Why You Should Be Listening to Courtney Barnett
431 Morris Avenue
One of the things I love most about music is the serendipity—those unexpected moments when a song stops you in your tracks and grabs your attention. You never know when or where it’s going to happen, and that unpredictability is part of the magic.
Case in point: I’m listening to Courtney Barnett as I write this, and it brings me back to the first time I heard her.
My wife and I had just gotten in the car after an event, WFUV playing low in the background. Mid-conversation, this song came on that instantly caught my ear. I found myself tuning out everything else—sorry, Dawn!—wondering, what is this amazing song?
The moment I got home, I checked WFUV’s playlist. It was “Avant Gardener.” I hit play again (and again, and again), and couldn’t believe how cool it was. That track led me to an early EP release, The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, which was absolutely terrific. A few weeks later, I was lucky enough to catch her live at Rough Trade—there were maybe 20 people in the room. Unforgettable.
If you’re not already familiar with her, you’re missing out on something special. When I introduced her music to my friend Jimmy, a professional music writer, he called her “Dylanesque.” I think he was spot on. Personally, I’d say she’s one of the best songwriters of her generation. Smart, funny, honest—and she can shred with the best of them.
Courtney’s from Sydney, Australia, and her debut album, “Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit” earned a bunch of awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association. She was also nominated for Best New Artist at the 2016 Grammys.
Where to Begin
Avant Gardner
Depreston
Write a List of Things to Look Forward To
As always, start with these tracks and if you like ‘em, I encourage you to dive deeper into her catalog. Her albums are chock full of great songs.
Totally Random Awesome Song of the Week
I’m starting a new feature this week. There are so many great songs out there that deserve to be heard, even if they don’t each get their own full post. I just want to share just one song at a time that I think you need to hear. Sometimes it’ll be new, sometimes old, sometimes weird, sometimes perfect. One song. Worth your time. Repeat as necessary.
Clem Burke, the drummer from Blondie, past away this week. He was considered one of the best drummers in music. I think this song is some of his best work.
Dreaming
But Wait, There’s More…
We just finished watching Paradise on Hulu. Terrific post-apocalyptic drama starring Sterling K. Brown. It’s a really good watch.
Music Quote of the Week
“Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence.” — Robert Fripp
Stay tuned for more music recs. Hope you find something you love.
Dave
For Paul and Jimmy
I like it.
Love CB!