Mitski, aka Mitski Miyawaki over the past few years has become an absolute staple of the Indie world. Mitski started out her career in 2012 with the short but powerful "Lush". This was an album powered by gigantic, emotional performances and Mitski's equally powerful songwriting. There were soft ballads here as well as practically rebellious, introspective tracks as well that seriously made you think. There were singer-songwriter vibes, jazz vibes, as well as some really straightforward and fantastic guitar work. But Mitski really threw a curveball with her next album, "Retired from Sad, New Career in Business". This was a much more artsy and emotional album, for better and for worse. The more elegant instrumentals were just fine, but they often detracted from Mitski's performances. Tracks like the upbeat and fun "Strawberry Blond" and the ridiculously emotional "Class of 2013" were major standouts, but overall this is easily my least favorite Mitski project. But it was with 2014's "Bury Me At Makeout Creek" that I feel like Mitski became an absolute star. Here, Mitski picked back up her guitar, wrote some seriously punchy and passionate tracks, and gave a series of the most emotional performances of her life. Hell, there are practically Punk tracks on here, all with Mitski's very telling and personal lyrics. It was the first time I really sat down to a Mitski album and remembered being absolutely blown away by the end of it, and let me tell you, it's good. And then Mitski just sort of blew up completely with 2016's "Puberty 2". This was a genuinely emotional, powerful and telling album from Mitski. We saw a lot of the same details as guitar-driven tracks, very personal lyrics, and even more passionate performances. From emotional tunes like "I Bet On Losing Dogs" or "Your Best American Girl", to genuine Punk tracks like "Fireworks", this was a great coming out party for Mitski. Ms. Mitski is back, with a set of singles that are honestly wildly cinematic and some of her most epic tracks to date by far! Let's chat!
This album starts off with “Geyser”, and it’s a strangely regal and very classy intro from Mitski. But honestly, it comes off much more epic and stunning than I could have ever asked for. It’s exciting between the buildup of the instrumental behind Mitski and the stunning production. And honestly, since the first time I heard this track I’ve been floored by it. Mitski is absolutely one of the most emotional performers in Indie now, and this is no different. But with this absolutely stunning and epic and gorgeous and incredibly instrumental blaring behind Mitski, this one becomes one of the most incredible singles I’ve heard all year. Then we get “Why Didn’t You Stop Me”, and it’s becoming obvious that Mitski is really starting to branch out more and more. She’s come a long way from being just another emotionally sound and well-spoken Indie songstress. I love the pulsating, practically Industrial beat here which compliments her absolutely lovely verse wonderfully. THere’s a sort of old-school vibe to this one, and it ends up really complimenting Mitski’s lyrics too. She really does pen these incredibly tender, loving tunes that also have so much strength and power to them. “Why Didn’t You Stop Me” is just so catchy, and shows Mitski branching out, but also showing her that the same old Mitski is still here. On the other hand, “Old Friend” strips things down for a much more intimate performance. It honestly sounds like it would have fit nicely on one of Mitski’s early recordings. I love the quaint narrative for this one, as Mitski goes into detail about meeting up with an old friend. And honestly, it comes off like you’re that old friend and Mitski’s catching up with you. It’s a simple tune, but Mitski is making catchier and more universally understandable music than ever, and that’s wonderful. “A Pearl” on the other hand sounds like one of Mitski’s early singles. This is the sort of passionate, intimate ballad that Mitski got noticed with years ago. It’s a very sweet ballad, but as far as her performance goes, this is one of her strongest to date. It’s actually pretty unbelievable. Now, this is a pretty short album filled with genuinely short tracks. But Mitski keeps packing them full of ideas so they end up coming across as complete. Mitski is just one hell of a songwriter, and these very epic instrumentals have become larger than life. Now, “Lonesome Love” is honestly one of my least favorite tracks here. The upbeat, pleasant Folk vibe of this one is just sort of goofy and sticks out like a sore thumb within this album of Mitski really pushing herself. However, lyrically this is one of the most memorable tracks here, especially that line about “'Cause nobody butters me up like you, and Nobody fucks me like me”. I just wish this instrumentally packed more of a punch.
“Remember My Name” however, packs a punch right off the bat. Mitski’s lyrics are just as punchy and personal, and actually some of her most down to earth of the album. But here, she’s absolutely wailing on her guitar, which is where I love hearing her the most. And the sort of grungy, unpolished sound and the hypnotic vibes are awesome. This track, in general, is absolutely brilliant. On the other hand “Me and My Husband” is also very lavish and elegant, and not nearly as heavy as some of the other tracks here. But once again, this one really does seem like sort of a sore thumb. Mitski herself sounds fantastic and on top of her game. Like, as far as a modern storyteller goes, Mitski is a damn superstar. But instrumentally this one is tame. She’s already proved here that she’s willing to try anything, so she needs to focus on that. Take for example “Come Into The Water”. There’s some genuine mystery to this one which is wildly exciting. I love Mitski’s very cold, bluesy performance that’s pretty damn chilling. But it’s also so damn dreary and emotional. I don’t even mind that it’s less than 2-minutes, Mitski doesn’t waste a second. It’s so haunting and beautiful, it’s brilliant. On the other hand, “Nobody” is one of the more straightforward tracks here. It’s got a very singer-songwriter vibe to it. And honestly, I have been a little lukewarm on tracks like this here, but this one is done incredibly tastefully. Mitski here gives one of her most tender performances of the bunch. Not to mention I really love how this one transition into a straight-up Disco track halfway through. It all comes off wonderfully though and just makes me so damn happy for Mitski. Even if this one does have a sort of underwhelming chorus, I can’t be mad at how great this comes off. “Pink In The Night” brings us back to the very grand, epic sounds that we heard earlier. The atmosphere is just so thick and hard to penetrate, but her very beautiful and sweet performance ends up breaking through it. Once again, I thought I would just hate how repetitive this one is at times, but it makes for one of the more memorable choruses here. Mitski just ends up coming off so incredibly human, one that can make mistakes, one that isn’t perfect, one that’s just so real. And that alone makes this album you absolutely should listen to.
On the other hand, “A Horse Named Cold Air” is the softest of the bunch. And I get what Mitski was going for here. And don’t get me wrong, her performance is genuinely gorgeous. But I’m not really too crazy about the stripped-down piano ballad feel. Thankfully, Mitski knocks it out of the park with one of her most jaw-dropping performances of the bunch. But if I was lukewarm on that, Mitski ends up knocking it out of the park completely with “Washing Machine Heart”. I love the pulsating synths and just how hypnotic this one is, all while Mitski is sounding damn near angelic. The imagery here is just fantastic Mitski’s songwriting on this entire album is so impressive. This one ends up being one of the album’s most immediate and likable tracks. It’s moments like that I feel like Mitski has gotten more fearless than ever, and that excites the hell out of me. Then we have “Blue Light” which is an incredibly sunny and cheery track the likes of which I honestly thought I would despise. But some of these narratives that Mitski brings up are just so wonderful and ends up adding even more to the number of risks she’s taking. Then this track transitions over into a practically Dream Pop single the likes of which Julee Cruise would have put together for Twin Peaks. And trust me, I’m all for it. Now, I know I’m in the minority here and I apologize in advance. But of all of the singles here, “Two Slow Dancers” is my least favorite. Once again, lyrically Mitski does grab my attention. But I just continue to feel like some of these lighter tunes stick out a tad. This has been an album of progression for Mitski that has seen her constantly push out of her shell. But this one to me seems safe. I do think some of the synths that come in are super classy, and Mitski’s lyrical performance is just so visceral and beautiful. It’s far from the worst tune, but there are so many better tracks here.
Rating: 8.4/10
Give A Listen To: “Geyser”, “Old Friend”, “Remember My Name”, “Washing Machine Heart”
Least Favorite Track - “Me and My Husband”
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop
Overall Thoughts: Mitski makes an absolutely stunning evolution on her 5th album here. For years she’s made her name as a guitar-wielding Indie hero with a wonderful eye for detail and incredibly endearing songwriting. And don’t you worry, that’s all still here in full effect. But Mitski on “Be The Cowboy” takes her sound and multiplies it by leaps and bounds. She brings in striking production and more personal lyrics than ever, as well as constantly challenging herself by bringing in instrumentals I would have never dreamed we’d hear her on. Sadly I feel like some of the lighter tracks here are a major back-step for Mitski, especially in an album that shows her constantly pushing herself. But if Mitski wasn’t one of the most beloved songwriters in the Indie world already, she sure as hell is now.
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