A few weeks ago I was in my
favorite record store in the country, Twist and Shout (Denver), looking for some
music I really wanted. I love this store because of its expansive selection of
CD’s, vinyl, and even DVD’s. I was checking my list I had made of music I
wanted to purchase. I knew I was going to have to make a difficult decision
when it came to the band Parquet Courts. They had released not one, but two
acclaimed albums in 2014 and I was going to have to decide on just one. I knew
it was going to be a tough decision. Twist and Shout must have also have also known
this, because in front of me I saw that they had packaged both albums together
for a great price. What a relief that was and I am glad I did not have to make
the tough decision on which one to buy.
Parquet Courts is an indie
post punk psychedelic band out of Brooklyn. Their music is layered with
screaming guitars reminding me of Television and Sonic Youth. The band is
fronted by Andrew Savage and Austin Brown. They formed in 2010 and released
their first music on a cassette tape in 2011. They released their first full length
album in 2012 called Light Up Gold.
My blog partner Larry picked a song from that album as one of his top songs of
that year. Way to go Larry!! The album created a lot of buzz and was released
to wider distribution on the What’s Your Rupture label out of NYC. They toured relentlessly
behind it and because their live show is so good, it created a larger fan base.
After the tour they went back and recorded and released Sunbathing Animal in
2014. They were not finished for 2014 because they surprisingly then dropped Content Nausea a few months later as Parkay
Quarts. Very clever because it was basically Andrew and Austin who recorded
most of it as a sort of side project that caught on. It is a bit more
experimental than the straight forward rock of Sunbathing Animal.
It is a pretty impressive
thing that a band can release two albums in one year that are both strong and
different. They perform songs from both albums when they tour. These guys have
a bright future ahead of them as they move forward. Please enjoy “Bodies Made
Of” from Sunbathing Animal:
I am so glad that I did not
have to make a decision on which album to purchase. They are both fantastic. There
is a thread through both but each one is musically diverse and unique in its own way. So
run to Twist and Shout and buy the package deal. If you can’t get to Denver
then just go to your local independent record store and buy both.
UPDATE: I wanted to let you know of two albums that have come out from bands we have written about before. The first is the Damnwells self titled album is out and it is fantastic. It is the first album by the original members in many years. It is both lyrically and musically amazing. Courtney Barnett has just released a follow up to her acclaimed first album. It is titled Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. It again shows her clever wordplay lyrically. Both are amazing albums and in my opinion both are must haves. Run to your local music store and purchase both. you won't regret it.
UPDATE: I wanted to let you know of two albums that have come out from bands we have written about before. The first is the Damnwells self titled album is out and it is fantastic. It is the first album by the original members in many years. It is both lyrically and musically amazing. Courtney Barnett has just released a follow up to her acclaimed first album. It is titled Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. It again shows her clever wordplay lyrically. Both are amazing albums and in my opinion both are must haves. Run to your local music store and purchase both. you won't regret it.
