Courtney Barnett had warned. THESE THINGS TAKE TIME, TAKE TIME was the name of her 2021 album. After that, she took her time, released a minimalist film score in 2023, tried out a few new creative methods, but above all tried to find ways to stop getting in her own way. CREATURE OF HABIT is the result of this phase. Insight number one: “Stay In Lane” – this first track on the album talks about overzealous people who push themselves to the point of aggression. Barnett demands: put it aside.
“Site Unseen” is about the stones you have to turn over; Katie Crutchfield aka Waxahatchee is there as co-composer and singer. What Barnett has also decided to do: be patient, don’t accept every well-intentioned advice, set priorities – “One Thing At A Time”.
Musically, the Australian packs this to-do list into casual indie rock songs, the final piece “Another Beautiful Day” is reminiscent of the comforting, touching optimism of the Eels: The stupidity is obvious, so let’s reinforce the beauty.
