News about Courtney Barnett's long-awaited sophomore album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, couldn't have been sweeter when he heard about it earlier this year. Then she dropped the album's first single "Nameless, Faceless," an infectious punk-rock track that simmered with indignation and rage in what is definitely Barnett's most explicitly political song.
Once again, Barnett proves herself a lyricist of the highest order with "Need A Little Time". Every poetic line seems to extol the need for space in personal relationships but can so easily be extrapolated into broader metaphors. Not only is Barnett one of the finest contemporary wordsmiths, but her virtuoso guitar playing is front and center on "Need A Little Time". What's most exciting about the new album is Barnett's quite obvious, and seemingly innate, evolution as an artist. Her progression from Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, to now seems natural and dynamic.
"Need A Little Time" is accompanied by an interstellar video by Barnett’s frequent visual collaborator Danny Cohen. Cohen says "Need A Little Time has this soaring, floating feeling to it. I decided to play on the meaning of the song; Courtney needs some time away from herself (and you). I didn’t want to show Courtney leaving her friends, family, and fans, it needed to be more metaphorical. Courtney floats through space and time, ends up in some isolated part of the universe. She finally has found some time alone, just Courtney and her guitar, singing in space without a care in the world. Who knew that Courtney in space on her guitar is all we've ever wanted.
Tell Me How You Really Feel will be released on May 18th through Mom + Pop, Marathon Artists and Barnett’s own label Milk! Records.