Courtney Barnett, Julia Jacklin

CL’s Matthew Warhol Recommends: Call me crazy, but Courtney Barnett might be the Bob Dylan of our generation. She is a mammoth of a songwriter. Her songs are clever, personal stories with deep societal critiques hummed in riddles or shouted in protest signs. Some of my favorite Barnett bars take aim at climate change in her native Australia. See: “The Great Barrier Reef it ain’t so great anymore, it’s been r*ped beyond belief, the dredgers treat it like a whore,” from “Kim’s Caravan” and “More people die on the road than they do in the ocean, maybe we should mull over culling cars instead of sharks,” from “Dead Fox.” On their own, these lines are fantastic but the way Barnett incorporates them while lamenting on her own hopelessness and depression make them genius. She’s not a cultural critique ranting on top of a high horse. She is one of us, sad about dying alone along with our planet. — MW

CL’s Todd Prusin Recommends: Courtney Barnett’s musical evolution is easy to hear, live or on record. Having listened to her since her first LP, there is no need for catch-up. Hers’ is a very organic evolution …nothing is forced and her new album Things Take Time, Take Time, although a slight departure from her previous albums, is a snug fit leading to a leaner live approach. And that’s where she will soon be found, on stage where she is relaxed, and smart enough to surround herself with sympathetic musicians who successfully transmit her sound. Her current band features standard bassist Bones Sloane but Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa, who produced TTTTT, is a new edition. As Barnett’s first album with a synthesizer/drum machine, TTTTT’s songs may allow for newer live sounds on stage. As Mozgawa and Barnett alone created TTTTT, having Mozgawa on the road may lend more authenticity to the aforementioned slight departure. Live Barnett can’t miss, she nails the often sought out but rarely attained “tight but loose” style, and to see her live is a joy…she loves what she’s doing … and those out if front love it to. She is a standout in the current class of rock musicians and to see her live is a can’t miss. — TP