Small Talk - Courtney Barnett

Just when we thought we got all we can from Courtney Barnett in 2018, a previously unreleased track, "Small Talk," is out from her Tell Me How You Really Feel sessions, taking a step back into her narrative song writing previously seen in Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit . 

Tell Me How You Really Feel was a very introspective and explicative collection of Barnett's innermost feelings of marginalization, depression, relationships and exhaustion, that saw her narrative-based song writing turn into a more direct approach to her themes. While "Small Talk" is an impressive song (reasons we'll get to later) its narrative structure does not necessarily align with Tell Me How You Really Feel's direct approach to her feelings. It is more akin to her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, although the instrumentals do show a resemblance, which is probably why it had been conducted in the Tell Me How You Really Feel Sessions. 

Essentially, "Small Talk" is a story and like all great stories, there is an objectivity and subjectivity to its action that permits interpretations and different connections for the viewer/reader. This is something of a difficult task however, Courtney Barnett, through mundane and commonplace interaction, is able to do this and "Small Talk" is another reiteration to her mastery of ubiquitous storytelling and what makes her such an important figure in today's rock landscape. Life is never black and white (there may be issues that contradict this notion, like the recent Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh), a melancholic moment is typically not shrouded in just tears and sadness. While not apparent, those melancholic moments offer instances of humor or even optimism that to the person experiencing this sadness may not at first be open to.

I suppose the point of this rambling is to say that truly great writings (in this case songwriting) combines realistic and often times hard to discern emotions or feelings that personifies and explicates happenings of an event. Thus, the ability that Courtney Barnett possesses. 

So where is "Small Talk" in all this? Its premise is the idea and experience of small talk; the annoying conversations had prior to what's prevalent or often times embarrassing conversations had in lieu of desired topics of conversation. It is assumed Barnett is making small talk with someone whom she actually wants to have a relationship with (romantic or otherwise) but is plagued by small talk "I'm waiting here for you/I'm looking 'cross the room n hoping you're looking too." Small talk is considerably awkward, but for those not engaged in small talk and are instead hearing it second hand or witnessing it, it is cringeworthy and hilarious. 

The conversation shifts from Barnett's brother and her desire to be a cool aunty "I hope they have kids so I can be a cool aunty," engaging in presumably hosting activities "Can I get you anything? A soda? Campari? With Lemon? You got it," inquiring if her guest too has any siblings "You got a sister yeh she's a detective/Well I bet she has some good stories,"then to the eventual departure "I gotta go but I hope we keep in touch/I like very much being here with you/But you see, all this small talk is killin' me." 

The instrumentals are quite dull and insistent on a very consistent (rhymes) chord progression that offers more emphasis on Barnett's story-time vocals but lures the listener into this awkward course of events while creating a resonating and sing-along chorus to suggest that these events are not exclusive to a select few, rather it is commonplace and endured by all.    

"Small Talk" is just another great song to come out of the Courtney Barnett canon and comes at no surprise. While I have professed, and will continue to profess, that Courtney Barnett is the leading figure of conventional rock, I believe on a more visceral level, that just about everything she has released up to this point has a way of connecting to the listener even in the most subtle of ways. So if you haven't already, take a listen to Courtney Barnett because she's cool as fuck and has something to offer to even the biggest top 40 nerd.