Everybody loved Courtney Barnett last year. Debut album “Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit” was all over 2015’s forest of ‘Best Of…’ lists. She’s up for a BRIT Award (Best International Female) and a Grammy (Best New Artist). And Barnett deserves it. A brilliant no-filler debut supported by non-stop touring and festival appearances has won many fans. The album has been out nearly a year and hasn’t outstayed it’s welcome on my turntable.
Ahead of another summer playing festivals around Europe, “Elevator Operator” will be released as a single. The opening track of the album, it contains all of Barnett’s modus operandi; lackadaisical delivery, a shambling garage rock thud and a tale of the mundane made enthralling. In this case, a young guy mugs off work and heads to the top of a tall building for a look around and a think. There’s references to the PC game ‘Sim City’ and Australian culinary staple Vegemite. A 3 minute pop song. Boom. There’s yer tea. The best Beatles and Smiths songs were the short, catchy ones, don’t pretend otherwise. And the whole album is like that. Apart from ‘Kim’s Caravan’, which is a bit like Neil Young but still immense.
Go listen to “Elevator Operator” here, if you somehow don’t already own the album. The single is due out on March 18th.
Courtney Barnett will be appearing at the following festivals, with more dates to follow:
24 June – The Netherlands, Down the Rabbit Hole
25 June – Germany, Hurricane Festival
26 June – Germany, Southside Festival
30 June – Denmark, Roskilde
02 July – Belgium, Rock Werchter
08 July – Portugal, NOS Alive
09 July – Spain, Bilbo BBK Live
10 July – France, Musilac
17 July – Ireland, Longitude
Courtney Barnett Official Site