Courtney Barnett- I’ve got a friend called emily ferris

Courtney Barnett wears nirvana t-shirts, sounds like Kurt Cobain and looks like she’s just rolled out of bed, in a good way. Recently the poetry in her notebook has transformed into an early 90’s inspired grunge compilation, with the help of her guitar and a few mates (from the Merri Creek Pickers, Dandy Warhols, Immigrant Union, Galvatrons and My Left Boot.)

Akin to her face this album is devoid of concealer. Courtney lets you breathe her in without a filter, drawing back a contrast of jangley riffs and intimate songs sliced with utterly frank lyrics. One can almost smell bourbon wafting through the husky vocals, which are so laid-back they sound as if one were asking their mate for a ciggie’. Heavy influences on this album include Brian Jones Town Massacre, Adalita and supposedly she was pretty into Kurt Vile’s new record before making this Album!

There is a piercing honesty in all that the album stands for. It is entirely relatable in nature, discussing booze, the rents, paying bills, friends and cheeky pleasures.You’ll be grabbing a beer before you even hear Courtney’s voice on track one ‘Lance Jnr’. The catchy guitar riff will have you bopping along before you are smacked in the noggin with the amazingly blunt first line. A testament to her ability to say it as it is. Track 2 ‘Are you looking after yourself’, hits home to those in their early to mid 20′s who are feeling the pressure from their rents to get a real job, ‘I don’t want no nine to five telling me that I’m alive, when man your doing well’, Mmm no thanks Mum. Track 3 `Scotty says’ is a kind of foot in mouth love song, on top of upbeat guitar, slide and harmonica Courts voice floats somewhat blaze in nature recounting life’s not so great times. Psychedelic, jangly guitars draw us into the transient, hypnotic vocals of track 5 ‘Porcelain’ capturing the daily grind of love. 

Beneath the old-school doodles on the front cover and her nonchalant lyrics is a brilliant and unknowingly influential wordsmith. Utterly frank in her perception of the world. Scrawling down how life unfolds in her line of vision. The front cover parallels this notion with a small square of society drawn to Barnett’s liking.

Bet your bottom dollar this album will be drumming through many a cider drenched bar top in months to come. ONLY $7 here: http://courtneybarnettmusic.bandcamp.com/

PS. If you sign up for Courtney’s mailing list on her Facebook page, you’ll receive a download of “I moved interstate and now I’m not sure what to do for Christmas”

Tagged Album, Courtney Barnett, Dandy Warhols, Galvatrons, Immigrant Union, Merri Creek Pickers, My Left Boot