Courting is one of the many growing post-punk adjacent acts emerging from the U.K., hailing from Liverpool. After forming in 2018 and dropping occasional singles, the band had a prolific start to the 2020s, releasing their EP “Grand National” in 2021 and their debut album “Guitar Music” in 2022. They stood out with their post-punk energy and dance-punk flair, complemented by bouts of electronic elements.
However, the band’s 2024 album, “New Last Name,” saw them take a new direction, foraging into the pop rock world with more streamlined songwriting and heavy autotune on the vocals. The shift alienated some fans, welcomed others and raised the question of where the band’s creative whims would take them next.
Courting responded to the criticism with their third album, “Lust for Life, Or: ‘How to Thread the Needle and Come Out the Other Side to Tell the Story,’” released on March 14. The album, a quick 25 minutes, is largely a return to form, yet it incorporates some of the divisive decisions from their preceding project in constructive ways.
The album kicks off with “Rollback Intro,” a 50-second violin arrangement with some cello. It would be right at home on the soundtrack to the 2019 film “Knives Out.”
But Courting shatters the serene start with an abrupt transition to “Stealth Rollback.” Electric guitar calls back their post-punk roots, sounding similar to the beginning of Car Seat Headrest’s song “Nervous Young Inhumans.” It fades to electronic production while a robotic voice repeats a refrain, giving away to yelled vocals at the end.
“Pause at You,” the following track and lead single, is more indicative of the rest of the album’s sound. The band’s dance-punk approach is on full display, with electric guitar, drums and bass fading in and out of focus and changing tempos erratically.
Sean Murphy O’Neill, frontman and producer for the band, takes up a brazen narrator in New York City, obsessing over someone from a past relationship. While there is some autotune on his vocals, it’s a tasteful choice that does not distract from the performance.
An infectious guitar rift that summons feelings of adolescence opens “Namcy,” the next track. O’Neill sings from a more reserved and youthful perspective, with the narrator trying to make a serious relationship work despite feeling overwhelmed. The choruses capture the feeling well, capping off with the lines: “Give me somewhere to hide / French exit, Irish goodbye.”
“Eleven Sent (This Time)” sees O’Neill with a more relaxed vocal performance while the rest of the band plays calmly. The laid-back approach, prevalence of violin and use of digital trumpets makes the track uniquely catchy. The lyrics complement the comforting atmosphere, with O’Neill singing optimistically about a healthy relationship.
At two and a half minutes long, “After You” is both the shortest and one of the less memorable moments on the album. While it fits in amongst the other tracks, it does not develop much from beginning to end. The wall of guitar noise detracts from some of the catchiness of O’Neill’s vocal performance and the rest of the bands’ playing.
The penultimate track, “Lust for Life,” is a slow burner at six and a half minutes. The instruments gradually come into focus and start slowly, with heavy autotune on the vocals in the first half.
The energy picks up in the middle with celebratory digital brass instruments, as O’Neill romanticizes a wild life with a partner. The refrain, “And I’m not wearing my perfect eyes / And I hoped that we’d stay out tonight,” repeats as the music reaches a climax, before slowing down.
But where the first part of “Lust for Life” dramatizes life, the second half satirizes it. After a brief pause, the band delivers a more stripped groove filled with irresistible basslines and no autotune whatsoever. The narrative ends with the character’s partner shooting them unexpectedly, a fitting end to the crazy story.
Courting ends the album with “Likely place for them to be,” which is mostly instrumental with two short verses. The guitar riff is reminiscent of the violins from the intro track, an appreciated tie-in that makes the album play well on repeat.
While it can’t be certain whether Courting will stay in the post-punk lane they’ve outlined or experiment in new directions, “Lust for Life” sees the band finding their footing by combining their existing ideas into one concise package.
Rating: 3.5/5