It’s hard to believe that an album released after an artist’s retirement could even begin to top their earlier music, but Mitski may have done just that.
Singer-songwriter Mitski Miyawaki is very well known for her melancholy music. Her sweet melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics have captured the hearts of millions. First releasing the album “Lush” in 2012 as a college project and “Retired from Sad, New Career in Business” in 2013, Mitski has used her career as an outlet for her raw and personal struggles. There’s no denying how talented she is, and her recent work is a wonderful example of this.
After releasing six albums, announcing her retirement, and getting nominated for an Oscar, Mitski has returned with yet another album. “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is her seventh album released on September 15th of this year. It consists of eleven songs, three of which were released before the album itself. It explores themes of love, loneliness, and loss. “The Land Is Inhospitable” has solidified itself as one of Mitski’s best works and remains amazing listen after listen. While every song is great, there are a few particular songs that stand out to me.
Prior to the album’s full release date, Mitski released “Bug Like an Angel” on July 26th. Being the first song on the album, it sets the listeners up for the remaining songs. This song is probably my favorite on the album. In “Bug Like an Angel,” Mistki sings about alcoholism, promises, and the Devil. She opens with a soft tune, singing, “There’s a bug like an angel stuck to the bottom of my glass, with a little bit left.” She follows with, “As I got older, I learned I’m a drinker, sometimes a drink feels like family.” A haunting choir follows, singing “Family.” “Bug Like an Angel” is a beautiful song that gives listeners a melancholy feeling that continues through the full album.
Another great song is the seventh track in the album, “My Love Mine All Mine.” It’s an incredibly sweet song describing the love Mitski feels for the world. She sings to the moon, asking if, after she dies, the moon can shine her love all over the Earth. “It’s about how to love is the best thing I ever did, the most beautiful thing,” In a social media post talking about the song, Mitski says, “I wish that after I die I could at least leave behind this beautiful love in the world.” Mitski is very gentle in this song, saying, “Moon, tell me if I could, send up my heart to you?” Her voice fits the instrumentals perfectly.
Similar to “Bug Like an Angel,” the songs “Star,” and “Heaven,” were both released before the rest of the album under the title “Star b/w Heaven.” In an interview, Mitski said these songs show a different side to the album.
“Star,” is about love that has faded away. She compares it to a star’s light. Even a star that’s burned out still shines down on Earth well past its death. Despite the fact the couple doesn’t love each other, they still care for each other and cherish the memories they made. The final line says, “Isn’t that worth holding on?” This makes it clear she doesn’t want to let go of what once was, connecting to the themes of love and loss that are present elsewhere in the album.
“Heaven” is a much sweeter, more honest song. It’s about cherishing the short amount of time you have on Earth with those you love, comparing it to Heaven. Unlike many other Mitski songs describing unhealthy and toxic relationships, this one is a classic romance. “Heaven” is light and pure, describing her longing for a connection that’s intimate, emotional, and truthful. “Heaven” is a break from the heavy topics discussed in every other song in the album.
The second to last track in “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We” is “I’m Your Man.” This song describes the feeling of ruining everything in a relationship. She expresses fear of destroying her partner. She starts the song comparing herself to a dog, and her partner to an angel. She sings, “Or you’re a dog, and I’m your man, you believe me like a god, I’ll destroy you as I am.” Mitski fears her partner will soon figure out who she really is, and that she’ll betray them. This song is full of dread, only deepened by the instrumental. Behind a melancholy guitar and choir, the sound of dogs barking and whining grow more and more intense, until it ends with a single long scream. The final seconds are silent, just the nostalgic sounds of crickets on a summer night. This ties back to dog symbolism in the song and Mitski’s recurring Americana imagery. “I’m Your Man” is deeply emotional and tugs at the heart strings—I myself came close to tears listening to it. The way it references central themes in Mitski’s music and the emotional impact it leaves the listener puts it as one of my favorite songs from this album.
Although “Bug Like an Angel,” “My Love Mine All Mine,” “Star,” “Heaven,” and “I’m Your Man,” are my personal favorites from “The Land is Inhospitable,” that’s not to say those songs are the only good ones. In fact, that’s far from the truth. The entire album weaves a bittersweet narrative that explores one’s relationship with themselves and others. It deserves to be listened to altogether in order to paint the full picture of life, love, and loss.
It’s not unlike Mitski to create songs that leave the listener an emotional wreck, but “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is particularly touching. Even after her supposed retirement, Mitski continues to hone her craft and create incredible songs. Everything Mitski creates is great, but “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is undoubtedly my favorite album of hers and may be one of her best.
