Have we thought about electing the Parquet Courts? Seriously. While our government was fuckin' around and doing nothing, these "slackers" were working hard to make us happy.
The outcome of their hard work is a wildly successful EP. Tally All The Things That You Broke, strikes that perfect balance that eludes so many bands by being a perfect and obvious continuation of their style while also introducing new elements to keep it exciting. The best example of this is the Beck-inspired, apartment-door-buzzer-sampling "Seeing Paths", about a day in the life of a weed (?) dealer.
Always whip-smart, always entertaining, always there when you call. I fuckin' love the Parquet Courts.
4 more years! 4 more years!
I'm Ripped Off Radio, and I approve this message.
Showing posts with label Parquet Courts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parquet Courts. Show all posts
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Pitchfork Music Festival
I went to Pitchfork Music festival on Friday and Saturday. 'Twas a great success. I haven't had much time to blog, between starting a big-boy job and catching up on Mad Men, but a quick hit of the festival:
Flanked by a beautiful lady and an old friend on Friday, I watched performances from Daughn Gibson, Mac Demarco, Woods, Joanna Newsom and Bjork. A late night show of Daughn Gibson/Merchandise capped off the night.
Saturday had me seeing Julia Holter, White Lung, Parquet Courts, Savages, Ryan Hemsworth, Solange and Belle and Sebastian.
Savages and Mac Demarco were the two biggest surprises, as I had no expectations and LOVED both sets. Two completely different approaches (Savages being raw and aggressive, Mac Demarco being hilarious and fun loving) but both were effective.
Parquet Courts were everything I thought they would be.
Being introduced to Bjork and Belle and Sebastian on a huge stage surrounded by 10,000 fans is a magical thing.
Daughn Gibson/Merchandise was a great, great night cap on Friday. So loud.
Ryan Hemsworth is the reason I have a hurt neck right now. Just too much head nodding.
If it weren't for pesky responsibilities I would have certainly gone back on Sunday but, alas, the kid has to make money.
Flanked by a beautiful lady and an old friend on Friday, I watched performances from Daughn Gibson, Mac Demarco, Woods, Joanna Newsom and Bjork. A late night show of Daughn Gibson/Merchandise capped off the night.
Saturday had me seeing Julia Holter, White Lung, Parquet Courts, Savages, Ryan Hemsworth, Solange and Belle and Sebastian.
Savages and Mac Demarco were the two biggest surprises, as I had no expectations and LOVED both sets. Two completely different approaches (Savages being raw and aggressive, Mac Demarco being hilarious and fun loving) but both were effective.
Parquet Courts were everything I thought they would be.
Being introduced to Bjork and Belle and Sebastian on a huge stage surrounded by 10,000 fans is a magical thing.
Daughn Gibson/Merchandise was a great, great night cap on Friday. So loud.
Ryan Hemsworth is the reason I have a hurt neck right now. Just too much head nodding.
If it weren't for pesky responsibilities I would have certainly gone back on Sunday but, alas, the kid has to make money.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Parquet Courts "Smart Aleck Kid"
The new Parquet Courts track is a b-side to their 7" release of "Borrowed Time".
Monday, February 11, 2013
Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold
Light Up Gold by Parquet Courts is the first great record of the year (although technically released in 2012, I didn't hear it until this re-release sooo yeah, it's a 2013 record in my book. Deal with it).
At once being a crystallization of what it is to be in your early 20's in 2013 and what it is to be in your early 20's in any era, Light Up Gold is everything I want to say but am not able to articulate about my life. It touches on all of the hallmark feelings of being of this age: being envious of those who are successful while dismissing those same people, being a slacker and wanting to be great, underachieving, the feeling of being stuck in the same place forever, not being as smart as you thought you were, feeling smarter than everyone else , wondering why life isn't as easy as it used to be, being scared, being hopeful, being stricken with self-doubt, needing to find a job, the disgust you feel considering jobs you morally oppose, not being able to afford transport, taking drugs, starving, being cynical, loathing entitlement, being full of love and hatred.
Being full of opposing notions and being hyper-aware of this condition is constantly being driven home on this album. Lyrically, there is a constant feeling of yearning on this record; there is a sense that if the speaker could just get out of his own way he would be cured of his anxiety.However, not being able to get his head on straight because of his own trappings only adds to his angst. Essentially, Light Up Gold is an hour long tale of existential crises and recovery told with keen wit and churning guitars.
And it is a tale that employs astonishingly high-quality lyricism. The words oscillate between the micro and the macro-- the specific and the general, the other and the self-- with amazing ease. Memorable lines aren't sung as much as they are vomited out. They pour out of the vocalists like a crowd of people trying to exit a club fire through the same door.
The instrumentation creates a mood of controlled chaos and inner turmoil, the LP is a poignantly crafted slacker-rock/ college radio aesthetic that falls somewhere between the Replacements and Guided By Voices.
There is a strong chance this will be my favorite record of the year and a guarantee that this will be on permanent loop on the ol' Ipod. Give it a listen.
At once being a crystallization of what it is to be in your early 20's in 2013 and what it is to be in your early 20's in any era, Light Up Gold is everything I want to say but am not able to articulate about my life. It touches on all of the hallmark feelings of being of this age: being envious of those who are successful while dismissing those same people, being a slacker and wanting to be great, underachieving, the feeling of being stuck in the same place forever, not being as smart as you thought you were, feeling smarter than everyone else , wondering why life isn't as easy as it used to be, being scared, being hopeful, being stricken with self-doubt, needing to find a job, the disgust you feel considering jobs you morally oppose, not being able to afford transport, taking drugs, starving, being cynical, loathing entitlement, being full of love and hatred.
Being full of opposing notions and being hyper-aware of this condition is constantly being driven home on this album. Lyrically, there is a constant feeling of yearning on this record; there is a sense that if the speaker could just get out of his own way he would be cured of his anxiety.However, not being able to get his head on straight because of his own trappings only adds to his angst. Essentially, Light Up Gold is an hour long tale of existential crises and recovery told with keen wit and churning guitars.
And it is a tale that employs astonishingly high-quality lyricism. The words oscillate between the micro and the macro-- the specific and the general, the other and the self-- with amazing ease. Memorable lines aren't sung as much as they are vomited out. They pour out of the vocalists like a crowd of people trying to exit a club fire through the same door.
The instrumentation creates a mood of controlled chaos and inner turmoil, the LP is a poignantly crafted slacker-rock/ college radio aesthetic that falls somewhere between the Replacements and Guided By Voices.
There is a strong chance this will be my favorite record of the year and a guarantee that this will be on permanent loop on the ol' Ipod. Give it a listen.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Parquet Courts "Careers in Combat"
I listened to Parquet Courts for the first time today. I think I'm in love. More words when cogent thoughts come to me. For now:
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