Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

I first heard of Australian indie-rock singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett back in 2013, when her double EP (A Sea Of Split Peas) was released to significant critical acclaim and one play was enough to get me hooked on her brand of laid-back, observational, self-analytical style. Her music is instantly captivating and gutsy; often quite raw and stripped down, not particularly complicated, yet a very effective way to deliver the witty lyrics which are, arguably, the focal point of her act. Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit is Courtney's first studio album and, while I have to admit that I wasn't quite as impressed with it as I was her double EP release, it's still extremely enjoyable and certainly packs a punch. In a way, it would be easy not to live up to the hype poured on Barnett after her EPs and the many plaudits based on her live performances, but I believe she just about delivers the goods with her full debut.Elevator Operator, the opening track with an engaging running narrative, reminds me a little of early Sheryl Crow; it's a song that draws you in with the little details Barnett uses to add colour to the story. Pedestrian At Best, the first single taken from the album, is a grungy/punky number with a spoken/shouted verse which is musically reminiscent of the mid-nineties indie band, Elastica, especially the chorus; “Put me on a pedestal and I'll only disappoint you”, Courtney spits, but her fans would probably disagree. An Illustration Of Loneliness (Sleepless In New York) returns to the Tuesday Night Music Club vibe, with the words underpinned by a catchy guitar line that seems to wander as much as the narrator's mind. Small Poppies is a dreamy piece, the lazy, bitchy lyrics being matched by the woozy music, until the music grows in volume and nastiness, cranking up its intensity for the final chorus. The first slightly ordinary track on the album is Depreston, which pairs the slightly mundane lyrics with an unremarkable musical composition. As if sensing the mood could do with being lifted, the excellent, upbeat Aqua Profunda! with its new wave characteristics and strummed riff hook proves to be a highly enjoyable, albeit way too short, antidote to Depreston.One of the other singles from the album, Dead Fox, is a decent enough indie-rock track with some nice lyrical touches (“A possum Jackson Pollock is painted in the tar”), but I strongly feel that there are many better songs on this album and, again, it reminds me quite heavily of Sheryl Crow – not that that is a bad thing, of course. The last single choice, Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go To The Party, rocks hard, is more than decent and is delivered with a swagger, but, again, wouldn't have been my personal choice to represent the best this record has to offer. Debbie Downer also struggles to make itself anything special and, sadly, the second half of the album does seem to have run out of steam. The final two tracks don't particularly lift proceedings, either; Kim's Caravan is dour and probably the only song on the album that it is tempting to skip, and Boxing Day Blues, whilst at least poignant, comes across as dull and meandering, meaning that the album finishes with a whimper and not a bang. Indeed, this really is an album of two halves. If the second half of the record had been as good as the first, then this would be a world-class debut; as it is, Courtney Barnett shows a huge amount of promise and songwriting talent, but her first record falls quite a way short of being a classic. Still, five excellent songs out of eleven isn't a bad return and it means that I will certainly be buying her next release, whenever that may be.

Every now and then a new record comes out of the blue that seems to stand out from the crowd and strikes a chord with a new appreciative audience. I read some favourable reviews before I took a chance with this debut album by Courtenay Barnett, a singer/songwriter who hails from Melbourne, Australia. The CD packaging is certainly different with hand drawn pictures of different styles of chair, each with a title description, against the lyrics on each song , an interesting jokey reflection on the album's title. The lyrics are really fun, many of them picking up on small stories of everyday life, the morning commute to work in Elevator Operator; Depreston, an off kilter estate agents description of a house being viewed; Aqua profunda , about an almost romantic encounter in a swimming pool. Basically little vignettes on everyday encounters turned into highly entertaining songs. The lyrics are delivered in a distinct deadpan style, against a spikey often loud indie guitar band backing, sometimes a bit more sparse and bluesy, but normally fairly upbeat. A favourite track is Dead Fox, with a catchy chorus refrain "If you can't see me I can't see you" that covers the merits of organic vegetables, the perils of driving on Australia's roads, and the thought that maybe cars should be culled rather than sharks, as they kill more people! Her acute observations on everyday life backed by a crack indie band make for a bizarre combination that should not work, but surprisingly comes together as a whole. Once you get your ears tuned in to her sense of humour and different sensibilities there is some great stuff here. Comes in at No12 in Mojo and No. 6 in Q's albums of the year, so has been recognised by the music critics as a little gem of 2015. .

Australian Courtney Barnett has delivered a corker of a debut album. Mixing mundane and surreal lyrics at equal turns this is guitar pop with aplomb.Barnett almost sounds like Sheryl Crow on Tuesday Night Music Club at times, especially the excellent Pedestrian At Best, with a slightly more stilted vocal delivery. Her ear for a tune and an ability to lodge the chorus firmly in your head is also a key ingredient here. Even when its getting raucous like Small Poppies the tune is always there. However, on tunes like Aqua Profunda, Nobody Cares If You Don't Want To Go To The Party and Debbie Downer the mix of storytelling that you can relate to and memorable choruses bring the album to its best moments. Only Boxing Day Blues doesn't really work.For fans of guitar pop/rock this really is going to be one of the best debuts this year will probably have.

Just discovered Courtney by Annie Mac prog bychance. Now proud owner of this alreadyover played CD. Tracks are angry,melodic,depressing and inspiring. Match ever changingmoods.....sung with such feeling and raw talent.This album needs to be in your collectionas its just unique. Incredibly mature and deepobservations ..... about palmistry,swimming,cutting the grass to name but a few !

Some reviews categorise this album as grunge rock. Nothing of the sort. A great rock album by an up and coming artist. Lyrics are just brilliant and Courtney reminds me of Kate Tempest but better melodies. Love it

There is something edgy and basic about the way this comes together as a collection of tunes that grow and grow on you. Aussies have a knack of doing this with music\films\humour that I really like.

A very good album. She has a good voice and lots of songwriting talent.

Querky and intelligent lyrics with some good 'ol steamy grungy guitar, this girrl sounds authentic and original. Well worth a try. Live, she's even better.