Human Performance

Human Performance is the fifth studio album by Brooklyn’s Parquet Courts. It’s an instant classic. Sharp, confident, unexpected, and full of dazzling rock n’ roll moments suggesting a band in total control of their sound. It reminds of the cleverness and range of Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. Bodies made of.

RIYL: Parquet Courts, Wire, Parkay Quarts, Pavement and PCPC.

FCC WARNING: 9, 11,12
Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8!! 9!! (FCC), 10, 11 (FCC) and 12 (FCC)

1. (3:57) **Dust – YEAH! Killer opener. Medium up tempo track. Parquet Courts trademark here. Sweep!
2. (4:16) *Human Performance – Parquet Courts do Wire. Immaculate. Medium tempo track.
3. (1:45) Outside – Short medium up-tempo tune. Suffers from Pavementism. No medicine needed here!
4. (1:49) **I Was Just Here – No wave a la Parquet Courts. For the books.
5. (3:01) *Paraphrased – Guitar driven experimentalism a la The Fall. Medium-fast-medium-fast tempo track. In that order.
6. (2:04) Captive Of The Sun – Channeling more no wave sounds here. Medium tempo track. NYC Dadaisms through old paintings.
7. (3:39) *Steady On My Mind – The Pavementism prevails. Slow demeanor.
8. (6:24) ***One Man No City– AMAZING TRACK! Part early 1970’s Eric Burdon & War, part 1990’s psych rock jam. Speechless.
9. (3:26) ***Berlin Got Blurry – FCC (Bullshit). CRAP! Not even the “bullshit” can’t stop this track. Another killer rocker here. Part Monochrome Set, Part ? & The Mysterians (bass line ripped off from “96 Tears” and it works!). Spotless.
10. (2:48) *Keep It Even – Final diagnosis: chronic Pavementism. No priest needed here. Medium up tempo movements.
11. (3:06) **Two Dead Cops – FCC (Fuck). Upbeat rocker here! Tales of urban decay. 21st century for you.
12. (2:52) *Pathos Prairie – FCC (Fucking). Exquisite upbeat punker. Very Richard Hell. 1977 on my mind.
13. (3:21) It's Gonna Happen – Slow tempo closer. Sailing away while staring at you.