"The sprawling, bittersweet atmosphere-shaped by those repetitive guitars and a perpetual search for meaning-at times recalls Barnett's collaboration with Kurt Vile. Take the wistful chords of 'Mantis,' where she's frustrated about living on autopilot and wants to get organized, while Andrew Sloane's bassline chugs along and steadily ratchets up the pressure."
"'I got my head sorted, sort of/I keep going just because,' she intones. Emphasis on the 'sort of.'"
"In 'Sugar Plum,' she apologizes but adds that 'those words don't come easy to me/So I'm looking for a little leniency,' a dose of humor on an otherwise serious subject."
Courtney Barnett's 'Creature of Habit' reflects her journey through self-paralysis and indecision, using repetitive major seventh chords to convey existential themes. Written during a period of reflection in Joshua Tree, the album captures the bittersweet atmosphere of searching for meaning. Tracks like 'Mantis' and 'Sugar Plum' illustrate her struggles with communication and organization, blending humor with vulnerability. Barnett's move from Australia to Los Angeles and her experiences in therapy and pottery classes inform her introspective lyrics, emphasizing the impact of stagnation on relationships.
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