Courtney Barnett - 'Tell Me How You Really Feel'

7/10

When Courtney Barnett released her stunning debut album 'Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit' back in 2015, she was met with a wealth of love and appreciation as one of the best new artists looking to revive that sometimes lacklustre sound of grungy soft-rock. But after three years away, and obviously three years in the limelight, Barnett has reflected on her success and delivered a follow-up that aims to deal with the perils of making such a well-loved debut record.

While sonically, her sound remains more or less the same, there are the odd moments on here that seem like she isn't having the best fun in her new life. We are treated to the same old stories of fractured relationships and mental health troubles, but with this added resonance that fame has somehow made her more cynical than she was before. Nods to the world of Internet trolls and a general despondence to fame as whole, 'Tell Me How You Really Feel' plays more as her venting at the world than anything else.

Of course, the angry girl wrapped up in a laid-back persona has always been her personality but it just seems that this record is dealing with more than she would like to mention. There is a sadness that we weren't aware of last time, which makes for a slightly tougher listen, but still manages to deliver the goods when it needs to.

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