Courtney Barnett Announces Debut Album, Shares First Single ‘Pedestrian At Best’

Melbourne’s own Courtney Barnett has announced the arrival of her much anticipated debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, which will be released on 20th March. Today she’s premiered the album’s first single and video, Pedestrian At Best.

The new album follows Barnett’s acclaimed Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas and was recorded at Melbourne’s Head Gap Studio last year. “My songs follow me as a normal human with normal emotions,” says Barnett in a statement. “So there are great highs and great lows. They span everything in my life.”

One such life-spanning track is lead single Pedestrian At Best which Barnett has shared this morning. It’s typically self-reflexive and wordy, but less intimate and a bit angrier than we’re used to hearing. A resentful Barnett rails in the fuzzed-out chorus, “Tell me I’m exceptional, I promise to exploit you / Gimme all your money and I’ll make some origami, honey.”

Sounds like someone’s got some issues with fame, before they’ve released their debut LP no less! It comes complete with an accompanying video, where she plays a very sad clown who just can’t seem to catch a break. Sad clown Jen Cloher pops up, though, so she’s at least got someone to be sad with.

Barnett is one of the many Australians making their way to Bonnaroo and South By South West this year and will also play Tasmania’s boutique PANAMA Festival this March.

Watch Pedestrian At Best and check out the Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit tracklist and artwork below.

Watch: Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian At Best

Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit tracklist

1. Elevator Operator

2. Pedestrian at Best

3. An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in NY)

4. Small Poppies

5. Depreston

6. Aqua Profunda!

7. Dead Fox

8. Nobody Really Cares if You Don’t Go to the Party

9. Debbie Downer

10. Kim’s Caravan

11. Boxing Day Blues

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