Sunbathing Animal

No one wants to be referred to as a slacker—just ask Stephen Malkmus. Over the past few years Parquet Courts have endured their fair share of slack-attacks from slacker music critics (including, probably, myself). And while some of the squiggly guitars found on the band’s excellent second record, Light Up Gold, bring to mind early Pavement, Parquet Courts are very much doing their thing. And they continue to do so on their latest, Sunbathing Animal, although there’s something a little more tense and jittery about this record. The title track and “Black and White” rip and roar, with guitarist/vocalist Andrew Savage spewing lyrical mouthfuls and guitars jangling noisily. “She’s Rollin’” starts with a bass line and builds slowly, giving plenty of space for Savage and Austin Brown’s guitars to mingle and meddle with one another. It’s not surprising that many of these songs were written on the road (bassist Sean Yeaton said the record speaks to the idea of captivity and anxiety). But Sunbathing Animal is more of a freeing record, as Parquet Courts continue their evolution. I think that’ll continue regardless of whether the audience remains captive.