Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Monastic Living

2015 EP by Parquet Courts From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Monastic Living
Remove ads

Monastic Living is an EP by the American indie rock band Parquet Courts, released on November 27, 2015, on Rough Trade Records. The release features mostly improvised instrumental and experimental recordings.

Quick Facts EP by Parquet Courts, Released ...
Remove ads

Background and recording

Comparing the EP to the band's first studio album, American Specialties (2011), Andrew Savage noted that the release marked a deliberate departure from their previous work: "Monastic Living felt like a cycle in the band starting over again. [Monastic Living and American Specialties] have a very similar relationship in that they are very different sounding than anything else the band has done. [...] It became apparent that we’ve got all this material that is experimental and drone-y and less song-based and more concept-based, so obviously these songs need to have their own record."[1]

The release was mostly improvised by the band, with Savage stating: "The first Parquet Courts practice was me and Austin [Brown] getting together and playing guitar at the same time and stumbling into these ideas. Improvisation has always been part of Parquet Courts. We’ve had songs that have been written onstage, like "Bodies Made Of" was written onstage in Portland. Monastic Living was our first time doing pure improvisation."[1]

Remove ads

Critical reception

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

In a negative review for Pitchfork, Jazz Monroe criticized the band's change in direction, writing: "The band are touring the album and we can buy it, though I’m unsure why anyone would—perhaps its existence as a paid-for product is part of the statement. What it means for the band’s future is, for now, a mystery, though not the kind it is fun to unravel."[14] In a slightly more positive review, Ben Carney of Exclaim! wrote that "ultimately, the project serves best as a check-in, letting fans know where the band's heads are at after a year on the road. And although both fans and newcomers alike would benefit from a more substantial, cohesive project, it's enough for now."[7]

Remove ads

Track listing

All tracks are written by Parquet Courts.

More information No., Title ...

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads