Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit Review
Barnett's Creature Of Habit is heartfelt and straight to the point as she tries to find clarity whilst battling with her inner thoughts.
A lot has changed since Courtney Barnett's last vocal record. 2021 saw the release of ‘Things Take Time, Take Time’, an album recorded at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak. With so much uncertainty at the tail end of the pandemic — Barnett recalls that “those first post-lockdown shows were some of the best shows of my life… Each show felt like it could’ve been the last one.” Fast forward a year and Barnett found herself questioning whether she wanted to stop making music altogether. At the start of 2023 — feeling lost and unsure which way she wanted to take her career, Barnett set herself a casual one year deadline to get back into the studio and start recording again. Over two years later, Courtney Barnett is back with Creature Of Habit, the highly anticipated and much awaited return.
The album opens with ‘Stay In Your Lane’, a loud and emphatic tune, paired with lyrics expressing notions of doubt. “Feels like I'm going backwards, each day I preach my practice, and still it seems I wasn't ready for this”. It’s been said that ‘Stay In Your Lane’ was written in a fit of procrastination while trying and failing to finish a different song, a project charged by pent up frustration — “Rip this thing out of my head… gotta get this off my chest” Barnett sings. The heavy and fast acting bass line pairs perfectly with the jagged guitars and almost robotic machine-style drums. For her first release in 5 years, ‘Stay In Your Lane’ well and truly itches that scratch that fans have had for all these years.
Next we hear ‘Wonder’, a tune that instrumentally sounds so positive and fun, yet is coupled with such emotional and heart-felt lyrics. The track paints the picture of a lost relationship and the feelings of anxiety that pull you down as you try to move on. As Barnett explicitly sings “I wonder what you say when I’m not around”, she gives listeners her message as raw as it can be. ‘Wonder’ is the type of song that makes you want to ball your eyes out as you dance along. As soon as the tune starts to uplift you, Barnett does what she does best, crushing you with her emotionally charged, evocative lyricism.
Track number five sees Barnett joined by Melbourne born superstar Flea of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, a surprising collaboration I’m not sure anyone saw coming. After sharing a stage during a Patti Smith tribute concert in March 2025, the duo have now collaborated on ‘One Thing At A Time’. Differing from the opening four songs on the album, Barnett sounds fed up, singing with a sense of frustration and anger. For such an emotionally charged record, ‘One Thing At A Time’ feels like a palate cleanser as the track doesn’t give off much sad energy — rather Barnett’s angry and disheartening view of the need to embrace change in life.
Despite the album being riddled with prominent tunes, the standout comes with ‘Sugar Plum’. Barnett mundanely sings over tranquil guitars — once again serenading from quite a self-doubtful view. “You’re either drowning in the deepest sea, Or drowning in the kitchen sink, either way it all feels like drowning” is one of the many poignant phrases she sings whilst the track builds up to its eventual climax. Suddenly ‘Sugar Plum’ doesn’t sound so sad, “Now I'm looking forward to some brighter days” Barnett sings as every layer of the song seems to hit at once. As the tune ends, listeners are given a glimpse of positivity — something that feels so essential for an album as thought provoking and emotive as this.
This record fits so beautifully in Courtney Barnett's discography — an album that's come about with real purpose and meaning. Differing from her earlier releases like ‘A Sea Of Split Peas EP’ and ‘Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit’, this new record comes at a very different time in Barnett's life — From a solidified move to LA, to bringing an end to her label ‘Milk Records’, Creature Of Habit is the product of an unbelievably well respected musician feeling somewhat out of place in the music industry. When discussing the record, Barnett said “this album seems to be all about change — It’s about embracing change, but also grieving the things that have changed – the chaos and confusion of all of those feelings.” From the tumultuous sounds in ‘Great Advice’, to the stunning consummation of ‘Another Beautiful Day’, Creature Of Habit is one of Courtney Barnett's most inspiring projects yet.