Every week, our Songs of the Week column highlights the most effective 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. Rather a lot like “Feels Like We Solely Go Backwards” and “New Individual, Identical Previous Errors,” “‘Trigger I’m a Man” took intention at recurring 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” rather a lot spikier than his normal psych pop bliss.
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“I received the message, I discovered my lesson,” Parker croons in his shimmering head voice, channeling each dejection and wistful craving. He recollects Beck’s everlasting dirtbag anthem of the identical title 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 step with the kind of psych-tinged slacker rock that Parker goes for, full with a pointy electrical guitar line and sufficient house in between the drum beat to let his self-loathing breathe.
It’s a far cry even from prior single “Finish of Summer season,” which offered a short journey to the Tame Impala Acid Home Manufacturing facility and introduced a repetitive buoyancy discovered largely within the band’s prolonged odysseys like “Let It Occur.” However “Loser” is rather a lot much less involved with tripping out and way 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 minimize; Parker’s descending pre-chorus, layered with harmonies, is nice 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
Dwell 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 ultimate 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 facility Flame”
Run for Cowl’s tribute compilation celebrating the work of Jason Molina — the artistic thoughts behind Songs: Ohio and Magnolia Electrical Co. — I Will Swim to You, drops in the present day and consists of beforehand launched covers from of us like MJ Lenderman, Hint Mountains, Friendship, Lutalo, and extra. Simply previous to the discharge of the complete challenge, the label shared Horse Jumper of Love’s tackle the Didn’t It Rain minimize “Blue Manufacturing facility Flame.” Within the arms of the slowcore experimentalists, the sparse and dejected tone of the unique turns into thorny and jagged. There are tempo modifications, wailing guitar traces 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 provided the standout minimize “Child Blue,” which options The xx’s Oliver Sim for a slightly effervescent vocal efficiency. SG Lewis makes music for golden hour, like you’ll be able to hear the heat and light of the solar harmoniously assembly the revelry of night time in actual time. “Child Blue” is precisely the sort of open-hearted, transcendent dance music he’s turn into identified for, and similar to his finest collaborations — like “Warmth” and “Hurting” — it’s endlessly replayable. — P. Ragusa
Shallowater — “Ativan”
Shallowater, one in all our artists to observe in 2025, return in the present day with their sophomore effort, the wonderful (and excellently titled) God’s Gonna Give You a Million {Dollars}. The file is primarily made up of prolonged slowcore epics with a tinge of twang, and one of the enthralling is the penultimate observe “Ativan.” Extending nearly to 9 minutes in size, the tune boasts stunning performances, an ever-compelling construction, and a grand payoff that rewards these affected person sufficient to stay round for it. Come to think about it, these descriptions actually may apply to simply about the whole album. — J. Krueger
Softcult — “16/25”
After a number of years of standout EPs, Canadian rock duo Softcult (one in all our 2025 artists to observe) 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 intention at predatory older males who groom youthful girls. “She doesn’t know find out how 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 ultimate 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 prime acoustic chords and jangly electrical traces, in addition to synth arpeggios that wouldn’t sound all that misplaced on a Seashore Home tune, the observe is a surprisingly heat and comfy affair — particularly when juxtaposed with the angsty imagery of the music video. — J. Krueger