Music

Borrowed Time: A line from Television to Parquet Courts

Parquet Courts
Parquet Courts

Now based in Brooklyn, there is very much to love about the transplanted Texans who form Parquet Courts. Comparisons to other bands have been plentiful, and Parquet Courts have been generous with information about their many influences. They have cited the influence of Guided By Voices, Pavement, The Fall, and even a number of fiction writers. So it is surprising not to have come across any material noting the wonderful and clear similarities between the music of Parquet Courts debut, Light up Gold, and the treasured 1970s genius of Television’s Marquee Moon.

Television
Television

Right up front there is the shared garage-rock ethos: both bands feature gritty, dual-guitar attacks; a consistent “yeah, that’s right!” sneer in the vocals; and alternately thick muscular beats and spare but bright cymbals. New York City is also surely a catalyst. Television could have come from nowhere other than NYC and helped to define a whole decade of American punk. Parquet Courts refused to come from anywhere other than New York, and they are energetically propelling the traditions of American punk.

There are positive elements of music that are capable of creating “time travel” experiences for listeners. (This is a thread that runs through my posts.) Check out Yr No Stoner, a wonderful track from Light up Gold.

LIVE VERSION: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt6c4u7lzpc

RECORD VERSION: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEXtb-6GpM8

If you’re like me, you can close your eyes and imagine CBGB. Patti Smith is in the house.  Richard Hell is itching to get up on the stage and start jumping around.

Guitarist and vocalist Austin Brown
Guitarist and vocalist Austin Brown

I am eager to continue following this band and Light Up Gold has stayed in the rotation since its release on the WYR/Dull Tools label back in January.

As a comparison, check out the classic Television song See No Evil from Marquee Moon. The vocal deliveries and the weaving of the guitar lines have some real similarities.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W7AthjQitg

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