Six years to the day after the release of his Grammy-winning masterpiece It Is What It Is, Thundercat returns with his fifth studio album, “Distracted.”

The album marks a new creative chapter for the virtuosic bassist and songwriter, born from the tension between 21st-century overstimulation and necessary introspection. Created primarily in collaboration with super-producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Paul McCartney), the record finds a compelling midpoint between the lush, chaotic freak-outs of 2017s “Drunk” and the tender, mournful overtones of his previous work.

Across 15 tracks, Thundercat explores the absurdity of the “attention economy” and its permeation through modern life. The lead single, “I Did This To Myself” (feat. Lil Yachty), produced by longtime collaborator Flying Lotus, centers on the scattered introspection and awkward digital-age dynamics that have become Thundercats calling card. Over a stiff bounce of rumbling bass riffs and percolating synth plinks, his signature oddball humor finds a kindred spirit in Yachtys deadpan ad-libs.

The guest list reflects the breadth of Thundercats influence over the last half-decade: Tame Impala, A$AP Rocky, WILLOW, Channel Tres, and The Lemon Twigs. The project also includes a deeply anticipated posthumous appearance from the late Mac Miller on “She Knows Too Much.”

Tracklist:

Candlelight
No More Lies (feat. Tame Impala)
She Knows Too Much (feat. Mac Miller)
I Did This To Myself (feat. Lil Yachty)
Funny Friends (feat. A$AP Rocky)
What Is Left To Say
I Wish I Didnt Waste Your Time
Anakin Learns His Fate
Walking on the Moon
This Thing We Call Love (feat. Channel Tres)
ThunderWave (feat. WILLOW)
Pozole
A.D.D. Through the Roof
Great Americans
You Left Without Saying Goodbye

Six years to the date after his last LP,Thundercat releases his fifth studio album, Distracted, via Brainfeeder with contributions from A$AP Rocky, WILLOW, Tame Impala, Channel Tres, Lil Yachty and a previously unreleased collaboration with the dearly departed Mac Miller.

Distracted was primarily created in close collaboration with a new creative partner for Thundercat – the superproducer Greg Kurstin, known for his work with some of the biggest names in pop like Adele, Paul McCartney, Sia, Beyonc, Beck and more – with additional production turns on the record from Flying Lotus, Kenny Beats (Kenneth Blume), and The Lemon Twigs.

Distracted vividly captures the tension between overstimulation and introspection. Thundercat is deeply skeptical of technological progress, especially the way its narrowed our collective imagination instead of expanding it. He jokes about Star Trek and childhood dreams of space travel, then pivots to the anticlimax of reality: drones without lasers, phones that only upgrade cameras, innovation reduced to spying and access. The disappointment isnt just about gadgets; its about what we were promised versus what we got.

The drawbacks of distraction are evident in todays attention (deficit) economy, but a true idiosyncratic like Thundercat can identify the ways in which it can be used to ones advantage. You cant spell daydreams without dreams, after all.

Sometimes you need to be distracted to focus in a different way, Thundercat declares.

Red vinyl LP housed in a 3mm spined sleeve with printed inner sleeve and poster insert. Artwork and photography by Neil Krug.

Limited edition clear/black marbled smoke effect vinyl LP housed in a 3mm spined sleeve with printed inner sleeve and poster insert. Artwork and photography by Neil Krug.

Tracklist:
SIDE A
A1. Candlelight
A2. No More Lies (feat. Tame Impala)
A3. She Knows Too Much (feat. Mac Miller)
A4. I Did This To Myself (feat. Lil Yachty)
A5. Funny Friends (feat. A$AP Rocky)
A6. What Is Left To Say
A7. I Wish I Didnt Waste Your Time
SIDE B
B1. Anakin Learns His Fate
B2. Walking on the Moon
B3. This Thing We Call Love (feat. Channel Tres)
B4. ThunderWave (feat. WILLOW)
B5. Pozole
B6. A.D.D. Through the Roof
B7. Great Americans
B8. You Left Without Saying Goodbye