Right from the release of the album’s title track, it was crystal clear that Brooklyn “slackers”, Parquet Courts, were going to deliver on the follow up to their commendable debut Light up Gold. With chaotic guitars, brash percussion and signature motor-mouthed vocals from frontman, Andy Savage; the album’s first single certainly was not worlds apart from where they left off with that incredible debut. Sunbathing Animal, as a whole, is simply another nod at Parquet Courts’ best attribute; their undeniable grit. Grit that the majority of upcoming bands, like themselves, lack.
Throughout the course of the LP, we are bombarded with repetitive, jerky guitars and droning vocals, telling of impoverishment and the ‘hard knock’ nature of New York City. Although darker subject matter does arise; take “bodies made of slugs ‘n’ guts” as a prime example, or is it “sluts and guts?” It’s hard to tell, but both tell an undeniably dark tale.
Parquet Courts haven’t attempted to do anything fancy or out of their comfort zone on this record which has undoubtedly worked in their favour. However, ‘Instant Disassembly’ does present a more laid-back, semi-anthemic feel to the band’s sound, especially apparent as they repeat, in unison, the words “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, it’s hard to inhale,” until the track fades out after a whopping seven minutes. This track beholds a certain sing-a-long-able charm that will assuredly go down well on this year’s festival circuit.
You could say Parquet Courts’ instrumentally dense sound is an acquired taste, but Sunbathing Animal just goes to show their consistency as songwriters, and for those of you who loved Light up Gold, get ready to love their second LP just as much, if not more.
Written for PostMusicDepression.
