Creature Of Habit. Courtney Barnett

"Time will tell where I'm going with the new album. Sometimes these things take time". I wrote at the end of Courtney Barnett's previous album, 'Things Take Time, Take Time'. Well, I can tell you in 2026: I had completely forgotten it even existed. To be even more honest, I didn't really look forward to Creature Of Habit.

Having listened to it several times by now, I can share that I may even buy the LP. Why? Give me a few minutes to explain.

Courtney Barnett is who she is as a musician. Her voice and way of singing cannot be changed. What has changed, is her approach to her songs it seems to me. The slacker element is not here and neither is the blanket of negativity that often hung over her songs. Is it the sun of Los Angeles where she moved to?

Just listen to the upbeat way the album opens. The main riff may be dark and distorted, the song is open and inviting. The space in between the instruments lets the light in. The background vocals sparkle, making 'Stay In Your Lane' a very inviting opening song for Creature Of Habit. This is even more so in 'Site Unseen', a duet with Waxahatchee, where the two singers take each other higher and higher.

Barnett worked with Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa and producer John Congleton Is there anyone Congleton has not worked with over the past decades? The list is near endless. Barnett wrote the most spruced up song with Mozgawa. 'One Thing At A Time' is an alternative rocker that halfway the dirty sounding guitar solo catches fire. The intro of the song can be seen as an example of how Creature Of Habit sounds. Several of the songs our direct, alternative rock songs that make me like the album far more than the previous albums. I will even take back my comment on the work of Courtney Barnett's former partner Jen Cloher being better. Creature Of Habit competes alright.

There are a few barer songs with just Courtney Barnett and Stella Mozgawa playing instruments. They take the mood of the album in a more sober, but not a slacker direction. And this change works a miracle for this album. 'Mostly Patient' is the proof in point. Because of her way of singing this song sparkles, instead of bringing me down. Whatever caused ms. Barnett to change course, it has my blessing. This is exactly the kind of album I thought she had in her but somehow never produced. Even in the song where the influence of Warpaint comes through, 'Mantis', is absolutely top.

Summing up, Creature Of Habit is a good album where Courtney Barnett shows her more direct side and that is a side I like best. This is her best album to date.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

P.S.: Yes, I already bought the LP. 

You can listen to and order Chreature Of Habit here:

https://courtneybarnett.bandcamp.com/album/creature-of-habit