Courtney Barnett Maintains Signature Rock Sound While Maturing as a Songwriter With ‘Tell Me How You Really Feel’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Following the release of her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Australian rocker Courtney Barnett was suddenly everywhere. Seemingly touring non-stop, she captivated new fans and old with her energy, witty lyrics, and characteristic deadpan singing style. Many wondered if she would be able to bring the same magic into her next release, or if her wry lyrics might start to get stale. With the release of her sophomore album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, it’s clear that Barnett has found a way to hold on to her familiar style yet make it sound more mature.

The album opens with the melancholy track “Hopefulessness”. Reminiscent of Nirvana’s In Utero, it does a great job of setting the tone for the album. Gone are the glib observations and humorous lyrics, instead replaced with lyrics that address modern issues and give a more intimate look into her psyche. The first single from the album, “Nameless, Faceless” tackles issues like the fear women face on a daily basis. ‘Men are scared that women will laugh at them/Women are scared that men will kill them/I walk with my keys between my fingers.’ “City Looks Pretty” features frantic guitar riffs as Barnett sings about dealing with life as a well-known musician as she sings, ‘Friends treat you like a stranger and strangers treat you like their best friend.’ In the upbeat “Crippling Self-Doubt and a General Lack of Self-Confidence” Barnett receives some help from her influences in the form of background vocals from The Breeders’ Kim and Kelley Deal. The album also features some punk rock with the track “I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch”, which Barnett’s raw vocals really bring to life. The album closes with “Sunday Roast”, a ballad in the slacker rock style that Barnett is best known for. “Sunday Roast” finds Barnett encouraging and affirming a friend while simultaneously laying out her vulnerabilities to them. Ultimately, Barnett has proven with her sophomore release the she is not a one trick pony and that her role as a songwriter continues to mature.

Over the past week Barnett and her band have played a series of small shows in which they perform Tell Me How You Really Feel in its entirety before playing some fan favorites, and the album sounds even better live. Touring as a four piece, instead of her usual trio, the addition of keys and extra guitar makes even old songs sound fuller on stage. Barnett will be on the road incessantly this year in support of her new album and her’s is a show not to be missed.