'Creature Of Habit' Ironically Displays Courtney Barnett's Biggest Changes Both In Music And Life

Making the move from Melbourne to the U.S., Creature of Habit is seemingly a reflection on the reinvigoration felt by Courtney Barnett during a season of much change. Her most recent album, ‘Things Take Time, Take Time,’ was more subdued and introspective, partially due to creative desire, partially due to the COVID-19 lockdown and limitations. There are tracks that could work on either, such as ‘Creature of Habit’s ‘Mostly Patient’, but a good majority of these songs seem to embrace the journey to the states in a twang-infused, rock and roll-inspired, catchy list of tunes.

Listen through as you read!

‘Stay In Your Lane’ with its pocketed percussive intro evolves into a roaring melodic rock piece full of dirty bass riffs squelching guitars nearing feedback and punk-inspired vocals that I am sure is one of the catchiest on the album.

‘Wonder’ retains a lot of the album’s punchier and grittier production aspects, and keeps the vocal processing the same from ‘Stay In Your Lane’, even though it is a much sweeter and softer tune, almost delving into the twee scene if the tambourine were more pronounced.

‘Site Unseen’ features indie twang’s golden child, Waxahatchee, who has had her own share of recent hits in her many groups and frequent collaborators she participates in. Here is no different, and the stateside influence is most prominent on this rocking track.

‘Mantis’ is the equivalent of a title track but has more to do with the album cover than anything. Speaking of the importance of change in Barnett’s life, when she saw a praying mantis as a sign she was doing the right thing with her life in the midst of many changes, such as the closing of her company “Milk! Records”. There was a previous layer of doubt and uncertainty with many of the changes, but also importantly her creative direction. Creative direction is not an aspect of Courtney’s creative career that you would ever guess she has struggled with, as especially in ‘Creature of Habit’, there is a clear list of influences that are easy to point to, but blended to perfection and topped with a list of finishing touches only known to her and her collaborators.

This is a true album in every sense of the word, not simply a collection of tracks. I could cover every track and treat them as the singles they could be. ‘Great Advice’ is a Dry Cleaning-esque spoken-sung alt rock slow burner with percussive elements and spacious riffing previously explored in the beginning of the project with ‘Stay In Your Lane’ right before ‘Another Beautiful Day’ brings the album to a sing-song close.

Be sure to listen to the latest and greatest from Courtney on Spotify, Apple Music, or Bandcamp. And check out her site here, as well as her labels Mom + Pop Music, Milk! Records, Marathon Artists, and Matador Records.

As a more personal aside: Courtney's last album found me in a very different time of my life, with a different partner in a different city and in a very different mental state. The shifts and changes between the two reflect my own personal growth in a beautiful way that has just now come full circle. Thanks for reading!