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Human Performance
by
Human Performance Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 45 Ratings

  • Summary: The fifth full-length release for the Brooklyn rock quartet was produced by the band's singer/guitarist Austin Brown.
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Captive of the Sun
My Miss Phonia brought the faders up now. She's a military grade, in dolby surround, around 5. 1. Cue the barking from the baritone. Conductor in the... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Blurt Magazine
    Sep 7, 2016
    100
    Examining the duality of our motivations and emotions elevates Parquet Courts above most of their peers. Not only do they avoid the Vinyl-style embalming of their source material, but the songs transcend the romanticized hipster baggage that the city--and Brooklyn in particular--currently carries with it.
  2. The 405
    Apr 12, 2016
    90
    While Parquet Courts show here that they can tackle lost love brilliantly, some of the more interesting lyrics come from those where they portray the less tangible mental issues that are rife in modern society.
  3. Pitchfork
    Apr 8, 2016
    84
    At its best, Human Performance is Parquet Courts in a mellower, heart-stopping Velvet Underground mode, but it is also at turns upbeat and funny, sensitive and odd. Compositionally, these are the most dynamic Parquet Courts songs yet.
  4. Q Magazine
    Mar 29, 2016
    80
    Parquet Courts have delivered a fifth full-length album that ticks every box on the application form [for an uber-cool New York band of the Velvet Underground/Sonic Youth lineage]. [May 2016, p.114]
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  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    Apr 8, 2016
    80
    It’s easy to simply pore over Savage’s frantic wordplay--which peaks when evaluating kebab-wrapping techniques on ‘Berlin Got Blurry’--but the music is equally brilliant.
  6. Exclaim
    Apr 6, 2016
    80
    With Human Performance, Parquet Courts have managed to cram in a lot. Lesser bands might have made a mess attempting a project like this, but what separates Parquet Courts is their adaptability and understanding of the subject matter.
  7. Uncut
    Mar 29, 2016
    60
    They're still a little too in thrall to the obvious precursors to take flight, but there are some great, clanging pop songs here, too. [May 2016, p.78]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. sshpv
    Apr 8, 2016
    9
    New-York band slowly becoming of the best rock bands of this generation. Raw and honest sound plus pretty smart lyrics. My own favorite wouldNew-York band slowly becoming of the best rock bands of this generation. Raw and honest sound plus pretty smart lyrics. My own favorite would be "One man No City", absolutely amazing song.… Expand
  2. exodus9237
    Apr 15, 2016
    9
    I remember thinking (and writing) that Sunbathing Animal was a new, more mature approach for the band after its excellent and thrilling debut.I remember thinking (and writing) that Sunbathing Animal was a new, more mature approach for the band after its excellent and thrilling debut. Since then, Parquet Courts have released one album and one ep, the first one being a funnier outing and the second one experimental attempt that didn't continued with the band's aforementioned maturity. It all comes down to this one.

    Human Performance is Parquet Courts best album since Light Up Gold, and also their most mature album, without forgetting their art punk roots. You can hear the band growing in songs like Berlin Got Blurry or One Man, No City, and also you can hear them having fun and sounding great in songs like Outside and Two Dead Cops.

    It changes, it sounds calm and agitated, fun and truthful. This is an album that shows that Parquet Courts are here to stay, and we should hear what they have to say.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Best Album of 2016