Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time

Alternative – Released November 12, 2021 – 10 songs, 34 mins

REID

For the first TSR entry of 2022, we go back to Australia as singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Courtney Barnett, returns with her third major solo album. Expectations are high after a Grammy-nominated debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (2015), and very solid follow up, Tell Me How You Really Feel. I’m a big fan and anxiously waited for this in 2021.

Things Take Time, Take Time was written and recorded over a challenging and unique period for Barnett. The obvious event was the pandemic as all humans struggled for normalcy. Another was the ending of her relationship with long term girlfriend, Jen Cloher. Courtney is quoted as saying this is not a break-up album. I won’t go as far as calling her bluff but let’s just say I believe it’s heavily influenced by the split. The subject matter in comparison to her previous work makes it a reasonable conclusion.

Despite producing a more relaxed compilation overall, her signature sound is on display from the opener, Rae Street. That garage-like, ‘sing-as-if-I’m-talking-to-you’ style. Courtney is influenced by Nirvana and that guitar has All Apologies written all over it. Sunfair Sundown is a treat to listen to with the horns adding a nice touch. Here’s The Thing and Before You Gotta Go are two great love songs and their lyrics get stuck in your head. Her heartache is captured on the former as she sings ‘I don’t know what to do. Is looking like I’ll never leave this room again. I don’t know what to do. Gonna write this letter to you that I’ll never send’. The crème de la crop comes on Write A List of Things to Look Forward To. Super upbeat and very catchy lyrically. Let me tell you Courtney, I had a nice list prepared for the Christmas break and ended up essentially locked down due to COVID restrictions. I’m really hoping the items on my 2022 list come to fruition - with that said, I do look forward to catching a live show of hers one day.

Courtney Barnett keeps the momentum rolling on Things Take Time, Take Time. Simply put - if you’re not listening to her yet, you should be. This one quickly became a staple in my catalog.

Overall Rating – 8.5/10

Favourite Song – Write A List Of Things To Look Forward To

LUNDI

Australia! It’s been a while but it’s no surprise you Aussies are still pumping out great music and chugging beers out of shoes. Some things aren’t meant to change. After a Christmas and COVID induced hiatus TSR is back with singer songwriter Courtney Barnett for her third studio album Things Take Time, Take Time. 

As a personal aside before getting into this review, CB if you ever read this I’d like you to know the song Before You Gotta Go will always hold a special place for me. I spent the last days of my dogs life with these tunes and the chorus brought/brings a tear to my eye every time. Rest easy, little Lucy. 

Now for the album. Barnett’s strongest selling point of cleverly written lyrics are on display throughout. After a very dark and anger filled sophomore album, Things Take Time see’s CB find a mix of tongue in cheek lyrics and hard hitting social topics that has an outcome of mixed results. She shines on tracks like If I Don’t Hear From You Tonight and Sunfair Showdown but misses completely on Turning Green and closing track Splendour.

CB is very minimalistic musically on Take Time which is expected given this was basically an album wrote in her bedroom and lacking a band however it does result in the lost charm we’ve come to know from the singer. Her crunchy guitar riffs are the highlight of most tracks carrying the weight of the album on its shoulders. 

At the end of it all though, this album is still quite good. It’s just a step back and beneath expectations. Her style still isn’t matched and hopefully she can turn these tunes up a notch when performing live. Take Time is an enjoyable listen despite lacking ambition for more. It’s a valiant effort in the face of a pandemic but the album won’t do much to appease more than her long time fans. 

Overall Rating: 7.7/10

Favourite Song: Before You Gotta Go

ROZ

New year, new me! Just kidding. With my resolution list written out and my yearly ambitions staring me in the face, why not totally ignore everything and review a new album instead? Procrastination at its finest.

Nothing sums up my thoughts more than the guitar solo that kicks in at 2:25 on Turning Green. Did they record one take of nonsense and keep it in, with no discernable direction or payoff? Seems like it, and after one listen it was promptly skipped every time. While I’m aware that part of CB’s charm and signature sound is her apathetic style of singing, I felt an inherent laziness peppered throughout this album. This feeling echoed through the songwriting and singing as well, with Take it Day By Day being the biggest offender in that aspect. Luckily, the album somewhat salvages itself in tracks such as Rae Street, Before You Gotta Go, Write A List Of Things To Look Forward To and Oh The Night, which seemed to display her style better while staying catchy at the same time.

Compared to her past albums, Things Take Time falls flat on its face. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit has been in my rotation ever since Lundi introduced me to Barnett last year, and a side by side is as one-sided a beatdown as Jake Paul's last few fights have been (and just as sad too, poor Woodley - look how they massacred my boy). The guitar shreds harder, the drums were more alive (hell CB herself was more alive), and her overall sound was raw as hell (in a good way). As a musician, you’ll be judged by your best work and that’s just the unfortunate reality in this case. Sorry CB, but this album is more than just a step down from your past work - it’s an entire escalator ride.

Overall Rating: 6.2/10

Favourite Song: Before You Gotta Go