Back in ancient days we did our best academic work while studying to the sounds of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures and The Fall’s Live At The Witch Trials and Dragnet set on repeat.  And all was good, albeit not quiet, on the Western (Civilization) front.  The Fall’s Mark E. Smith singlehandedly hit upon a new Rebellious Jukebox sound that we found both danceable and hypnotic in our Psychic Dancehall.  Later, The Fall begat Pavement (Smith famously foamed at the mouth about Pavement stealing The Fall’s sound), which begat countless other bands.  Fast forward nearly 35 years when we fall upon a new rebellious jukebox sound:  Parquet Courts.

The buzz over the Texas-cum-Brooklyn band Parquet Courts has been building for a bit, and we’d listened to a snippet or two and not been hooked immediately.  It was only when we gave their album Light Up Gold a deserved thorough listen (ain’t that the way it always goes?) that we began to get just how refreshingly raucous and heady their songs are.  In an era in which we find the “ho hey” sounds of The Lumineering Magnetic Hearts & Sons entourage taking over the airwaves, we have found ourselves craving the more raucous sounds of Palma Violets and, now, Parquet Courts.  We readily admit to singing the praises of several of the aforementioned, fresh-faced and well-scrubbed folk-pop bands (Typhoon, The Head and the Heart, etc.) now dominating the Northwest and UK playlists.  In an era of Kei$ha and Chris Brown, we will take the folk-poppers any day.  But with all the sweetness, ya gotta have some savory, rocking counterbalance.  Bring on the Parquet Courts.

To our ears Parquet Courts righteously meld the roiling sounds of The Fall, early (circa Johnny Jewel) Television, Pavement, The Feelies, and yes, even a bit of Wire.  You can listen to Light Up Gold in its entirety below.  Make sure to give good listens in particular to Borrowed Time and Light Up Gold II, although the album lights up throughout.  The band’s lyrics are a particular highlight–they are both effervescently-creative and carefully-curated (go HERE if you want to view the worthy lyrics as you listen; you know a band is lyric-centric when they feature their lyrics prominently as done here–bravo dudes!).  A few of the lyrics didn’t pique our interest (e.g. Stoned and Starving), but the wordsmithing here bodes well for the future of Parquet Courts.  After listening below, check out the band’s impending tour and get ye in front of them.  They play The Echo on June 5th.   We intend to be there.  You can see the band in action further below.

The band has also just released a b-side off their upcoming single for a-side Borrowed Time (What’s Your Rupture?) entitled Smart Aleck Kid.  Check out all one-minute-and-six-seconds of its caterwaul below.  You can order the 7″ here.

While you’re at it, check out a great video vignette of the band performing Borrowed Time live below:

Tour:

Thu-March-7 New York,NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ The Men *SOLD OUT*
Fri-March-8 Mexico City, Mexico @ Auditorio Blackberry w/ Mykki Blanc
Sat-March-9 Monterey, Mexico @ Festival Nrmal
Thu-March-14 Austin,TX @ 1100 East 5th (Pitchfork SXSW Day Party) – 2:30pm
Fri-March-15 Austin,TX @ Mohawk (Ground Control Touring Official SXSW Showcase) – 12am
Sat-March-16 Austin,TX @ Red 7 (Chaos in Tejas Official SXSW Showcase) – 9:45pm
Sun-March-17 Dallas,TX @ Club Dada (Spillover Fest)
Sat-May-4 Philadelphia,PA @ PhilaMOCA
Sat-May-25 Washington,DC @ The Black Cat w/ Total Control
Sun-May-26 Richmond,VA @ Strange Matter w/ Total Control
Mon-May-27 Atlanta,GA @ 529 w/ Total Control
Tue-May-28 Memphis,TN @ Murphy’s w/ Total Control
Wed-May-29 Denton,TX @ Rubber Gloves w/ Total Control
Thu-May-30 Austin,TX @ Chaos in Tejas
Fri-May-31 Austin,TX @ Chaos in Tejas
Sat-June-1 Austin,TX @ Chaos in Tejas
Mon-June-3 Phoenix,AZ @ The Rhythm Room
Tue-June-4 San Diego,CA@ Che Cafe
Wed-June-5 Los Angeles,CA @ The Echo
Fri-June-7 San Francisco,CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Sun-June-9 Oakland,CA @ 1234-GO Records
Mon-June-10 Davis,CA @ Davis 4th
Wed-June-12 Portland,OR @ Doug Fir w/ Naomi Punk
Thu-June-13 Seattle,WA @ Neumos w/ Naomi Punk
Fri-June-14 Vancouver,BC @ Media Club w/ Naomi Punk
Mon-June-17 Boise,ID @ Neurolux
Tue-June-18 Salt Lake City,UT @ Urban Lounge
Wed-June-19 Denver,CO @ Larimer Lounge
Thu-June-20 Omaha,NE @ Sweatshop
Fri-June-21 Minneapolis,MN @ Triple Rock
Sat-June-22 Madison,WI @ High Noon
Sun-June-23 Bloomington,IN @ The Bishop
Mon-June-24 Columbus,OH @ Ace of Cups
Tue-June-25 Detroit,MI @ Magic Stick
Fri-Aug-2 Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon
Sat-Aug-3 Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon
Sun-Aug-4 Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon