Courtney Barnett — Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

Milk! | discogs.com

Brilliant in its simplicity, distinctive in its banality: indie rock for everyone

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Debutant musicians across all genres frequently commit the same sin, the understandability of which in no way compensates for its cardinality: overthinking. It takes experience to overcome the temptation to overplay one's hand, to overstretch one's abilities and to be in general and in all ways overbearing.

Courtney Barnett may be accused of many things, but overthinking is not one of them. Everything about her and her music is affably casual from the classic lead-rhythm-drums format to the loose and unpretentious music played on them.

Barnett slaps together oddly compelling stories of the mundane and banal — stories of mowing the lawn, eyeing up an attractive gentleperson at the pool, the existential dread that accompanies wanting to go to a party but also not wanting to go to a party.

This album carries an overarching appeal of approachability, a rare trait that some merely display, but that Barnett carries effortlessly.