Review: Distracted by Thundercat
Thundercat is one of those artists where you expect quality before you even press play, and Distracted did not disappoint for even a second. Coming off a new intro, it rolls right into a run of singles that have already proven their staying power.
Candlelight opens things up with a beautiful tribute to his late friend, immoralized in the vinyl sleeve, before easing into his signature cinematic ambiance of bass. Then the run of collaborations hits. No More Lies with Tame Impala somehow gets better with every listen, while She Knows Too Much feels like a warm, bittersweet return to Mac Miller that feels both natural and respectful. Lil Yachty and A$AP Rocky slide in effortlessly too, with I Did This to Myself being one of Yachty’s best fits in a while. Thundercat has always been such a treasured collaborator in the industry, and this four track run just reinforces it.
As the features fade, the album shifts.
What Is Left to Say brings in those 70s textures and leans into emotion taking the lead, while I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time turns inward, owning overconfidence and misread feelings. Walking on the Moon softens things into something more tender, an almost otherworldly love, before Thunderwave flips love into something more desperate.
That closing stretch is where the album really sits.
Pozole feels like a breaking point—he’s reaching for clarity but doesn’t even understand himself, repeating “Who I am, who I am… who am I?” From there, the last songs play like a descent inward. A.D.D. Through the Roof is striking in how directly it tackles its subject, offering a perspective you don’t hear this openly very often.
Great Americans shifts into a kind of modern life commentary, almost day-in-the-life, trying to hold things together while everything feels slightly off. And then You Left Without Saying Goodbye closes it all out on a note that’s oddly relatable, ending on a questionable line that somehow lands exactly how it’s supposed to, in only a way that Thundercat himself could pull off. “Maybe I should start an OnlyFans and sell some feet.”
The last stretch of the album leans more lonely and introspective, and it’s where Distracted really settles in. It also makes the album more rewarding on repeat, bringing you back to the warmth and energy of those early collaborations with a different perspective.
There’s a quiet sense of intention throughout, especially with the album opening on a tribute to his late friend. Thundercat has always made space for the people around him—his friends, peers, and mentors—and that throughline carries across the entire project.
Sonically, it’s everything you want from him. Falsetto, elastic basslines and a style that’s instantly recognizable. One of those artists, like Kaytranada or Pharrell, where you just unmistakingly know its them. Singular and incomparable. And so many of these songs read like poetry, which sounds silly since what is music if not poetry? But its distinctly true here.
Distracted feels full-circle. Connection, then distance, then sitting with yourself. And it somehow makes that loop worth running back.
