Look, we all know the Courtney Barnett “vibe” by now: she’s the only person who can write a five-minute song about house hunting or gardening and somehow make you feel like you’re watching a blockbuster movie.
With her new single “Site Unseen,” she’s back in that sweet spot. It’s got all the hallmarks of a Barnett classic—the deadpan delivery, the effortless guitar hooks, and that specific brand of “how-did-she-know-I-was-thinking-that” millennial relatability.
The Road to ‘Site Unseen’
If you’ve been following her since she was playing local Melbourne pubs, this new track feels like a victory lap. Courtney didn’t just appear out of nowhere; she built a world.
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The Breakthrough: We first fell for her rambling storytelling on The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas.
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The Classic: Then came the 2015 debut, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. It didn’t just get her a Grammy nod—it became the soundtrack for an entire generation of people who felt slightly out of place.
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The Evolution: From the breezy Kurt Vile collaboration Lotta Sea Lice to the grittier, politically-charged Tell Me How You Really Feel, she’s never stayed in one lane.
By the time she released Things Take Time, Take Time in 2021, it was clear she’d mastered the art of the “slow burn.”
Why ‘Site Unseen’ Hits Different
“Site Unseen” isn’t just a pop song; it’s a masterclass in observation. Courtney has this way of taking the tiny, messy fragments of daily life and turning them into something riveting.
Musically, it’s a reminder that she’s one of the best guitarists working right now. Her style is raw and tactile—you can practically hear the calluses on the strings. It’s got that “humid” energy we loved on her earlier records, but with a polished pop edge that’s going to sound massive at a festival.
From Melbourne to the Main Stage
It’s easy to forget that one of our biggest musical exports started in small-town Australia, considering she now spends her summers playing Coachella, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza.
Whether she’s playing a solo set or fronting a full band, Barnett is a powerhouse. There’s something about her live energy that makes a crowd of thousands feel like a group of friends hanging out in a garage. “Site Unseen” is clearly built for those big stages.
The Verdict
Courtney Barnett doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel—she just needs to keep telling us what she sees. “Site Unseen” is a sharp, witty, and deeply human addition to a catalog that already feels legendary.
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