11. Before You Gotta Go
In 2022, Courtney Barnett’s song Advant Gardener was my favorite song I heard all year. I didn’t delve much into the rest of her catalogue that year, but this one caught up with me this year and I couldn’t stop listening to it.
It’s a heartfelt, bouncing track that acts as a reminder that hurt is never the goal out of an argument. Barnett’s charming and steady voice holds a sense of gratitude as she explains to the other person what they really mean: “You’re always on my mind / If something were to happen my dear / I wouldn’t want the last words you hear to be unkind.” The spinning instrumentals provide a smooth momentum as she thoughtfully recaps the end of the fight. The track pulls you into a reflective space of your own just like most of Barnett’s music has the power to do.