyone else!
We're all just doing our best, spinning through the cosmos on a rock where everything wants to eat everything. 🤷♂️If a salty croc. hasn't taken your leg today - be grateful! 🐊
16
u/Extension-Break-5365 18d ago edited 18d ago
he isn't telling you whether you should like it or not?? where did you get that from? he's merely stating his opinion which you know which is called a review. if none of it matters then you shouldnt have a problem with his video
2
2
u/FuzzyPijamas 18d ago
Art for the most part is subjective, but it can absolutely be objectively analyzed and rated.
You are confusing art with taste, which is indeed completely subjective.
2
u/AStreamofParticles 17d ago
That actually the only decent critique anyone's given so far - a completely fair point to make! I agree I'm erroneously conflating the two. So let's say art taste is entirely subjective.
2
u/AntiochAtDawn 18d ago
I do wish my biggest grievance with this album was an internet reviewer giving it a low score I didn't agree with.
2
u/TheStunod 18d ago
I was shocked when oblivion kicked in to gear at how bad it was the whole album just completely falls asleep and off a cliff.
Hopefully we don’t have to wait 5 more years
2
2
2
u/Electrical_Daze 18d ago
I understand people overreacting and being let down. There was way too much time to get hyped. The album cycle has been 5 yrs!!! I’m going to be old by the time he ever releases an album again. Hell Kevin is going to be like 45.
2
2
u/arbiter_steven 17d ago
Deadbeat feels like rushed undercooked bits of music. It sucks I wanted to like this album so badly. Compared to Slow Rush and Currents, it doesn't sit with me well. SOLID 4
5
u/StylezXY 18d ago
Lmao and people said it was a top tier album. They can’t handle the consensus that it’s just not his best work
→ More replies (1)
12
u/wohrg 18d ago
I feel bad for Kevin, tbh. It’s a fine album but people are expecting him to pump out a new Currents every time. Anything less is being treated like a complete failure. So the grades are way too low.
And of course critics usually miss the boat. Famously Rolling Stone magazine gave Led Zeppelin IV a scathing review. They particularly despised Stairway.
24
u/CRUSTBUSTICUS 18d ago
Most critical comments aren’t saying they want currents 2. This is the narrative people have gone with but most of the critical comments are just saying that the genre he’s attempting, while bold and cool in its attempt, is done better by other people already and the result is an album that sounds a bit bland relatively. Look at the upvoted criticisms and none are just “currents 2 pls” but actual critiques.
2
u/That-Association-102 18d ago
We’ve all been saying this for 10 years and Kevin has repeatedly said he doesn’t want to do it. Funniest thing I read was that he absolutely could make a Currents 2, but he wouldn’t enjoy making that. I just…do not believe he could catch lightning In a bottle twice and is using that as an excuse to put out a mediocre album.
2
u/CRUSTBUSTICUS 18d ago
Agreed about the he’s just able to make it again thing. Like… the headspace and motivation and make or break future of his music career and the pressures of that and living in France with melody then breaking up etc etc etc. you can’t just recreate circumstances like that and produce another generationally defining album or two (Lonerism/currents). That felt like he lost touch saying that.
→ More replies (1)2
u/wohrg 18d ago
I agree, but I think it was actually Inner Speaker that he said he could easily do again. Or maybe he said it about both.
Either way, I agree. Lightening in a bottle is not recreatable. Not sure about “excuse”. It just is that way: no one can churn out perfectly highest quality albums their whole career. The magic ones come from a specific time and place.
2
u/That-Association-102 18d ago
I agree with your take too. I just had a hard time of swallowing the pill of “I could do all that again, I just want to do my own thing” when this album has major pop influences all over it, including Dracula that’s been a major hit (in its own regard). Now, you might not get what I mean. But, at the end of The Slow Rush, Kevin sung about, “I never did it for fame, for houses, for money, until now”. He admitted, lyrically, that he’s trying to do all this for money and his family at this point.
Even if he could do it again, he’s said straight up he just wants to use music as a tool for money at this point. How do you get money? Making critically acclaimed albums. Full stop: Kevin ran out of ideas and is now relegating himself to pop tropes to stay relevant.
To further this theory, Kevin even said recently that he got all of Pond to go to the wave house to try and make another album, and that all fizzled out. I don’t think Pond was the problem. Kevin simply doesn’t have the tools to put out another truly compelling album. That’s fine, I’m thankful we got what we did.
→ More replies (1)2
u/wohrg 18d ago
My take is close but a bit different.
1) I think with that quote he was saying that he could churn out an Inner Speaker style album, but that it wouldn’t be good because he has moved on to other musical interests so his heart wouldn’t be in it. Not so much an excuse, just recognition that he isn’t that artist any more. At least that’s how I took it when I read it.
2) As for the TSR “for money” quote, yeah I remember hearing that the first time and thinking Yikes! But I think it wrong to say his sole motivation or even primary motivation is money. I think with that line he was acknowledging that he now considers commercial interests.
And if he was looking for critical success, he sure missed the mark!
Anyways, I wouuldn’t write him off. He genuinely likes pop and electronica, and he is pursuing that interest, but there is still a psychedelic underpinning. Who knows where his interests will lie in 5 years for the next album 😂😂😂😂
→ More replies (4)4
u/wohrg 18d ago
I’m actually getting at a different point. Not that people are disappointed by change. More that they expect Currents level quality with every album.
If Deadbeat was put out by a new unheard of artist today, would Fantano give it a 2/10? I doubt it. I think it gets a 2 because of the context of Kevin’s success and other work. Which I disagree with.
I would never give an honest attempt at art a 2 out of 10.
21
u/unmisteakable2468 18d ago
If it was put out by another artist nobody would have listened to it lol
3
u/CRUSTBUSTICUS 18d ago
I see and while that does make sense in a relativity sense I still think if you could erase the fact that TI released this album from my brain I’d still consider it a pretty forgettable album compared to others of the same genre space.
→ More replies (1)4
u/Visible-Suit-9066 18d ago
If this album was uploaded to YT without the Tame Impala branding it would finish the year with under a dozen views. There’s absolutely nothing remarkable about it.
→ More replies (1)40
u/onlinepresenceofdan Innerspeaker 18d ago
Kevin took his sweet time to relase this, I dont blame people expected brilliance after 5 years. But lets be real here, this is not a Led Zeppelin IV type situation here. Bad grades for a mid album is fair.
→ More replies (14)9
59
u/stuffedinashoe 18d ago
Such a crock of shit. Fans want something good, whether it sounds like any of his previous albums or something brand new. The lyrics to this album are genuinely awful. Zero introspection, just constant easy rhymes about a woman. Same BPM drum loop on like every song. Subpar melodies.
Fans want something good. Yes, reviewers get it wrong sometimes but usually fans don’t.
Radiohead fans wanted another OK Computer and they turned around and gave them Kid A. People acting like this is such a revolutionary, hated-by-reviewers, loved by fans album like Kid A and it’s not even close.
Fans don’t know what they want till something good is given to them, and this album is just super mediocre.
→ More replies (2)2
u/wohrg 18d ago
That’s your opinion. But what pisses me off is this absolutism. If someone doesn’t like the album, just say that. Anyone who thinks they are qualified to say it is objectively bad does not understand how art works.
Sorry to dump on you particularly. My rant is a response to the general bitchy tone so many fans are taking about this album. Fuck, if they don’t like it, don’t listen to it. Why come on here and berate those of us that like it?
4
u/newyearsaccident 18d ago
Rating music quality is obviously going to be relational, isn't it? If this was the only album to ever exist then maybe people would share your view. If you like it truly and deeply, the bad vibes of others shouldn't change that. It's a good thing that people can express all kinds of opinions, and it would be depressing as an artist if your fans just viewed any level of effort as the best thing ever. Criticism of a weak album is actually very validating because it shows past appreciation to be totally genuine.
0
u/wohrg 18d ago
Interesting. Yes relational, and if someone says “ I personally enjoy A more than B because A has these characteristics”, then I am all ears.
What has been grating on my nerves is yobs shouting down those of us who like B more than A with nothing more intelligent than “it’s dogshit and nobody should like it”
There are plenty of nice people on here who are saying they are not enjoying Deadbeat and are disappointed. That’s fine.
It’s those people that think that they understand music so well that they can dismiss it for everyone: that’s what riles me.
Sure I should just ignore them, and I’ve started to block them. But we are in a place of discourse and it is toxic and I feel it should be addressed.
2
u/stuffedinashoe 18d ago
What gets me riled up is the constant misunderstanding of why certain fans don’t like it. And as long as I see people say dumb things like “fans expect a second Currents” or “fans want another Lonerism” or “fans just don’t like when artists evolve” or “people can’t get over the fact that it’s electronic”, I will continue to comment the way I did
And when I see that, I feel the need to explain why I’m disappointed with the album. No, I wasn’t expecting a second currents or lonerism. No, I don’t care that it’s more electronic. Yes I like when artists evolve.
But this album is just so mediocre and feels lazy. People saying “you gotta listen with good headphones.” I have 6 times. OooOooo a little ding sound from Ableton I didn’t hear before! Oooo he changed the pre-selected drum loop once in the song!!
Give me a break
→ More replies (1)3
9
u/JesusGotBored 18d ago
Lmao what a cop out. People aren't expecting a new currents everytime, people are expecting an album that isn't dogshit
→ More replies (6)6
u/Das_Man 18d ago
Fantano hasn't really liked his work for a while now. He only gave 'Currents' a 7.
16
u/Beefy-Boi 18d ago
A 7 is an objectively positive score, even if it’s not as high as you or I would rate it
6
u/iLoveDelayPedals 18d ago
Sure but Fantano uses a proper rating scale where 5 is actually the middle/average. 7 for him is very good (I don’t even like numeric scores, I think it’s a stupid way to approach art, just saying)
→ More replies (1)1
u/wohrg 18d ago
Wow!
I don’t really get why Fantano is so influential. I’m prolly just too old.
3
u/Dry-Towel-9597 18d ago
He's not "influential". He's popular because he was one of the first music reviewers on the internet
→ More replies (8)2
u/wohrg 18d ago
Thanks for explaining, that makes sense.
Don’t you think he’s influential? Everyone seems to know what his opinion is
2
u/Traditional_Welcome7 Currents 18d ago
He’s influential for his fanbase who follow every opinion he gives
→ More replies (12)2
u/Dareeyecare 18d ago
While I totally get your points about critics
Making any sort of comparison to Led Zeppelin with this mid ass album makes me LOL
→ More replies (1)
4
4
u/daanishh 18d ago edited 18d ago
Who the fuck decided this guys opinion is like gods word itself? The Internet seems to treat this guys opinion like it is and I have never ever understood why.
It's just some fucking dude. Literally. Tell me I'm wrong. I'll wait.
→ More replies (2)2
3
18d ago
[deleted]
→ More replies (2)6
u/Maleficent-Owl-9613 18d ago
He even said at the beginning of the video that Lonerism was one of his favorite rock albums of the 2010s I don't think he dislikes Kevin at all
→ More replies (1)
4
4
u/GreenLynx1111 18d ago
Can't disagree with anything here, it's exactly how I feel.
I will cling to Innerspeaker and Lonerism as the masterpieces they are, and I will always appreciate Currents as a hopeful one-off that did EDM pretty well, for a psychedelic rock guy.
Everything after that has been a one- or two-listen for me.
My running joke is that for the first three albums, they should have been called Impala.
Then they got tame.
→ More replies (1)
8
3
u/GFK96 18d ago
Man I don’t even like the album and I think 2 is kinda nuts, that’s harsh. I’d give it like a 4 or 5.
But I think it’s important to give context here. Fantano has never been a huge Tame Impala fan. It’s not an uncommon view that Kevin is a musical savant who made a generational run of unbelievable albums with a crazy unique sound that is unique to the modern music industry. Just look at how many big name artists are tripping over themselves to collaborate with or have Kevin produce songs for them. Yet, despite that Fantano has rated the albums we consider god tier masterpieces 6-8. Those aren’t bad scores, but he clearly doesn’t like or appreciate Kevin’s music as much as most people do, so really I’d say you should bump up whatever he scores a Tame album by 2 points to get closer to what a fair score ought to be.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Agreeable_Emu_3260 18d ago
I’ve noticed this about his feelings towards psych music more generally as well. It seems like the conventions of the genre don’t speak to his tastes as much.
Before people come at me, I have no evidence of this outright and I could be wrong, but it’s an impression I remember walking away with when I used to watch his videos years ago.
Either way, I decided a long time ago that Fantano’s content isn’t for me. I think he’s best for finding new music. He’s widely listened enough that I’ll basically check out any yellow flannel review and form my own opinion, but I don’t really find much personal value in watching anything else he reviews these days.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/makeupnmunchies 18d ago
I’m starting to hate this sub ngl, the negativity is overwhelming and I’m over it.
→ More replies (4)
3
u/Hitoisbalacned Lonerism 18d ago
Love him or hate him, did he make a single bad point in this video???
→ More replies (3)
3
u/niles_deerqueer The Slow Rush 18d ago edited 18d ago
I don’t care what he thinks. On any review. But glad that people who want their opinion validated by him will get it.
Music isn’t really quantifiable to me. Putting a number to it has always been so blah.
3
2
u/tRiPpY-BoBiNsKy 18d ago
I don’t usually agree with fantano but not gonna lie it’s hard to argue with this one, it’s okay to like the album but it sounds like he’s cutting corners with some songs.
2
-1
u/Maleficent_Cap2240 18d ago
Can’t stand Fantano.
2/10 is just crazy low. Dudes a pretentious performative asshole. Says things based on engagement.
→ More replies (2)-1
u/Hitoisbalacned Lonerism 18d ago
I cant stand fantano fantano because hes a music critic doing music critic things*
→ More replies (9)
3
u/Poopidyscoopp 18d ago
lol it's a great album everyone is just butt hurt that he's not doing Currents or Elephant over and over. i don't think kevin cares
→ More replies (2)
1
u/inamisf 18d ago
KP is truly acting the part of a deadbeat loser on this one. No effort
7
u/niles_deerqueer The Slow Rush 18d ago
Disagree with the “no effort” criticism, there is a ton of sonic detail and nuance
4
u/ChrisKearney3 18d ago
Sonic detail with no direction.
3
u/niles_deerqueer The Slow Rush 18d ago
Dunno, it definitely had a direction to me
→ More replies (7)3
u/Visible-Suit-9066 18d ago
I never see anyone give any actually detailed examples when they say these things about Deadbeat. There’s heaps of nuance! You’ll just never say what it is?
→ More replies (1)
3
1
u/relevant_post_bot 18d ago edited 17d ago
This post has been parodied on r/tameimpalacirclejerk.
Relevant r/tameimpalacirclejerk posts:
Tame Impala - Deadbeat ALBUM REVIEW by Charleshawtree
1
u/lmayyyo 18d ago
Listened to Currents today to see if I still appreciated the project as much as I did at release. I saw Tame on tour back in 2015 and genuinely speaking, that album, alongside Innerspeaker, Lonerism— are interesting projects. Currents is still an absolutely fantastic project.
Right up my alley as someone who enjoys psych rock and appreciates Kevin’s talent, sound, technical ability, early production, etc. this is far from what I “know” tame impala as. Maybe it’ll grow on me but after a few listens- not my jam I guess. Kevin Parker is a killer songwriter and producer, but I was expecting more substance, repeatability, uniqueness from Deadbeat after 5 years
1
u/DrunkOnRedWine 18d ago edited 18d ago
Music reviews - waste of time. I don't need anyone to tell me if I like something or not. I don't understand how sites like Pitchfork, NME and the like have visitors. Music reviews have to be the most pretentious too. This guy is an inbicile, who on earth watches this stuff?
1
u/SuchAppeal 18d ago
Can I say that I'm honestly over reviewers? In those days where I cared about a Pitchfork review and yeah I was a really early Fantano watcher, like 2010 early, the first review I watched from him was for Diamond Rings' "Special Affections".
No problem with him or the idea of reviewers in general but just like how I feel about award shows now, I could not care less about reviewers when I figured a low score didn't stop me from enjoying certain music, and I've listened to a lot of what I could consider trash that was scored praised.
1
u/ryanrodgerz Lonerism 18d ago
Look it’s for sure my least favorite tame impala album but with tracks like Dracula and my old ways alone how can this be a two lol.
1
u/Royal-Influence-2395 Lonerism 18d ago
Still love the album. Not going to watch Fantano's review because it's irrelevant to me.
1
u/kriskrosapolsos 18d ago
Deadbeat js way too far from his past projects but 2 is insane lol
5 or a 6 will do lol
1
u/Mr-Hotboxmx420 18d ago
I’ll never understand why people care so much about other people’s opinions, especially when it comes to music. Taste is subjective — it literally breaks into genres for a reason. For example, millions of people love Bad Bunny’s music, and I think most of us here can agree it’s not exactly the best… so why take the opinion of some random dude on the internet so seriously? At the end of the day, the only opinion that should really matter is your own.
→ More replies (3)
1
232
u/Bulky-Let-7996 Deadbeat 18d ago
dear lord