Sometimes nonsensical and oftentimes sad, these TikToks have taken Mitski’s diary-like discography and turned it into a backing track for everyday life. Her mainstream notoriety can largely be attributed to TikTok, where songs like “Strawberry Blond,” “Nobody” and “Washing Machine Heart” became the subject of various trends and audio edits. In the four years between the release of Be the Cowboy and Laurel Hell, Mitski’s popularity skyrocketed beyond the indie niche she has occupied for most of her career. This juxtaposition is a common occurrence in Mitski’s discography, leaving listeners conflicted on whether they should dance or sob. Tracks like “Stay Soft,” “Should’ve Been Me” and “The Only Heartbreaker” are wonderfully danceable, despite their otherwise melancholic lyrics. Leaning more into the dance feel explored on Be the Cowboy, the songs on Laurel Hell have an overwhelmingly 80s sound to them. This journey brings us to Laurel Hell - her funkiest LP yet. She interspersed her previous cutting balladry with groovier, more rhythmic tracks. This album was an investigation of new sounds. Her biggest genre jump occurred when she released her fifth album - Be the Cowboy - in 2018, to critical acclaim. On her fourth studio album, Puberty 2 (2016), she continued to explore the indie rock sound she toyed with on Makeout Creek. Bury Me at Makeout Creek, released in 2014, had more rock elements, pairing her raw vocals with a crunchy, angry guitar. These two albums feature raw emotional ballads alongside classical orchestra and piano accompaniments. Her first two albums - Lush (2012) and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business (2013) - were both recorded and self-released by Mitski while she was a student in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. The Japanese American singer-songwriter has a comprehensive discography that showcases her range as a musician. SLEEPLESS NIGHT LYRICS FULLFrom unrequited love to fierce anger to all-consuming loneliness, the songs on this album tackle the full range of human feelings - even allegedly shameful ones. Laurel Hell focuses its gaze on indie music celebrity and constant public scrutiny, as well as loneliness, grief, anticapitalism and self-reflection. She has spoken about her qualms with the music industry in the past, and she is no stranger to calling out the problems she sees. With this track, it is almost as if Mitski is directly stepping back into the spotlight. “Valentine, Texas” is a powerful opening, serving as an invitation to rejoin the songwriter’s familiar, yet “dark” world. This album marks her return from the indefinite hiatus from music she announced in 2019. These are the daunting opening words of Mitski Miyawaki’s sixth album, Laurel Hell. Once we’re in, I’ll remember my way around
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