Japanese-born songwriter Mitski came to the States for a college education. She is an up-and-coming indie star. Her new album The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We came out Sept. 15, and it’s a literary masterpiece. The album has 11 songs adding up to a total of 32 minutes of pure music gold. Her songs are literary art, and she paints meaningful pictures of different characters and their lives touching on harsh and hard-hitting topics.  

The song “Bug Like an Angel” is the lead verse on Mitski’s album. Playing on religious themes and broken promises, she sings, “Makin’ all variety of vows I’ll never keep. I try to remember the wrath of the devil was also given to him by God.” She also sings about alcoholism: “As I got older, I learned I’m a drinker, Sometimes a drink feels like family.” It is the perfect rainy day song for when you’re feeling sad. 

“Buffalo Replaced” is the second song on the album—this one is a very mellow and sweet song. It sets a hopeful tone for the rest of the album with its nostalgic feel and optimistic lyrics. She writes, “But I know nothing can hurt me when I see her sleepin’ face.” The song is slow and relaxed but each lyric has a deeper meaning just like the previous song and its message of looking for the bright side of a situation.

One of the most popular songs on the album is “My Love Mine All Mine.” It is different from a classic love song with a darker meaning to the lyrics. In the song, the singer hopes that her love will always be, that she loves them even when she’s gone. She sings, “Moon, tell me if I could send up my heart to you? So, when I die, which I must do, could it shine down here with you?” It’s a very sweet and emotional song that is popular and one of her top songs for a reason.

The seventh song on the track is “Star.” The song discusses two people who have fallen out of love but still care for each other due to the memories of their love. It’s a sad, sweet song that has a swell—about past and lost love—to the climax at the chorus where it says, “That love’s gone. We just see it shining. We’ve traveled very far.” The dynamics and feeling to the piece is beautiful and well done.

There are a ton more artistic songs on the album. It has 11 tracks and is one of the best Mitski albums yet. The album was released through the Dead Oceans label company. I’d give this album a 9/10. Check out The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We on Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen to music.