Well, well, well… Kevin Parker finally decided to drop something other than existential synth snippets on Instagram. Deadbeat, Tame Impala’s long-awaited fifth album, hit streaming services at midnight — and it’s exactly what the world’s been missing since The Slow Rush sent us into a disco daydream back in 2020.
After half a decade, the Aussie musical wizard is back, and apparently, so is his dancefloor. Deadbeat is a euphoric homage to the wild “bush doof” rave culture of Western Australia — basically, imagine Woodstock if it had lasers, heat stroke, and a few hundred fewer clothes.
The album comes through Sony’s Columbia Records, a big move for Parker, who’s traded indie introspection for big-label swagger — and we’re not mad about it. Early singles like “Dracula” and “Loser” (which recently cracked the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 55) have already set the tone: psychedelic, punchy, and weirdly hypnotic — you know, the usual Tame Impala recipe for controlled chaos.
And speaking of Loser — the music video stars none other than Stranger Things’ Joe Keery, everyone’s favorite bat-swinging babysitter, who somehow looks just as cool outside of Hawkins. The video feels like if an ‘80s fever dream collided with a VHS acid trip — which is to say, it’s perfect. Joe sells it. Parker nails it. And yes, we watched it on loop. (Okay, maybe three loops.)
Let’s not forget — this guy’s resume already includes Brit Awards, Grammys, and more number-one albums than half of Spotify’s “Top 50.” His last record The Slow Rush hit No. 1 in Australia and No. 3 on the Billboard 200, while 2015’s Currents gave us “The Less I Know the Better,” a song still fueling indie breakup playlists everywhere.
Now, with Deadbeat, Parker’s back on his psychedelic throne — and even the haters have to admit, he’s earned his trip.
The upcoming Deadbeat Tour kicks off in Brooklyn on October 27, then winds through Europe like a daydream with a bassline. If the live show hits half as hard as this record, someone better call OSHA — because it’s going to be a safety hazard for good vibes.
And before you bounce — if you’re anywhere near Florida’s east coast (Daytona, Ormond, New Smyrna, Flagler Beach, etc.), download the Static Live Music Calendar App!
???? Find your next live show, local band, or Tame Impala sound-alike gig — all in one place. We’re live, we’re loud, and we’re expanding soon.
