Sunbathing Animal
by Parquet Courts
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 46
  3. Negative: 1 out of 46
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  1. adhamhany
    Jul 2, 2014
    7
    I like these guys. Their last album (Light Up Gold) was fun. This is a fine addition to their discography, and a good album for any fan of rock. The tracks i enjoyed the most are "Instant Disassembly" and "Dear Ramona". They have beautiful lyrics as well as music.
  2. jdhathrisen
    Jun 8, 2014
    9
    I was a late comer to Parquet Courts. I was shown Light Up Gold, and thought Stoned and Starving was a solid track, but the rest were just not for me. Then a friend invited me to a gig they were doing in Leeds, and though the atmosphere was a bit flat, the sound was great. I started bopping along to Master Of My Craft and Borrowed Time. After that, I listened to the album over and over,I was a late comer to Parquet Courts. I was shown Light Up Gold, and thought Stoned and Starving was a solid track, but the rest were just not for me. Then a friend invited me to a gig they were doing in Leeds, and though the atmosphere was a bit flat, the sound was great. I started bopping along to Master Of My Craft and Borrowed Time. After that, I listened to the album over and over, and it became my favourite offering of last year. Terrific, brash and joyful sound, against the sometimes disaffected tone of the lyrics.

    I looked forward to this album with great relish, after having enjoyed the last one so much. But on first listen, Always Back In Town and Instant Dissasembly stood out, but I was a bit cold to the rest. I thought their ability to cook up great riffs and an addictive, thick sound had deserted them. But after a few more listens to individual tracks, the same effect that Light had on me began to creep in. Now tracks like What Color Is Blood and Dear Ramona sound fantastic to me.

    So in effect, more of the same from Parquet Courts. It's by no means perfect, but it's my favourite offering of 2014 to date.    … Expand
  3. RadioheadLuv17
    Apr 10, 2016
    10
    Parquet Court's Light Up Gold was constantly compared to Wire, Television, The Velvets & Pavement. Luckily on Sunbathing Animal they've managed to attain these band's most memorable qualities while creating a sound that is uniquely theirs: a mix Americana, punk, rockabilly and drone through the perspective of mature post-collegiate fanboys. They've made a record that sounds like theirParquet Court's Light Up Gold was constantly compared to Wire, Television, The Velvets & Pavement. Luckily on Sunbathing Animal they've managed to attain these band's most memorable qualities while creating a sound that is uniquely theirs: a mix Americana, punk, rockabilly and drone through the perspective of mature post-collegiate fanboys. They've made a record that sounds like their influences: not like one in particular, but a record that could have been released in the same era and deserves the same classic status.

    "Dear Ramona" and "Raw Milk" are meandering slacker-era ballads with twin guitars, and fragmented, cryptic yet sincere ruminations on mundane details of everyday life and the intense emotions that plague us during these daily routines. "Instant Disassembly" on the other hand is a epic that is content to merely exist in a sun-bleached part of the conscious. "Sunbathing Animal" and "Dodging And Ducking" use brutal simplicity to make a focused and incredibly effective barrage of words and sculpted noise.    … Expand
  4. exodus9237
    Sep 21, 2014
    8
    When I first listened to Light Up Gold, I was greatly amazed. By that time I haven't had heard something like Parquet Courts. That album was amazing, with a Pavement kind of mood, and a simple punk approach, it was really fun. In Sunbathing Animal I heard a very important change: maturity. It's true that in some cases it doesn't benefits the album, that's why it goes a little lower thanWhen I first listened to Light Up Gold, I was greatly amazed. By that time I haven't had heard something like Parquet Courts. That album was amazing, with a Pavement kind of mood, and a simple punk approach, it was really fun. In Sunbathing Animal I heard a very important change: maturity. It's true that in some cases it doesn't benefits the album, that's why it goes a little lower than Light Up Gold, however in most cases it really makes it better. Songs like Instant Disassembly and Raw Milk, have great melodies and more mature lyrics, and we have our share of art-punk in great songs like Ducking & Dodging and Black and White. Sunbathing Animal is a well-done new approach that only tells us that Parquet Courts are here to stay.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Mojo
    Jul 24, 2014
    60
    This will thrill those who believe Pavement's best album was their first. [Jul 2014, p.86]
  2. The Quietus
    Jul 17, 2014
    70
    It is a crystallised definition of "record collection rock".
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  3. Sputnikmusic
    Jul 8, 2014
    70
    PQ are at their best when they’re short, sweet and erratic.
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