Parquet Courts: Content Nausea
Parquet Courts
Content Nausea
(Whatâs Your Rupture?)
For anyone looking for rock music that sounds straight out of the past, look no further than Brooklynâs own Parquet Courts. The bandâs fourth album is also impressively its second of the year, but Content Nausea doesnât feel like an afterthought. The band was literally stripped back after life obligations caused two of its members to be absent during much of the recording.
This combined with the four-track recording leads to an album that sounds like a record that could have been made by the Velvet Underground, from the recording quality to vocals alternating between droning and frenzied spoken word. However, the lyrics are very much modern, with the title track rattling off the stresses of modern like âtoo much data, too much tension.â âThe more connected, the more alone,â is a brilliant observation that doesnât feel hypocritical coming from such a DIY band.
Other highlights include âPsycho Structures,â which is just muffled enough to add a slightly ominous edge. In contrast, the cover of âThese Boots Are Made for Walkinââ is remarkably crisp and a fun acoustic take on the song. When the feedback and horns kick in at the end, itâs the perfect punctuation to personalize the song.
Content Nausea is an album worth waiting years for, so the fact that Parquet Courts managed to record this in two weeks is remarkable. Whatever comes next from them, there are no doubts that it will be soon and brilliant.