Courtney Barnett / Blank Realm
How to Boil and Egg b/w Jesus Part 2
scums stats: thought I read somewhere that there we less than 200 of these, but now I can’t find anywhere that says that
So I had sought this one out HARD. Was willing to pay whatever the going rate is ($100 and up?) but the sucker just would not show up. Even having been released somewhat recently, when a newish record doesn’t turn up on the secondary market, you know it’s a little extra special.
After at least a year, I had the “duh” realization that I could just email Courtney to see if she had an extra copy. The single was a co-release between her label Milk! and another Aussie label called Bedroom Suck. A series which NONE have every sold on Discogs. I’m impressed.
Always so nice, Courtney happily sent one over. And it’s taken me months to listen to it. Now I want them all.
What we’ve got here is a bouncy instrumentation (which feels somewhat uncommon in her oeuvre) coupled with her standard self-addressed, lazily delivered vocals. “How To Boil and Egg” is 100% welcome and enjoyable. The song appears as the bonus track on the Japanese version of “Tell Me How You Really Feel” and I’m still shocked that Japan still has tricked the world into continue CD bonus tracks for their territory.
Blank Realm is a drippy, bass-propelled synth exploration as equally upbeat as Courtney’s flip side. the “Part 2” is winningly clever and overall, I’ve got no complaints.
Not since the Om/Six Organs of Admittance single have a felt two artists/songs compliment each other so well.
Heavy black paper with silk-screened artwork gives this the feeling of extra importance. Thank god for friends who also run record labels, makes the world feel like a smaller place when trading records with them.
Love her, love yur record of the week posts THANKS?
Love this! Thank you, Ben.
It’s a great pick, but in my opinion if you had a box of Courtney Barnett records you could close your eyes and pull out a record of the week. Of course not with such a great story to go with it. I agree with runofthemill’s comment “I want to be able to just email artists and have them send me stuff.” But I don’t want to give up as easily as him – Ben, will you be my “send me stuff” buddy? Puh-leeez? and while we are on that word, and to maintain my theme any time I communicate about TMR in any way, unrelated to Ben’s record, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE announce The Raconteurs US Tour!
Totally diggable!
So glad that I originally subbed to the first run (the one with Milk/Courtney) of this series.
So glad that I originally subbed to the first run (the one with Milk/Courtney) of this series.
I want one, please. Courtney, are you listening?
well been watching a set of these 7”s on eBay. that pushed the decision for me, guess I’ll find out how great these are in about a week.
Have now bought every track by Courtney Barnett, after first hearing ’I’ve Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris’ back in 2013. Buy them direct from Milk Records, love the way they put hand written notes in the packages. Her Spotify sessions singles are awesome.Laid back joy and wonder! Also getting into the wonderful Jen Cloher.
Loved this! And ‘bouncy’ is definitely not something I’d use to describe Courtney’s sound, but it really worked here. Especially contrasted with the ‘lazy’ delivery of the vocals. That’s what I love about her sound. And, I wouldn’t call it a “duh” realization when I read you as the kind of guy who enjoys the dig, the hunt. Contacting the artist directly wouldn’t be the first thing you think of. Thanks for another great record to enjoy!