2025 marks the year of endless comebacks, for Tame Impala, fronted by Kevin Parker, has returned. With their single “End of Summer” released on July 25, Parker shares his ambition, as he shifts from an era foregone.
After two grueling years, Tame Impala has finally released their new 7-minute long single. The artist had not entirely disappeared. He continued working alongside others, like Justice. This collaboration won him his first Grammy this year. Coming forth with their Columbia Records debut, the song comes with a music video as well. Being largely split screen, the video certainly hints towards Parker’s newfound sound and the ties he still has to his old self.
Utilizing synth rave sounds, Parker has certainly showcased the influence other artists have had over him. Many speculate the possible release of a new album. While it has not yet been confirmed, it certainly would add extensively to their listeners’ intrigue. Tame Impala has widely received hits albums like The Slow Rush, Lonerism, and Currents. Although each depart from the other considerably, none diverge as much as “End of Summer”.
As evident in the title, the single truly evokes a newfound sentiment, developed over the years that Tame Impala went missing. The music video hints at this by depicting Parker in his natural element; some shots indicative of his world of music, the rest focusing on the world around him. The duality invoked practically is also a certain indicator of experience and memory; of living and remembering. Matched with the imagery of the well-directed video, Tame Impala’s song emerges as a victorious attempt at rekindling emotion and longing.
What do Tame Impala fans have to say?
Many listeners have divided opinions — as is common of indie-enjoyers. Commenters on Reddit have explicated some noteworthy criticism:
“I’m a bit shocked by the direction of this track to be honest. One dimensional thumping house beat for 7 minutes, not enough variety in the production to justify the song length and so it feels like the song drags. There are some flourishes of what makes Tame Impala great in the 2nd half, some nice synth work, but overall this isn’t doing it for me. What a letdown, I was so hyped for Kevin’s comeback”
“It’s cool. The first half is kind of a mess, feel like that set of lyrics and melody doesn’t match the music. Kinda comes into its own after but I don’t really think it’s what I want Tame Impala to do much more of either.”
Alternatively, some fans on the music video’s comment section have claimed:
“Like every album before, I’m unsure about the feelings I get when I listen to the new stuff. And then it just grows on me. Its like he knows what I want to hear, and I don’t even know what that is until he shows me.
“I love how he’s always pushing himself to experiment and try new things with his music. Every Impala album has its own feel/identity to it.”
Certainly this divisiveness does not aid the listening experience if you are looking for what to feel about the song. In that case, why not pop your earphones on, give “End of Summer” a listen, and tell us what you think!
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