Mitski is back with her 6th studio album, and her first for over three, years, Laurel Hell, a collection of tracks filled with anger and sadness and, disco?
Laurel Hell is once again a ruthless piece of art from Mitski, and the lyrics continue to cut as they have done throughout Mitski's career. Working For The Knife, one of Mitski's singles released previous to the full album, doesn't hide the fact Mitski feels as if she knows that her success is almost too good to be true. In the song, she says numbly "I used to think I would tell stories / But nobody cared for the stories I had about no good guys" which matches the mechanical instrumentals that sound like something being worked on unceasingly.
These kinds of lyrics could commentary on the way that later in the album we hear sounds and instrumentals that feel far more commercial than Mitski have ever been with their light disco feel.
Songs including 'Love Me More' and 'The Only Heartbreaker', bring the new and groovier sound to Mitski's discography without losing the grit we know her well for. 'Love Me More' may seem like a pop song on the surface, but a deep dive into the lyrics and the electric guitar that pierces through the end of the track would disagree with you.
Mitski manages to bring in these new sounds without losing her authenticity, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still feel a little clunky.
Mitski's goal is clear, and the attitude is there, but the execution could have been done better, specifically with production more than anything else.
Lauren Hell has all the makings of a 10/10 album, and whilst it's still a success, there's still room for Mitski to achieve something even greater.