Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit. (2015)

Review

"Watermarks on the ceiling I can see Jesus and he's frowning at me I see a dead seal on the beach The old man says he's already saved it three times this week"

Finally we're reviewing an album release that doesn't have San Cisco on the cover, and it could arguably be the best album releases of the year into the bargain. My Wife actually introduced me to Courtney Barnett via tracks like Avant Gardener and History Eraser, which lead into Ms Barnett's first major breakout hit Pickles from the Jar, which helped spread her music to at least the Triple J and Double J listenership. With a debut album on the horizon I was waiting for my music store to open to grab a copy and see if Ms Barnett could blow us all away on a full album release. My initial concern was whether or not Barnett could carry her particularly unique take on music through ten or so tracks without edging into sameness. With fingers crossed I put the CD on and hunkered down for an initial listen, hey alright I'm writing this after Sometimes has been on virtual repeat play for the last few weeks around the crib.

From the first track, Elevator Operator, you know you're listening to a Courtney Barnett disc. There's the almost spoken lyrics, which on occasion lead to actual singing, the esoteric thought patterns permuting the track, and the driving almost grunge guitar work that hits the inner city groove without having to pause. If I had to describe Ms Barnett, which I guess I have to since you may not be aware of her already considerable body of work, then it would be as the female Lou Reed, assuming Lou was a fem, raised in Australia, and was heavily influenced by punk, post punk, and of course grunge. Barnett comes at us from an indie angle and is completely unapologetic about her unique sound; did I detect a Patti Smith influence on a couple of tracks?

There are some real highlights on the album, though I challenge you to find a track that doesn't work. For mine I was rocking out to the nominal first single Pedestrian at Best, the modern housing lament Depreston, the rocking Dead Fox, and the haunting lyrics of Kim's Caravan. Though no doubt I'll add a couple more tracks as the days turn into weeks.

About the only track that might give the listener pause is the final song Boxing Day Blues, assuming you are playing the CD and not enjoying the extra song on the vinyl release. The final number is listed as being 15 or so minutes long, which is fine some ideas need extra exploration, but at least on my disc there's a number of minutes of tape hiss through the middle of the track prior to what appears to be a completely new song kicking into gear. Not sure if this was intended or someone fell asleep at the mixing desk. So be warned, you can skip the middle few minutes, and then find out how the album was named with the second stanza of the track.

The surprising thing with Sometimes is that Ms Barnett has not gone to her previous EP releases and whacked together an album fill of prior material, Sometimes appears to be completely new work. You have to love an Artist prepared to hang it all out there with their debut album not being the culmination of a number of years of song writing, but having entirely new tracks purpose written for the disc. Bodes well for future releases from Barnett in my opinion, including the dreaded second releas. I'm already excited to see what she does next.

For those wondering Sometimes can be played at either low volume to pick up on the lyrics, themes, and movements within the songs or at high volume if you simply want to rock out to a decent foot stomping album. Your choice there, I had a final listen before writing this at max vol and it held together like a wild night out at the local Cabana club. There's driving guitars involved, an excellent rhythm element, and of course Courtney Barnett's distinctive vocals. Almost the total package in fact, there's very little to find fault with on this disc.

Clearly Sometimes comes with a full recommendation; it could well be the defining album of 2015. If you are into alternative rock then this is one album you need to be right across as Barnett brings it in from left field. Classic Australian release, it should pretty much be in everyone's collection.