Today marks the release of Wide Awake!, the groundbreaking new album from Parquet Courts, about independence and individuality but also about collectivity and communitarianism.
There’s also a freshness here, a breaking of new territory that’s a testament to the group’s restless spirit. Part of this could be attributed to the fact that Wide Awake! was produced by Brian Burton (Danger Mouse), but it’s also simply a triumph of songwriting. “The ethos behind every Parquet Courts record is that there needs to be change for the better, and the best way to tackle that is to step out of one’s comfort zone,” guitarist/singer A. Savage says of the unlikely pairing. “I personally liked the fact that I was writing a record that indebted to punk and funk, and Brian’s a pop producer who’s made some very polished records. I liked that it didn’t make sense.” It was Danger Mouse, an admirer of Parquet Courts, who originally reached out to them, presenting them with just the opportunity to stretch themselves that they were hoping for.
Overnight the band performed a special set at Rough Trade NYC which was filmed for Pitchfork Live. Watch the performance here. For those with questions for the band, head over to the indieheads sub-Reddit for an AMA with the band, on Friday 18 May 1PM EST (May 19, 4am AEST).
Purchase / stream Wide Awake!: https://parquetcourts.lnk.to/wideawake
