Courtney Barnett
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Mom & Pop)
Australian twenty-something Courtney Barnett is redefining what it means to be a confessional singer-songwriter on her debut album, which sounds like a live-tweeting of a quarter-life crisis.
She begins with "Elevator Operator", a narrative about a regular nine-to-fiver, name-checking Sim City as she paints a portrait of a young man standing on a bridge, contemplating his existence as he rues for his dream job as, what else, an elevator operator. Lead single “Pedestrian At Best” is a sort of grunged-out PJ Harvey sing-speak song where she sounds equally deflated and inspired, singing, “Put me on a pedestal, I’ll only disappoint you / You tell me I’m exceptional, I promise to exploit you”. Her vocalized internal monologue never comes across as precious or boring, perhaps thanks to her deadpan delivery and excellent band, who clearly favor rapid-fire grunge assault to soft, folky textures.
However, there are a few moments of mellow, like “Depreston”, in which Barnett sings about house hunting with her partner and saving money by purchasing a percolator over a chilled-out country vibe.
These seemingly non-moments of life are contemplated and analyzed, never sounding twee. Just real. This is Barnett’s greatest strength: writing her way through her existential woes, and coming out on top.
Who needs therapy, anyway?
Rating: ★★★★
