Australia Discovers Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett is one of Australia’s most popular musical exports, but even though she’s become a celebrity among the music nerds of Western civilization, she’s just starting to get some attention at the highest levels back home. Sunday Night, a newsmagazine on Australia’s Channel Seven, aired a lengthy segment about Barnett’s worldwide success last night, and the tone of the piece suggests she’s more likely to get noticed on the street in London or NYC than in Melbourne. It’s pretty funny to hear her fellow Aussies excitedly praising her deftly observational lyrics, unique guitar style, and the decision not to disguise her Australian accent. But to be fair, it’s always funny when TV newsmagazines try to explain underground musicians, and American bands have to get pretty big before they get their own 60 Minutes feature. Watch the full 11-minute clip below.
Barnett’s debut album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit is out now on Mom + Pop.