MD Reviews: Mitski’s Laurel Hell

image courtesy of @mitskileaks on Twitter

February 4, Japanese-American musician Mitski released her long-awaited sixth studio album, Laurel Hell, via Dead Oceans. The album immediately gained critical acclaim, and one month after its release is keeping up its momentum.

Mitski recently began touring for Laurel Hell, with two shows coming up in Boston on March 21st and 22nd at the newly constructed Roadrunner venue. Ahead of the show, members of WZLY’s MD Committee weighed in on the new album, Mitski’s recent rise in popularity, and more:

Overall Thoughts

“An incredibly good album. It has the same cohesive sounds and themes that remind me of Bury Me At Makeout Creek. It definitely has more of a mature and somber tone than the past albums, but not necessarily pessimistic? It feels like Mitski wants us to know that struggles are just part of life and that life also moves on and you’ll just have to try again.” -Ahona Mukherjee ‘25

“Laurel Hell seems to sound more synthetic. There's less raw instruments in this album in comparison to her previous works. These changes are small though because Mitski does have her distinctive sound that she doesn't deviate from very much, not to say it ever gets old. I always love her lyrics (doesn't everyone?) and I especially loved (and endlessly think about) the lines:

You say you love me

I believe you do

But I walk down and up and down

And up and down this street

'Cause you just don't like me

Not like you used to

from "That's Our Lamp". This dilemma of being with someone for so long you can't help but love them and then there's a point at which you can stop liking them and this idea makes me go absolutely insane. In short, Mitski is once again making me experience things I never thought existed, and I continue to feel and listen to her songs as if I have an inkling as to what they feel like to her.” -Addie ‘25

“I liked it, didn't love it as much as her past albums. Bury me at makeout creek will always be my favorite mitski project. I thought it was a little too short and lacked some of the emotional depth of her previous albums. A complaint I had that I think also applies to parts of be the cowboy is that I don't love this production style for her and think she works better in more acoustic styles like her earlier works.” -Maya Rubin ‘22

“Laurel Hell moves into a new direction from Mitski’s Indie roots. Her sound embraces rock and 70s and 80s New Wave genres, but as always she brings an atypical style which keeps her music exciting and innovative. The album explores the torment of the author, and like her previous works is introspective and brings a level of anxiety in the best way possible. Although I feel that there is an element missing that brings in the highs of Be The Cowboy and Bury Me At Makeout Creek, I am still incredibly excited to be playing her new music on repeat.” -Laila Brustin ‘25

Favorite Songs

Working for the Knife

• “‘Working for the Knife’ -- I think the lyrics resonate so much and it works as a lot more than just a love song. Something Mitski does really well is write songs that are about alienation or feeling like you don’t belong, and I think this song works really well as an example of that, probably more than any other on the album.” -Maya

• “Currently ‘Working For the Knife’ is my favorite song. It is dark and feels rooted, encapsulating Mitski’s main focus of the plight of the artist. I also love how it evolves through its looping, the cyclical nature makes it feel like there is no escape. A really great follow up to ‘Valentine, Texas’ and choice for a single.” -Laila

Heat Lightning

• “Heat Lightning. I love the slow dramatics of it. Mitski really sets up the vignette really well and it reminds me of thunderstorms in the desert. The contrast of her higher voice to the accompanying music creates this auditory contrast as well that then furthers this image of light and dark.” -Addie

Should’ve Been Me

• “I love “Should’ve Been Me.” I genuinely listened to it on a loop for half an hour the week the album dropped. It still is firmly in my “On Repeat” playlist with ¾ of the rest of the album. I really relate deeply to the lyrics in a way I haven’t really related to a lot of other songs lately. It’s a hyper-specific feeling that Mitski describes so so well.” -Molly

That’s Our Lamp

• “That’s Our Lamp!!!!! Slay beat and relatable lyrics of ending of love etc” -Ahona

On Touring, Mitski’s Hiatus, and Isolation

“Mitski has been writing about isolation for a long time now, but I wonder how the pandemic has affected her music. It will be interesting to look at that theme between her albums and to see how she continues moving forward. On a very different note, her going on tour is so exciting! I wish I could see her live, but I guess that I’ll have to wait another two to four years when she hopefully releases another album.” -Laila

“I think that the background of how she basically had to release this album because of her 4-album contract is really important, in a lot of interviews she really seems like if it were up to her she wouldn't release any more music. A lot of fans also think this will be her last record ever, which I honestly agree with (even though I do think she may perform/tour from time to time).” -Maya

image courtesy of @mitskileaks on Twitter

Laurel Hell is now available via Dead Oceans. More information on tour and the album can be found on Mitski’s site.