A review of Mitski's album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We | Lucy Samuels
The alt/pop sensation, Mitski, goes out with the old and in with the new in her 7th studio album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We. Her new album features an All American country sound, complete with violin and slide guitar accompanied by her familiar haunting lyrics. Constantly seeking a new sound, Mitski takes full advantage of her talent to craft a slower, more imagery-based story throughout the 11-song track list. Every track is a slower ballad, reminiscent of her first album (Lush), now with an Old American twist.
This album is chock-full of wildly curious imagery that sounds wonderful and fresh, with the old country tracks that still reflect that plaintive Mitski sound. The easy listening classic country score is juxtaposed with Mitski’s dynamic and intricate lyrics.
The breakthrough song of this album is undoubtedly the seventh track, “My Love Mine All Mine,” with its place in the Global and USA's top 50 charts on Spotify. After going viral all over TikTok, the song is infinitely longing as Mitski repeats the title over and over throughout the chorus. One can imagine the song being played as a slow dance with its somber yet romantic lyrics. While “My Love Mine All Mine'' is the most listened to song, the whole album’s sound and tone is based off the first track, “Bug Like an Angel,” a familiar Mitski story of a delusional protagonist who, as they are finishing off their wine, sees a bug stuck to the bottom of the glass that can be perceived as an angel in the sky. These two songs, as well as the entire album, conjure a classic and country sound, with its sweeping instrumentals, most clearly heard in the latter half of “Heaven.”
America and the South are common motifs used throughout Mitski’s music in songs such as “Your Best American Girl,” “Texas Reznikoff,” and “Valentine, Texas.” While her previous songs don’t exactly sound country, Mitski has finally made a country-esque album, something I’ve been eagerly anticipating. The album title itself can even be interpreted as a reference to/appraisal of America and the vast amount of land the country has taken up and abused. Or one could refer to “land” as one's own body or thoughts, deemed inhospitable from rotten thoughts or experiences. No matter how each person relates to Mitski’s music, her storytelling talents never cease to make a massive impact on both the charts and in our hearts!
Lucy Samuels
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mitski-the-land-is-inhospitable-and-so-are-we/