The 90s has served as inspiration for many current indie rock bands. The explosion in alternative and independent music in that decade in the wake of Nirvana made for a lot of unique and innovative sounds. Brooklyn’s Parquet Courts are no exception to this rule. The band first made waves on music nerd message boards in 2012 with their debut album “Light Up Gold.” The band’s sound mixes 90s indie rock worship mixed with New York City’s best bands from the 60s and 70s such as Television and The Velvet Underground.
Parquet Courts released their sophomore record “Sunbathing Animal” this past summer. That album fleshed out the band’s sound even more and was met with fairly positive responses from critics and fans. Now, two of the original band members have started an offshoot of the band called Parkay Quarts.
A press release explained, “‘Content Nausea’ is the inevitable repercussion to “Sunbathing Animal’s” pure emotion. Mostly, ‘Content Nausea’ reflects the rapid change in the band’s hometown of New York City, while at the same time emphasizing the changes in the band itself. The record’s sleeve is a bleak vision of Freedom-Tower-era NYC flooded by (what else?) content. A city that is becoming increasingly unrecognizable to its romantic history. Not unlike Parkay Quarts.”
The indie punks struggle against the pressures of the current age. Andrew Savage tackles the subject of conformity in the track “Pretty Machines” where he sings, “You think that you’re not a servant / You think that you can avoid stylish institution / Worshipping illusion / Things you thought you could destroy.”
The album also includes two covers. The 13th Floor Elevators’ “Slide Machine,” a fitting track for the band, and Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.’” Yes, you read that right. The band performs a much more apocalyptic version of the original, slowly taking the track from a drone to a scream.
Parquet Courts/Parkay Quarts never fear facing tough subjects in lyrics. Unfortunately, this is the only area in which the band takes risks. The band obviously has talent, and no doubt has something to say. Hopefully one day they can expand musically to match their unique lyrical approach.
Listen to "Content Nausea" below:
