Mitsuki Laycock’s first choice of study was film, but she decided to pursue music. As she explored and experimented with chords, her style fell into traditional folk. The Japanese-American soloist taught herself the guitar, piano, and drums and she self-produced her songs. After finishing studio contributions in 2013, she continued producing new songs and went on tour for five consecutive years, earning global recognition.

Using her stage name Mitski, which is a combination of her mother’s name and her own, she just released her 7th studio album The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We a mix of indie/folk/country/pop rock. The album delivers eleven songs in 32 minutes. 

The story behind the title of the album was inspired by welcome signs seen throughout interstate roads, which is meant to be a metaphor for entering the hard stages of life. Mitski demonstrates the themes of relationships whether they are platonic, familial, or romantic. 

Since the initial album was released, I couldn’t resist listening to each unique track bringing short stories among her lyrics and combination of vocals and instruments flow from beginning to end. Out of the eleven songs, five songs stand out and that I’ve listened to on repeat- “Bug Like an Angel”, “Heaven”, “The Deal”, “When Memories Snow”, and “‘My Love Mine All Mine.” They bring a harmonized, impactful, cohesive, and well-thought-out atmosphere. 

Bug Like an Angel: We’re introduced to the first song as a visual scenario with an acoustic guitar for the opening, with piano, and bass. The song exemplifies the battle with alcoholism when she says, “Sometimes a drink feels like family.” Afterwards, it transitions to the harmonized chorus “family” combining Mitski and the choir’s vocals. The choir had a nice touch with the feeling of grandness and power. When the choir sings, the chords’ progression regains balance; how a community can put people in their place and bring them back on their right path. “Did you go and make promises you can’t keep? Well, when ya break them, they break you right back” urges us [listeners] to keep our promises and to feel a sense of responsibility to keep them. 

Heaven: “Heaven” is the third song, and it romance as a country ballad about sharing the essence of love. She demonstrates the comparison of drinking a beverage from a glass cup that a lover has served parallel to an indirect kiss. The lyrics to the song are passionate, heart-touched, and nostalgic. “As I sip on the rest of the coffee you left, a kiss left of you.” There’s an orchestra presented midway through the song and I was reminded of Lana Del Rey and Father John Misty reminiscing about an old Hollywood atmosphere. 

The Deal: Transitioning from a tender approach to intolerance of one’s capability.  “The Deal” follows with the narrator proclaiming, “There’s a deal you can make on a midnight walk alone.” It presents a story of when she had the chance to make a deal of exchanging their soul because her ambition was too much to handle, not for personal gain, but simply to get rid of it. “I can’t bear to keep it, I’d give it just to give. And all I will take are the consequences?” ending the chorus questioning, “Will somebody take this soul?” representing exhaustion. Towards the end of the song climaxes to the sound of drums by enabling feelings and questions of one’s purpose, making it difficult to find the solution, and leaving the individual isolated.

When Memories Snow: The sixth track, “When Memories Snow” has crafted a concept of the influence of repetitive memories flowing on one’s mind. The presentation with the choir’s vocals in the background reminded me of a scenario in movies where a choir is presented on Christmas and Disney’s 2013 film Frozen during the opening of the movie. “I shovel all those memories, clear path to drive to the store” She reflects on her tendency to “shovel” memories to return on the back of her mind following with the solution of having a clear mindset with the track only being a minute and forty-five seconds.

My Love Mine All Mine: Most memorable songs appear to be affectionate, “My Love Mine All Mine” parallels two interpretations that resemble loving for this person and losing everything else, but knowing they will always love this person. “My love is mine, they are mine. Nothing in this world belongs to me except for them.” Exhibits the existence of a loving connection being profound towards a sad and love song. A combination of drums, keyboards, bass, and guitar throughout the song brings the element of how there’s a cost to everything for a temporary period except for the particular thing that is fully claimed to a person feeling a sense of relief and delight. 

If you like Joji, Cigarettes After Sex, Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths, Kate Bush, and Jeff Buckley, you should give Mitski a listen.

Overall, I would rate The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We 9/10. The album surpassed my expectations, as Mitski delivered a mixture of evocative topics and climatic moments. I’m looking forward to her upcoming projects and tour in North America starting on January 26th through April 13th of 2024.