Rating: 4.5/5
The indie singer-songwriter has made an unexpected and triumphant return.
Following her 2018 LP Be the Cowboy, the indie singer/songwriter announced her indefinite last show at Central Park’s Summerstage in September of 2019. While this announcement was heartbreaking for many fans, it was expected of an artist known for their privacy and complex relationship with fame.
The period of silence was broken in 2021 when Mitski put out the single “Working for the Knife” in anticipation of her sixth studio album Laurel Hell, which would be released in February of 2022. The album followed a resurgence during the early COVID period where Mitski’s music gained overwhelming popularity on social media. Needless to say, the expectations were high for her new release.
After achieving generally positive reviews from critics and a supporting tour for the album, Mitski seemingly disappeared, going quiet on social media and closing her merch store. This left audiences even more surprised when she posted a video on various platforms announcing her new album The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We.
This announcement was followed by a single titled “Bug Like an Angel” with an accompanying music video. A month later, the two singles “Star” and “Heaven” were released. The three singles suggested a chamber pop direction for the album, with expansive orchestral arrangements and choir. With these tracks, the album was set up to be one of Mitski’s most interesting releases.
The end result is an expansive, refreshing work of artistry.
The subdued album opener “Bug Like an Angel,” tackles themes of addiction, where Mitski likens a warm embrace to the warmth of a drink. The song repeats over various chords, representing the cycle of addiction as the melody rides up and down. It’s a sonically mysterious track that remains minimal in production, which makes the following track “Buffalo Replaced” even more shocking. The aggressive guitar strumming and glittering synthesizers accompany Mitski’s metaphorical lyrics; lyrics that showcase themes of self-will and determination to persevere. In a way, the 32-year-old singer is declaring reinvention of herself, forging ahead and extending her hand to take you on the journey.
The track “Heaven” is a lush country ballad with a hopeful aura. Here Mitski provides a nurturing message to a romantic partner with, fittingly, some of her most romantic lyricism to date. She hits home with the verse “And the dark awaits us / All around the corner / But here in our place / We havе for the day / Can we stay awhile and listеn for / Heaven.”She knows trouble will be on the way for her and her partner, but she reassures them that they have time to wait and enjoy the place they have created for themselves, cut off from the noise of the world.
The subsequent track “I Don’t Like My Mind” paints the picture of an escapist seeking refuge from their own mind, an angle not unfamiliar to her discography. Through several self-destructive tendencies, such as sensory overindulgence and workaholism, Mitski seeks to avoid being alone with her own thoughts. However, these tendencies perpetuate a cycle of creating more bad memories that her mind can torment her with. It’s a claustrophobic paradox that feels as suffocating to listen to as it must have been to write.
Mitski’s work with orchestra and choir shine through on the track “When Memories Snow.” With a short runtime under two minutes, the track leaves its mark as a staple halfway point in the album. The theme of haunting memories rears its ugly head once more on this song, as Mitski cinematically depicts how they come back to her in even the most mundane tasks.
The beauty of Mitski’s songwriting is highlighted on the stunning track “My Love Mine All Mine,” which was given a music video to go with its release. Mitski has been known to incorporate esoteric references and metaphors in her songs, but this track shows the beauty of her music is not exclusive to that approach. It’s a simple love song, one where Mitski affirms her romantic partner that in this world, the only thing that belongs to her is her love. She surrenders herself to being loved without any conditions, allowing this love to be reminded by the moon, a constant guardian in the night sky.
With The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, Mitski stands atop a hill, gazing down on the world beneath her and the path that led her here. She gazes at the cold and isolating city; the mountainous, everchanging clouds; the distant burning hills; takes a deep breath and continues walking to what may reside on the other side of the hill. What lies ahead is a mystery, but she knows now is time to walk towards it.