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.