Parquet Courts – Sunbathing Animal

Millennial Music

Ah, Parquet Courts. You’re so weird, refreshing and cool. Back when Light Up Gold came out, it was hard to decide if you were trying too hard or if your oddities were working in your favor. But now that Sunbathing Animal has been released, it is clear that your weirdness works for you. Even in its most awkward moments and hardest punches, some hook or lyric comes right around the corner and makes it feel like everything is being done right.

Right off the bat, the Brooklyn-based indie-rock band make things weird in opener “Bodies Made Of” with lead vocalist and guitarist Andrew Savage calmly and clearly repeating, “Bodies made of sluts and guts.” His lethargic, I-want-to-care-but-I-don’t voice makes this sort of comical.

“Dear Ramona” echoes those sentiments and may even be amplified since the song is actually about a woman named Ramona who has lots of quirks and no interest in getting to know or opening up to anyone. “Vienna II” may have the least amount of range vocally, which is to say Andrew is basically talking.

“She’s Rolling” is one of the longest tracks at more than six minutes long, which allows listeners to hear more depth from Austin Brown on guitar, Sean Yeaton on bass and Max Savage (Andrew’s brother) on drums. “Instant Disassembly” does not make room for much display of range from the instrumentals. They all chug along for seven minutes playing the same hook over and over, which isn’t unusual for Parquet Courts.

Sunbathing Animal can be your morning caffeine and your summer soundtrack. Containing elements of punk rock simplicity with songs so easy to sing along to, it’s fun with a sprinkle of sad. Perfect for us Millennials, right?