Thundercat Returns With Dazzling & Empathetic LP ‘Distracted’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

There has always been a warm, welcoming familiarity to Thundercat’s voice. The innovative contemporary multidisciplinary artist expresses a charming humanity through his dream-like falsetto, and more of the world takes notice as time goes by. The artist’s jovial approach to the harshness of reality and expert jazz fusion work has led him to A-list collaborations, Grammy trophies, and some of the biggest stages the industry has to offer. Part of Thundercat’s artistry, though, is his raw vulnerability, allowing us to stand beside him during some of his darkest times, as displayed on the grief-stricken songs of 2020’s It Is What It Is. 

Even during these moments of heartbreak, Thundercat’s music never loses its humor, and he continues to evolve artistically. His star continues to rise year after year, making him one of the most beloved musicians among both critics and fans and thrusting him into the role of sought-after collaborator. All of this pain, newfound fame, and acclaim, though, is filtered through his music, just as much of Thundercat’s life has been documented since he debuted as a solo act in the early 2010s. Distracted, arriving exactly six years after the release of It Is What It Is, showcases an unflinching man facing the daunting nature of change with an unwavering sense of self and an urge to find some answers. These 15 songs are a thought-provoking, empathetic response to the deep introspection of Thundercat’s aforementioned 2020 LP, no less atmospheric and freeing, but with a determined understanding of the pitfalls of modern times. 

Distracted reflects on the many changes the world around us undergoes on a day-to-day basis, and on the pace at which we’re expected to process and accept them. Thundercat is not downtrodden, though, but more looking to be a silver lining, something to reach out to when the uncertainty becomes too heavy to bear. Across these 15 spellbinding tracks, which range from dance-floor-ready anthems to soft balladry, Thundercat pens some of his most captivating, sympathetic, love-stricken music to date. Moments like the lively “I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time,” with its cascading synths, and the Channel Tres-assisted, dark dance record “This Thing We Call Love” showcase juxtapositions of love, offering a realistic portrait of the emotion’s complexity. While songs like “Great Americans” and the radio-ready single with Tame Impala, “No More Lies,” showcase relationships through the kaleidoscopic modern lens. 

While lyrically, Thundercat is tackling the seemingly ever-evolving blurring of the lines between reality and the internet, thanks to the increasing reliance on it, he explores this bleakness with that familiar, lightheartedness of his innate musicianship. His gentle vocals remain intact throughout these performances, though there is a noticeable evolution on Distracted. While highlights like “Walking on the Moon” and “A.D.D. Through The Roof” harken back to previous Thundercat albums, you can hear him take that individuality to new heights on moments like “ThunderWave” with WILLOW and its nostalgic glamor, and the bouncy synth-pop of “Anakin Learns His Fate.” 

It doesn’t end there, either. Thundercat infuses Brit-pop harmonies into early favorites like the piano-driven “Pozole” and the breezy, longing-fueled “What Is Left To Say.” It is these nuances that prove that, even as he looks over a world he sees as on fire, the artist is always ensuring not to repeat himself. Distracted archives that beautiful balance between urgent messaging and personal evolution, two opposing mindsets that can only be brought together by an artist of Thundercat’s stature. 

Through the fog of fame and glitz of acclaim, Thundercat surfaces with another wholeheartedly relatable and sonically mesmerizing LP. The artist’s fifth studio LP, Distracted, is an organically stunning and stubbornly present new chapter to Thundercat’s autobiographical discography, one that is both a poetic snapshot of the artist’s perspective and another refreshing take on Thundercat’s singular sound. Distracted finds the artist taking in the world around him, letting everyone know he is facing the same struggles, and wanting these songs to be a reminder of how we’re all connected, one way or another.