"Deadbeat" is the fifth studio album by Tame Impala, the project of Australian musician Kevin Parker, released on October 17, 2025, through Columbia Records. The album was preceded by the singles “End of Summer,” “Loser,” and “Dracula.” Parker began working on the record around 2023, describing it as deeply inspired by bush doof and Western Australian rave culture. Recording sessions took place in Fremantle and at his Wave House studio in Injidup.
Leading up to the release, Parker teased new music through social media posts and tracklists. “End of Summer” debuted in July 2025 after first being played during a DJ set in Barcelona, followed by “Loser” in early September and “Dracula” later that month, which Parker co-wrote with Sarah Aarons. The final single, “My Old Ways,” arrived on the album’s release day.
Upon release, *Deadbeat* received mixed to positive reviews, with critics divided on its execution. It earned a Metacritic score of 66/100 and 5.9/10 on AnyDecentMusic?, indicating “generally favorable” reception. Many praised the production and ambition but questioned the songwriting and cohesion.
The Guardian commended the album’s “banging four-four beats” and emotional honesty, calling it both “painfully honest” and “genuinely wracked.” In contrast, Pitchfork criticized the record as “stale” and lacking direction, accusing Parker of aimlessly cycling through dance genres. Clash described it as suffering from an “identity crisis,” while other outlets like Rolling Stone and The Times found merit in its sonic experimentation. Overall, Deadbeat was viewed as an ambitious yet uneven evolution of Tame Impala’s sound, blending dancefloor energy with introspective melancholy.
