This is the first post I'm doing for the new meme hosted by Killian @ Leaf on the Breeze. In this meme, we will listen and tell our opinions on a certain album, chosen each week by a different participant. Next week it's my turn and I have an album in mind that I'm really excited to finally listen. Anyway, this week Killian chose for the first album of the music meme to be Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit by Courtney Barnett.
Courtney Barnett is an Australian singer-songwriter, and her music falls into the indie rock genre. She has already released two EPs since 2012, but Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is her first studio album. Learn more about her on her official website.
First of all, I have to admit that I loved the cover of this album. It's simple but very effective and after listening to the whole thing I believe that it suits it very well. Some of the songs have a garage rock and some a folk feel to them, but I preferred more the second ones. The only problem for me is that certain songs, like Dead Fox, fell into monotony and I found myself skipping them to the next ones. The lyrics of the songs though is what impressed me the most in Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I just Sit. They are a bit surreal, but most of them narrate stories that feel personal. And when this happens, the result is beautiful and sometimes even touching. I stare at the lawn, it's Wednesday morning/It needs a cut but I leave it growing/All different sizes and all shades of green/Slashing it down just seems kind of mean are the first lyrics from the song Small Poppies and I absolutely like them. All in all, I would say that the debut album by Courtney Barnett is refreshing and very enjoyable, although at times I felt that the lyrics were much better than the music.
Favourite tracks: Depreston, Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party
Literary References: Not really. In the first track, Elevator Operator, the hero is called Paul Oliver, which is a writer on the blues and other forms of African-American music, but it's just a coincidence.
Is it a good reading companion? Absolutely. Especially the slower tracks are ideal for background music while reading.
