Every week, our Songs of the Week column highlights the very best new tracks from the final seven days. This week, we dig into Tame Impala’s newest single “Loser,” the second providing from their upcoming album Deadbeat.
10 years in the past, Kevin Parker launched a Tame Impala tune known as “‘Trigger I’m a Man” for the band’s beloved third album, Currents. So much like “Feels Like We Solely Go Backwards” and “New Particular person, Similar Outdated Errors,” “‘Trigger I’m a Man” took purpose at routine fuck-ups and the reasons that males make after they can’t escape their very own damaging patterns, blaming biology with a intelligent shrug and letting the tune’s majestic refrain do many of the speaking.
This theme of Parker lamenting his inherent flaws resurfaces with even sharper self-awareness on Tame Impala’s newest single, “Loser,” the brand new providing from the band’s upcoming fifth album, Deadbeat, out October seventeenth. “Loser,” with its modest trot and front-and-center vocals from Parker, feels intrinsically linked to “‘Trigger I’m a Man;” however the place the songs merge on the subject of tempo, lyrical content material, and manufacturing, Parker makes “Loser” so much spikier than his standard psych pop bliss.
Associated Video
“I acquired the message, I realized my lesson,” Parker croons in his shimmering head voice, channeling each dejection and wistful craving. He remembers Beck’s eternal dirtbag anthem of the same name within the refrain, providing a equally dramatic suggestion relating to his pathetic streak: “I’m a loser, babe/ Do you need to tear my coronary heart out?” It’s all deeply in keeping with the kind of psych-tinged slacker rock that Parker goes for, full with a pointy electrical guitar line and sufficient area in between the drum beat to let his self-loathing breathe.
It’s a far cry even from prior single “End of Summer,” which supplied a short journey to the Tame Impala Acid Home Manufacturing unit and introduced a repetitive buoyancy discovered largely within the band’s prolonged odysseys like “Let It Occur.” However “Loser” is so much much less involved with tripping out and rather more centered on the id; the uncooked impulses and self-destructive tendencies that Parker often wraps in layers of dreamy manufacturing are introduced right here with minimal cushioning, save for the contact of environment on his vocals and the kaleidoscopic synths that heat up across the bridge.
However self-deprecation apart, “Loser” is nice as a result of it grooves. The tune’s bounce and plucky keyboard touches are nearly like a ’90s hip-hop reduce; Parker’s descending pre-chorus, layered with harmonies, is good like syrup. It’s this pressure between Parker’s harsh self-assessment and the tune’s catchiness that makes “Loser” such an intriguing preview of Deadbeat. Even when he’s calling himself pathetic, he can’t assist however make bangers.
— Paolo Ragusa
Stay Music Editor
Hatchie — “Lose It Once more”
Hatchie’s again! With “Lose It Once more,” the Australian dream pop star continues her use of psychedelic instrumentation and indestructible hooks for a robust last product. “You’re the star I’m chasing,” she sings, with romance swirling throughout her; the tune’s refrain is so open and cathartic that it seems like one thing Hatchie has been ready to say for ages. Following from the majestic peaks of her 2022 album Giving the World Away, “Lose It Once more” as soon as once more serves as a ache reliever, soothing the listener with lush tones whereas livening them with one other pure-hearted chorus. Attractive is an understatement. — P. Ragusa
Horse Jumper of Love — “Blue Manufacturing unit Flame”
Run for Cowl’s tribute compilation celebrating the work of Jason Molina — the inventive thoughts behind Songs: Ohio and Magnolia Electrical Co. — I Will Swim to You, drops right now and contains beforehand launched covers from people like MJ Lenderman, Hint Mountains, Friendship, Lutalo, and extra. Simply previous to the discharge of the complete undertaking, the label shared Horse Jumper of Love’s tackle the Didn’t It Rain reduce “Blue Manufacturing unit Flame.” Within the fingers of the slowcore experimentalists, the sparse and dejected tone of the unique turns into thorny and jagged. There are tempo adjustments, wailing guitar strains soaked in reverb, and uncooked, strained lead vocals. It’s (blue) fireplace. — Jonah Krueger
SG Lewis — “Child Blue” that includes Oliver Sim
Together with the discharge of his nice new album Anemonia, SG Lewis has supplied the standout reduce “Child Blue,” which options The xx’s Oliver Sim for a relatively effervescent vocal efficiency. SG Lewis makes music for golden hour, like you may hear the light and heat of the solar harmoniously assembly the revelry of evening in actual time. “Child Blue” is strictly the sort of open-hearted, transcendent dance music he’s grow to be recognized for, and identical to his finest collaborations — like “Warmth” and “Hurting” — it’s endlessly replayable. — P. Ragusa
Shallowater — “Ativan”
Shallowater, one among our artists to observe in 2025, return right now with their sophomore effort, the superb (and excellently titled) God’s Gonna Give You a Million {Dollars}. The report is primarily made up of prolonged slowcore epics with a tinge of twang, and one of the vital enthralling is the penultimate monitor “Ativan.” Extending nearly to 9 minutes in size, the tune boasts lovely performances, an ever-compelling construction, and a grand payoff that rewards these affected person sufficient to stay round for it. Come to consider it, these descriptions actually might apply to simply about your complete album. — J. Krueger
Softcult — “16/25”
After a number of years of standout EPs, Canadian rock duo Softcult (one among our 2025 artists to watch) have lastly introduced their debut album, When a Flower Doesn’t Develop, out in early 2026. They’ve shared the rollicking, livid “16/25,” an anthemic slice of shoegaze taking purpose at predatory older males who groom youthful ladies. “She doesn’t know the way to love you,” they sing over pummeling drums, a line rendered much less summary every time they repeat it. “She’s 16, you’re 25.” Although cloaked within the heat haze of down-tuned guitars, that last lyric leaps out. She’s 16, you’re 25. Gross! — P. Ragusa
Sword II — “Even If It’s Only a Dream”
“Even If It’s Only a Dream,” the primary single from Sword II’s lately introduced new album Electrical Hour, finds the Atlanta outfit embracing their dreamiest, most melodic tendencies. Over high acoustic chords and jangly electrical strains, in addition to synth arpeggios that wouldn’t sound all that misplaced on a Seaside Home tune, the monitor is an incredibly heat and comfortable affair — particularly when juxtaposed with the angsty imagery of the music video. — J. Krueger
