My first impression of Mitski’s discography was that she created strange, but catchy, music.
Initially, I stumbled upon her exquisite works during the early months of 2022. One of her most popular songs, “Me and My Husband,” had hedged its way into my head, and I found myself humming along to the catchy tune frequently. In a short time, I had listened to all of Mitski’s albums, and she quickly rose to become one of my favorite artists.
For those who are unfamiliar with her, Mitski creates music that falls into a plethora of genres including indie, folk, rock, and contemporary. She is illustrious for releasing albums with unconventional names such as Retired from Sad, New Career in Business, and Bury Me At Makeout Creek. She incorporates her Japanese-American heritage into her music by implementing Japanese verses in many of her songs, adding a unique element that is not often displayed in popular American music. Additionally, Mitski is well-known for using extensive metaphors within her lyricism that leave her songs’ meaning up to the interpretation of the listener.
Last week, on Sept. 15, Mitski released her highly-anticipated seventh album—The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We—consisting of eleven distinctive tracks. Consequently, I spent a fair amount of time playing and replaying the album during the past weekend, letting Mitski’s beautiful lyricism narrate my Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. While I will undoubtedly play the eleven songs all year around, the cooling fall weather seemed to fit perfectly with the melancholy mood and strategic use of musicality in her album. With a candle lit and my window open while completing homework in my bed, it embodied the essential autumn ambiance.
“Bug Like An Angel”
While all of the tracks captivated my attention, I’ve found myself specifically listening to certain songs more than others; one of those songs being “Bug Like An Angel.” Even though it was released as a single back in August, I still find it to be essential to focus on, because I believe it perfectly sets the mood for the album as a whole.
The song utilizes a 17-member choir for background vocals, echoing and emphasizing certain words Mitski sings. Although it creates a catchy tune, the song focuses on the theme of alcohol addiction. Mitski manipulates the tune to reflect this, stating in her “Behind the Song” video that she wanted to create a repetition of the same four chords to symbolize that, unfortunately, addiction is an unbreakable cycle for many. In addition, she implemented vocals in the middle of the “Bug Like An Angel,” when there should be a chord progression—thus creating a musical imbalance—to embody the instability that typically comes with addiction.
“My Love All Mine”
My personal favorite track from the album is the seventh track, “My Love All Mine.” Contrary to “Bug Like An Angel,” this song looks through a slightly more light-hearted lens. A repeated verse in the melody consists of the words, “‘Cause my love is mine, all mine / I love, my, my, mine.” Here, Mitski sings of how material things may eventually be lost, broken, or destroyed, but one thing that she will always have is her love.
Although this message is admittedly an overused cliché, she expands on the theme in her verses as she sings about how when she dies she wants to bring her powerful force of warmth and care with her into the afterlife so it does not go to waste. Specifically, she pensively performs, “Moon, tell me if I could / Send up my heart to you? / So, when I die, which I must do / Could it shine down here with you?” Mitski doesn’t want her heart’s ability to die with her, and in “My Love All Mine” she beautifully captures her wishes for when she departs.
“I’m Your Man”
The third track that I find crucial to Mitski’s newest album is her second-to-last track, “I’m Your Man.” Resuming the beginning’s somber tone, Mitski sings about a dying relationship, one in which she is sorry for the faults she brought into their connection. She brings forward her talent of making use of metaphors throughout the entire track, starting off by telling that her lover is an angel, and she’s a dog. Obviously, this is not literal; she includes this comparison to establish the current state of the relationship. Her lover, the angel, is an important, influential figure, while she is merely a small earth-dwelling creature, insignificant and trivial in contrast.
In the latter half of the track, Mitski incorporates sound effects of a dog barking to further emphasize her message. All throughout the song, she shuffles and switches her metaphors, comparing herself and her lover to the relationships between gods, angels, men, and dogs in turn. With the abundance of vapid pop music that dominates the internet today, Mitski’s woven analogies create a unique and cohesive piece about the difficulties of human connection.
In addition to merely the astounding lyricism of the song, the beat and musical effects create a classic fall mood. The sole instrumental sound in the track is the subtle strums of a guitar, accompanying Mitski’s soft vocals. The basic use of the stringed instrument creates a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for listeners in need of a secure and mellow anthem. During the final 30 seconds, she includes a symphony of bugs buzzing, adding to the comforting atmosphere established in “I’m Your Man.”
The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We is yet another fulfilling album from the astonishing vocalist that is Mitski. Over the eleven tracks, she utilizes fresh techniques while staying true to the beloved elements of her previous works to create the perfect fusion of creative characteristics. I would recommend The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We to anyone seeking a homely and mellow autumn album to escort them through the festive and chilly season.
