Monastic Living cover

Monastic Living

Parquet Courts · 2015

33 min · 9 tracks · punk rock

A meditative exploration of sound, combining dissonant punk energy with contemplative, minimalist structures.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Monastic Living I. — This lengthy instrumental piece encapsulates the album's themes of contemplation and introspection through its evolving texture and rhythmic shifts.
  • →
    Vow of Silence — The track illustrates the tension between noise and silence, using stark contrasts to evoke feelings of isolation and reflection.
  • →
    Prison Conversion — As one of the longer tracks, it delves into narratives of transformation and redemption, showcasing the band's lyrical depth alongside intricate instrumentation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100
Treeline
Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The EP blends dissonant punk energy with minimalist structures, showcasing an experimental approach to songwriting.

What we noticed

  • The first track opens with a rapid tempo and aggressive instrumentation, while the subsequent tracks gradually shift to slower, more contemplative arrangements.
  • Several tracks feature spoken word elements interspersed with instrumental sections, creating a dialogue between sound and silence.
  • The last two tracks incorporate ambient textures that contrast sharply with the earlier punk energy, emphasizing a meditative quality.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 No, No, No! 1:11
  • 2 Monastic Living I. 7:01
  • 3 Elegy of Colonial Suffering 1:10
  • 4 Frog Pond Plod 1:31
  • 5 Vow of Silence 5:52
  • 6 Monastic Living II. 6:31
  • 7 Alms for the Poor 0:46
  • 8 Poverty & Obedience 1:12
  • 9 Prison Conversion 8:00

What to play next

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