Creature of Habit is the new album from Australian transplant Courtney Barnett, now living in LA. The album centrepiece, “Mantis”, was co-written with Stella Mozgawa who co-produces and plays on all the tracks. As the verses tumble out one after another, Barnett is hyper aware as she sings “Organizing all my thoughts, making them rhyme”. Inward looking is a major theme throughout the album, “Rip this thing out of my head (please be patient)” goes first track “Stay In Your Lane” and as she sings on “Sugar Plum”, “I’m in over my head”.
The pronounced bass on “Sugar Plum” turns to technicolour over layers of guitars when she sings that she’s “looking forward to some brighter days”. Though introspective, the album is never down. Songs such as the thoughtful “Wonder” spring to life and the repetition of closing track “Another Beautiful Day” turns it into a mantra. While it’s hard to pinpoint a truly great song, Creature Of Habit is chockful of very good tracks. Another Courtney Barnett album that stands tall upon repeated listens.
7.5/10
The Light Appears 