Light Up Gold - Parquet Courts
Metascore
84 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
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  1. All Music Guide
    Jan 14, 2013
    90
    The album is sometimes languid, often jittery and beaming, but mostly an almost subconsciously storytelling collection of moments that would be boring and forgettable if they weren't captured in songs so accidentally perfect.
  2. Beats Per Minute (formerly One Thirty BPM)
    Jan 22, 2013
    82
    The album's relative indie rock minimalism stands out in stark contrast to many other bands who feel that this kind of straightforward approach is either too uninteresting or too tied to certain years in music.
  3. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Feb 26, 2013
    91
    The hook on these 14 two-minute songs isn't tunes except occasionally. It's whichever of the two guys who "sing, if you must call it that" comes packing the most anxiety.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jan 28, 2013
    90
    Light Up Gold is one of the best debut albums you'll hear all year.
  5. The Fly (UK)
    Apr 15, 2013
    100
    It’s a pitching and yawing listen, and it’s compelling and punchy in a way that’ll have you bouncing straight out of your chair.
  6. The Guardian
    Jan 14, 2013
    100
    Parquet Courts have produced a debut that's both instantly addictive and lastingly rewarding: a smart, snappy concoction of worldly wisdom and garage-rock gratification.
  7. This Is Fake DIY
    Apr 15, 2013
    90
    By intention or coincidence, the band's debut boils over with frustration. And all you crave is a piece of it.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. mcstupa
    10
    This is the most exciting new band I've heard in years. The lyrics are as instantly relateable and as obscure as slanted and/or enchanted, the tempos are fierce, the beats relentless. Godspeed the future and the past all at once.… Full Review »
  2. JUIKER
    8
    This is no reinvention of the punk wheel but it does seem like a solid album from beginning to end. It`s catchy at times, repetitive at others and only time will tell if it has staying power.… Full Review »
  3. papalazarou
    7
    Like Beck or the Pixies, but not quite. Light Up Gold is a weird concoction of an album, with an inconsistent feel. It ranges from the beautiful melodies on "master of my craft" to the rather annoying and repetitive "Borrowed Time". Tracks like "Disney P.T" verge far too near to the horrendous shouty lad rock genre we're too often used to experiencing from mediocre indie bands in Britain. On the whole this is a strong enough album. Although there are plenty of moments that cause you to hide your eyes behind your hands or press pause on your iPod for a second, feeling embarrassed for the band having to deliver this crap, there are more occasions where the listener is served up a refreshing slice of "cool".… Full Review »
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