The Slow Rush
by Tame Impala
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 399 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 356 out of 399
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 399
  3. Negative: 15 out of 399
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  1. pwitboki
    Feb 14, 2020
    5
    Kevin Parker is always great in terms of production and mixing, which is very good in this new album. Unfortunately, this new album lacks in songwriting terms: the lyrics sounds generic and relatively shallow for the 'deep themes' it tries to write about. Also, most of the songs are very forgettable and lack good melodical ideas, some kind of hook. Besides that, the overall aesthetics ofKevin Parker is always great in terms of production and mixing, which is very good in this new album. Unfortunately, this new album lacks in songwriting terms: the lyrics sounds generic and relatively shallow for the 'deep themes' it tries to write about. Also, most of the songs are very forgettable and lack good melodical ideas, some kind of hook. Besides that, the overall aesthetics of the album is interesting and cohesive, having a full psychedelic pop style.
    This album was an interesting concept, but it's just not that good.    … Expand
  2. krijgjeniet
    Feb 14, 2020
    5
    Amazing production, Kevin is an genius in terms of mixing and composition.

    The album is unfortunately less amazing. After hearing the initially released tracks 'Borderline', 'It Might be Time', 'Posthumous Forgivenesses' and 'Lost in Yesterday' I was certain it was going to be a great follow up to his past work. It's not. This is Kevin trying too hard to fit his ideas into an album. It    Amazing production, Kevin is an genius in terms of mixing and composition.

    The album is unfortunately less amazing. After hearing the initially released tracks 'Borderline', 'It Might be Time', 'Posthumous Forgivenesses' and 'Lost in Yesterday' I was certain it was going to be a great follow up to his past work. It's not. This is Kevin trying too hard to fit his ideas into an album. It listens like a b-side/demo compilation. Each song is disconnected from the other and lacks direction.

    The Slow Rush should not have been rushed and Kevin should have been given one more year to flesh out these tracks into a coherent piece. Bonus points for using the Korg M1 piano patch though.    … Expand
  3. lacanciondeldia
    Feb 18, 2020
    5
    Kevin Parker have forgotten his unique psychedelic-rock (Lonerism) and continues "Currents" path. Flappy pop remember the worst songs of ELO or Supertramp. A pity.
  4. adamcsor
    Feb 14, 2020
    4
    It's alright. Not as good as the older stuff, but certainly not embarrassing. The production's better than the songwriting, and the gap between the two has widened a bit.
  5. antaios
    Feb 20, 2020
    6
    When our politically correct reverb-hero first stepped to the scene my guess was that he was gonna release a couple of albums that all sound similar and receive varying mainstream appeal. Currents was a hit; this is a miss. But that's no reason to call this album worse than Currents yet; they're both redos of Lonerism. The man has one style, so what prevents him of sounding like a oneWhen our politically correct reverb-hero first stepped to the scene my guess was that he was gonna release a couple of albums that all sound similar and receive varying mainstream appeal. Currents was a hit; this is a miss. But that's no reason to call this album worse than Currents yet; they're both redos of Lonerism. The man has one style, so what prevents him of sounding like a one trick pony? The answer is the very same thing that made Currents work and this not: songwriting. A good songwriter can sell a the same thing or a dated thing over and over again without people complaining or even noticing. Just being a good songwriter will never make you culturally relevant though; you need something more, but that's criticism for Lonerism; this album doesn't even do the one thing that makes haters like me look bad: The fact that if you put up a song of him, it is hard to deny that it's good. The album starts with a IDM-ish beat that got me excited for what's to come, but starting from the second track it could all just be Lonerism B-sides... or Currents B-sides. It lacks those moments in Tame Impala songs that just surprise you. Not in the way of "I've never heard that before", but in the more subtle way of unexpected chord progressions or previously unheard synth sounds. On this album all songs just blend to one and it makes me wonder why he even bothered to release it.… Expand
  6. DrBlahBlah
    Feb 23, 2020
    4
    Not a single memorable song. A stunning step down from their previous albums. Everything sounds the same: washed out, cliched, dull.
  7. igor_radchenko
    Feb 14, 2020
    5
    Parker foregoes any nuance of his previous works and releases an uninspiring neo-soul pop album. Shallow lyrics, bland instrumentation and generic structure make for an ultimately forgettable listening experience. A few stand outs such as "Breathe Deeper" make this an enjoyable listen but I don't think I'll be returning to this project voluntarily.
  8. alternapop
    Feb 23, 2020
    5
    It seems there comes a time when some artists become so over produced that they remove all personality and eccentricity. I didn't care for Currents as I found it was mostly cheesy pop, with the exception of Let It Happen. This release, The Slow Rush, isn't doing anything to change that disinterest.

    I think the same release put out by a new artist without the "Tame Impala" brand or a    It seems there comes a time when some artists become so over produced that they remove all personality and eccentricity. I didn't care for Currents as I found it was mostly cheesy pop, with the exception of Let It Happen. This release, The Slow Rush, isn't doing anything to change that disinterest.

    I think the same release put out by a new artist without the "Tame Impala" brand or a different pop artist like Post Malone or The Chainsmokers wouldn't garner nearly as much love. How would you react if U2 put this same album out today?

    Musically I'm completely bored by this. The drums have some Kevin Parker-isms but sound too much like electronic drums for my taste. The keyboards seem like just a bunch of space filler behind the drums and vocals. The guitars are practically nonexistent with the exception of Tomorrow's Dust.

    I was a big fan of Innerspeaker and saw Tame Impala on their first US tour in 2010 and loved Lonerism just as much. I won't be going back to this any time soon after giving it a week to grow on me.    … Expand
  9. smolheartbigpp
    Aug 7, 2020
    6
    Singles are much better than the complete experience. Other tracks are redundant and lack creativity.

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Beats Per Minute
    Mar 25, 2020
    54
    Unfortunately, after years of anticipation, the reveal is an overtly tedious shell of everything Parker has ever charmed into existence. In fact, tedious may be an understatement.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Mar 23, 2020
    75
    It is immaculate music, loaded with little side roads and detours, and I will listen to it probably hundreds of times, but there’s that little something missing, that dagger to my chest, that shiver up my spine that I thought would hit me long before now.
    Read full review
  3. Record Collector
    Mar 19, 2020
    80
    His knack for alchemising an engrossing trip hasn’t deserted him yet.
    Read full review
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