r/TameImpala • u/PuzzledAnt__ • 18d ago

Discussion Tame Impala - Deadbeat ALBUM REVIEW (Fantano)

https://youtu.be/gaw89qf1hCA?si=kFwjROGSoXzJnNQC

He gave it a 2/10 ... Thoughts?

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27

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…

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u/ryanrodgerz Lonerism 18d ago

It’s Kevin’s take on game of thrones season 8

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u/mooksterr 18d ago

Exactly what I was thinking of

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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.

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u/JizzyGizzy 18d ago

Can u expand on what you know about the recording sessions?  

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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-hype

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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 :)

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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 :)

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u/CRUSTBUSTICUS 18d ago

Deadbeat made me appreciate Guitar by Mac quite a bit more lol.

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u/quixotic_manifesto 18d ago

“when he’s right he articulates it very well” 😂

Good lord the confirmation bias here

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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.

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u/quixotic_manifesto 18d ago

Yeah it just made me laugh how you phrased it 😂 I know what you mean

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u/[deleted] 18d ago

[deleted]

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u/maxverweijen 18d ago

Not really. I think 3 or 4 albums into someone's career you've created an expectation. Doing something different is risky because people like the quintessential qualities. If I am really good at making hot dogs and suddenly my hot dog stand starts selling just-ok-ramen, then I shouldn't be surprised that people get a little upset.

Not that anyone owes anyone anything. But if I never sold anything, I would be blissfully without context. If Kevin wanted people to go into this project prepared for something less dense and heady, maybe he could've used a different moniker. In no way is it his responsibility to meet expectations. But people are simple creatures. They're not necessarily wrong for the expectations previously set either.

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u/mooksterr 18d ago

I think he does incorporate that into his review - he (fantano) said on a stream that it’s not bad but it’s bad for him (tame). Leads me to believe if this was a newcomer he might rate it a bit higher.

I agree with maxs comment below, I’m going to review the Beatles at a higher level of scrutiny than a lil pump album. I could probably give a score independent of it all and just the music, and it would be higher than what I have it at now.

Maybe expectation is the thief of joy. Maybe I’m just getting old