That's What It Sounded Like When She Started

 

Every musical trend has its time. Some last a few years, others fade away quickly. In 2015, a 28-year-old Australian singer-songwriter released her debut album, on which she clearly drew inspiration from the music of her childhood, which was evidently heavily influenced by grunge. 

But Courtney Barnett hasn’t been content simply to copy her idols; she uses distorted guitars more as a stylistic device to accompany her songs. The focus is more on the lyrics, which she sings in a spoken style, much as Lou Reed did in many of his songs. 

As the title of the LP, Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, suggests, Barnett possesses remarkable lyrical power. It is rare for a newcomer to have compiled such incisive songs about everyday events and observations – some of them so sarcastic – on a single album. 

Put me on a pedestal and I’ll only disappoint you

Tell me I’m exceptional, I promise to exploit you

Give me all your money and I’ll make some origami, honey

I think you’re a joke, but I don’t find you very funny

The only thing one could possibly find fault with regarding this album is that it is virtually perfect and hard to beat.

Courtney Barnett - Nobody Cares If You Don't Go To The Party

Courtney Barnett - Pedestrians At Best

Courtney Barnett - Depreston

Courtney Barnett - Elevator Operator

New Song On Sunday

 

Last week, I came across Pina Palau in an article about new Swiss music. The 33-year-old singer-songwriter lives in Zurich, works full-time as a resident physician in a psychiatric ward, rides a road bike, and has just released her third album, You Better Get Used To It.

Musically, there’s nothing that reminds me of Switzerland; it’s more like indie-folk. Somewhere between Waxahatchee, Courtney Barnett, and the dreamy sound of Bon Iver. Even though her voice sounds a bit thin, her song, backed by delicate guitar and steel guitar, has the potential to stick in your head.

New Song On Sunday

 

Australian singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett returned last week with a new single. This time less lyrical and reserved, but with edgy riffs and a great bass line. You can still hear her love for Patti Smith, early grunge, and her passion for playing. It's great to have her back.

Don't Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy

In 2018 Anna Calvi released one of the best records in this year with Hunter. Now she announced to new version of this album. She reworked the songs with a little help from Courtney Barnett, Charloot Gainsbourg, Joe Talbot and Julia Holter and transformed their songs in a more rough shape. If the rest of the rework is as good as this collaboration it seems to be another highlight of this year.

New MusicFor A New Week

After listening a longer time to music from the hard drive of my mobile phone I checked out some new music that was released during the last weeks. There were many outputs of albums and it is impossible to listen to them all. So I only checked out records by artists I know. There were less albums that made me want to listen more than one or two songs. Finally Lucy Dacus' new album Historian is worth to be recommended (David Byrne's new one is the other). Her first album from 2016 No Burden was not the one to be liked but enough to please. Pure indie-sound according to Courtney Barnett and Waxahatchee. She's another high talented indie singer-songwriter from USA and their songs often opens with a lone, clean guitar line and morph into a wall of distortion and cymbals. Most of the lyrics are very intimate and born on love and frustration.

Over Everything

Sometimes collaborations happens when you didn't expect them. So it was when Courtney Barnett who made one of the best records a few years ago joined with Kurt Vile for an album. I only know this song from their announced LP but it has a lot of these ingredients I like them for: a folk based song with good guitars that would sometimes destroy the harmony of the song and two great voices. It makes me curious for the rest of the album.

This Year's List 5/15

It's hard to handle when you are a musician and your name is Courtney. This name is occupied in rock music by Courtney Love and grunge rock in the 90s together with Curt Cobain, the demonstrated role model of grunge at these times. What could a mid twenty girl from down under to come out of the shadow of Mrs. Love? Making a record that was one of the best debut albums this year. She made a record full of heavy current that needs no scandals to get a notice of this music. Distorted riffs, overcharged vocals and great songs on a record with the best title. Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit is more than another slacker record. What fascinates me is Courtney's voice. She's blessed with a captivating timbre that sometimes world-rapt-fragile, sometimes sounds also erotically challenging. Her songs are the perfect fusion of grunge and ambitious philosophical folk. If you're not into the sound of the songs you ought to listen to the lyrics. I didn't listen to any more direct lyrics by a young artists that are so direct and true for long times.

I masturbated to the songs you wrote
Resuscitated all of my hopes
It felt wrong but it didn’t take too long
Much appreciated are your songs.

Doesn’t mean I like you man
It just helps me get to sleep
And it’s cheaper than Temazepam.

from Lance Jr.

I got drunk and fell asleep atop the sheets but luckily i left the heater on.
And in my dreams i wrote the best song that i’ve ever written…can’t remember how it goes.
I stayed drunk and fell awake and i was cycling on a plane and far away i heard you say you liked me.
We drifted to a party – cool. The people went to arty school. They made their paints by mixing acid wash and lemonade

In my brain I re-arrange the letters on the page to spell your name

from History Eraser

Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go To The Party

For the start into the weekend, today a song by Courtney Barnett. She's an Australian based musician and released this year her first album Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit. It is one of these new records I grab when I don't know what kind of music I'm in the mood for. I like this record and the songs on it. Barnett, looking like a full member of skater gang plays songs that sound like a perfect mixture of grunge and folk. Sometimes her attitude reminds me to Patti Smith and the way she sings to Lou Reed but always in her very own style. Bluesy, surf-style bad-guitar folk.