Social commentary isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many think we should just slouch on, taking the world as it comes, forgetting about social justice and letting big business do as it pleases, as long as we get our food for pennies.
When the discourse comes wrapped up in such a pretty package though, even the most sceptical, I’m-all-right-Jack types might want to take a listen. The catchy guitars and slightly dead-pan intonation bring a cool vibe to the proselytizing. The words paint an ugly picture of modern life in the modern world, but sadly, a true one. Yet the song is more a lament than a call to arms. Taken from the debut album ‘Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit’, released by her own record label Milk! Records on May 11th, ‘Dead Fox’ shows how talented this Melbourne singer is. Musically, the laid back style seems modern, but built on a foundation of music stretching back to Dylan and the other 60’s wordsmiths. For the words are the essence here. Courtney Barnett’s work puts the story of the song at centre stage. The words are not there to embellish the music, here the music underpins the artistry of the words. Not that Courtney’s band are poor. The contribution made by Dave Mundie on drums, Bones Sloane on bass and Dan Luscombe on guitar is vital, energetic and fitting.
RIFFED's Rating: 8/10