The Slow Rush: Album Review
Kevin Parker also known as Tame Impala
After a five year wait since Tame Impala’s breakthrough album Currents, the man behind the name Tame Impala, Kevin Parker, has released his highly anticipated album The Slow Rush.
Tame Impala is known for his psychedelic rock and his use of synths, drum snares, bass lines, and his high-pitched singing voice. The one-man band first came into the music scene in 2010 with the album release of Innerspeaker. Two years later Lonerism was released and included songs like “Elephant” and “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”.
Parker’s 2015 release of Currents is seen as his best album. Currents is filled with exciting high-tempo songs which many fans expect more of from Parker’s future albums. Out of all Tame Impala’s albums, Currents has had the most success on the Billboard 200, peaking at number four and staying on the list for thirty-four weeks. Tame Impala has since worked with famous artists like Travis Scott and Kanye West and has even headlined major music festivals.
The Slow Rush was released on Valentine’s Day of this year which made some believe this album would be about love. In 2019, Parker married his girlfriend Sophie Lawrence. The album’s second track is titled “Instant Destiny” and is about Kevin contemplating his proposal to his wife. “Posthumous Forgiveness” is one of Tame Impala’s most personal tracks. This track is Kevin Parker revisiting his relationship with his father who died before the release of Innerspeaker in 2010.
“Posthumous Forgiveness” is also broken up into two parts and changes beats in the second half. The lyrics paint an image of a boy and his father and what they used to do together, and how Kevin wants his father to be proud of all that he has done and accomplished.
“Borderline” came out as a single and is a fun listen filled with synths and an upbeat melody.
“Breathe Deeper” includes lyrics listeners can find annoying due to its lyrical repetition but has some good moments thanks to the synth and bass filled beat. Some songs can be categorized as filler, but ultimately the album has songs that focus on Parker revisiting memories and past struggles.
After Currents’ up-tempo beat and catchy songs, many were hoping that The Slow Rush would continue what made Parker’s 2015 album so great. Tame Impala fan, Theo Becker, shared his thoughts on the new album, “I think Tame Impala’s latest album didn’t live up to the hype as much as I thought it would. Considering his album, Currents, was one of the greatest things my ear have ever heard, I was hoping this album would be better. I do love half of the songs, and my favorite would have to be “One More Hour”.”
The Slow Rush stays true to the Tame Impala sound, but the tone and some themes contrast from past albums. Today, Tame Impala has over 13 million monthly listeners and is ranked 248th on Spotify. As we enjoy what The Slow Rush has to offer, we can still hope that future Tame Impala albums will bring back more up-tempo and feel good sound.