If you believe that the road to success is a straight highway, you are sorely mistaken. Ask anyone who puts themselves out there in some musical endeavor and they will tell you, it is almost never easy. Taking courage, there are sometimes flairs that make you think you are on your way, but then there can be tremendous obstacles that force many to cut their losses and head home.
Not the case Barns Courtney, here is a singer-songwriter who found early success in bands locally, before signing a record deal in 2009 at only 19 years old fronting Dive Bella Dive. A good spot to be for a young kid coming up, tragically a bunch of red tape and contractual issues saw no albums ever released from the band, despite several being recorded. Something that could have broken Courtney’s will, fortunately after years of struggles he was able to put down the track “Fire” which received attention thanks to appearing in the 2015 film Burnt. From here it seemed like there was a light at the end of a long dark tunnel, Courtney inked a new deal with Virgin Records, thus enabling him to put out his debut album The Attractions of Youth in September of 2017. An album which featured the popular 2016 single “Glitter & Gold,” Courtney has not peered into the rearview mirror since.
Now 33 years old, Courtney was battle tested at a very young age, spent nearly a decade in limbo, but through perseverance found his way. Not only peaking with his 2017 debut at number eight on US Heat Charts, and at 95 on the UK Sales charts, his 2019 follow up, 404, hit number three on US Heat Charts. Which leads us into 2024 where Courtney returns with his third overall full-length album Supernatural. Released on July 19th through Avenue A/Virgin Records, the album emerges nearly two years after the mega popular 2022 single “Supernatural.” Obviously, a part of this new LP, also included are the 2023 singles “Golden,” as well as “Young in America.”
Three stellar, catchy Rock-n-Roll pieces, Courtney arguably saved the best of the singles to be released directly prior to the album when putting out “National Treasure.” Hitting the public on June 28th with an accompanying music video, the song is gritty, raw, and has a natural Punk Rock feeling impossible to ignore. These make up four of the ten songs that are Supernatural, there are also plenty of other irresistible hook driven Rock songs to dig into.
Proving a bit more insight, should you be new to Barns Courtney, the best way to describe him is a mix of Alternative, Blues, and Classic Rock all in one. He combined the dirt of real Rock-n-Roll with the passion of a Blues vocalist, and enough modern intuitiveness that would appeal to younger audiences. No doubt using his diverse childhood to his advantage – being born in England, but spending much of his younger years out in Seattle, Washington, before returning to England in his mid-teens – Courtney is really quite an exceptional talent.
All this considered, Supernatural follows a similar trajectory as his prior works, but perhaps with a little more rawness in many regards. Something endearing, Supernatural is full of piss and vinegar; especially on tracks like “Heartbreak Hallelujah,” “Guillotine,” “The Vapor,” as well as the aforementioned “National Treasure.” This is while other great listens include the lovely melody of “Machine Gun Sun,” and unforgettable vocal hooks of “I Feel It Now.”
So, what does Barns Courtney teach us? Simple, if you have the songs, the talent, and guts, stick with your music… because only you can make it happen. A tremendous story worth peeling back the layers of, Barns Courtney’s Supernatural is a surefire Rock-n-Roll album that sticks out like a sore thumb in an era of generic soundalikes. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this new album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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