Courtney Barnett: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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Published 2014-04-14
"I found an Ezra Pound and made a bet that if I found a cigarette I'd drop it all and marry you. Just then a song comes on: "You can't always get what you want" — The Rolling Stones, oh, woe is we, the irony! The Stones became the moss and once all inhibitions lost, the hipsters made a mission to the farm. We drove by tractor there, the yellow straw replaced our hair, we laced the dairy river with the cream of sweet vermouth."
The only downside for a fan like me is that these songs have been kicking around my head for more than a year. As she played them, I found myself hoping for something new, too. And so it was that Barnett graced the Tiny Desk with a brand-new tune, not yet on a record, about a suburb near Melbourne known as Preston; it's a song about house-hunting that she appropriately calls "Depreston." The song is thoughtful, acerbic and funny, just like the woman who sings it. --BOB BOILEN
Set List
"Avant Gardener"
"History Eraser"
"Depreston"
Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Gabriella Garcia-Pardo, Olivia Merrion; photo by Jim Tuttle/NPR
All Comments (21)
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I love her stream-of-consciousness lyrics, they are like beat poetry, so wild and free flowing, that if you aren't picking up on what she is laying down, it might not make much sense, but if you do follow her words, she is a lyrical genius!
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"paramedic thinks im clever cause i play guitar - i think she's clever cause she, stops people dying" hahahahahahahahahahahaa far out this is some great music
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She's so lovely and natural. No pretentiousness of any kind.
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The subtlety of the turn in Depreston gets me every time. How she goes from funny and sardonic to sweet and sad in a few seemingly simple lines. That kind of observation and writing is rare.
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I absolutely LOVE the acoustic version of Avant Gardener. Prefer it actually. Just beautiful.
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"Depreston" at 8:43. Just leaving this note for myself. Superb performance!
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She's just sitting there telling you a story and a guitar happens to be on her lap with strings bussling through her fingers, its seamless, effortless, a breth, beautiful moment. few humans can do this this beautifully and humbly
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I know it's said already but her lyrics really are ingenious. There's so much subtlety, but not in a pretentious, inaccessible way. She's an amazing talent
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It is so awesome to scroll through a youtube comment section and not read any negative comments. How refreshing!!!
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A+ for song. A+ for guitaring A+ for great hair!!
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one of the most poetic story-telling singer songwriters of the last few years, super dope. and that accent, love it
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Creatively soulful, rock and roll spirited, Courtney's music draws me in and spits me out feeling a little more alive than where I was before.
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"Its a Monday. Its so mundane." "You said we only live once, so we touched a little tongue and instantly I wanted to." The play on words is so fucking good in these songs. A toothless bum could be reading this poetry and I would be still be aroused. Courtney Barnett is like some genius-poet-storytelling-travelling-minstrel from Australia.
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She's so fun to listen to. I love her lyrical style. Look forward to more music from her.
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Her music sounds great with the rest of her band, but when she plays solo like this it really highlights the quality of her lyrics! I had no idea the wordplay in these songs was so good until I listened to this.
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The way she throws out lyrics is so nonchalant but so robust and earnest. 2 thumbs up, 5/5 stars
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I friggin' LOVE that line..."I'm not that good at smokin' bongs..." - classic.
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I wish she would do an album in this style, just her and her guitar, it would be absolutely amazing.
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Genius!!! We need an updated CB tiny desk!
