On her most soulful and stripped-back album yet, singer-songwriter Mitski delves into themes of isolation, self-destruction and transformation through “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We,” released on Sept. 15. Her stark lyricism and introspective, emotional style aid her in exploring the total human condition.
On “The Deal,” a self-loathing Mitski yearns to give away her soul, and heavy percussion builds up to drown out her layered vocals, which eventually fade out – a callback to her 2016 song “Your Best American Girl.” Similarly, she utilizes synths on “Star” to construct an atmosphere that captures the delicate dynamics of reflecting on a past relationship that finally crescendos into a glistening climax.
Nearing the end of “I’m Your Man,” Mitski incorporates the sound of barking dogs, embodying the communication challenges and feelings in Mitski’s complicated relationship: “You’re an angel, I’m a dog / Or you’re a dog and I’m your man.”
she devastatingly details her self-destructive behavior
Mitski has been constructing a ‘sad girl’ persona her entire career, which she takes a step further on this album. A lonely Mitski believes that the best course of action following her abandonment is death: “I’ll destroy you like I am / I’m sorry I’m the one you love…It’s just witness-less me,” Mitski sings about her nothingness on “The Frost.” She believes her presence to others is unnoticed, and she cannot stand being alone. On “I Don’t Like My Mind,” she devastatingly details her self-destructive behavior cycles, including binge-eating and overworking, in an attempt to distract herself from her isolation. Accompanied with a strumming guitar on “Bug Like an Angel”, Mitski laments the effectiveness of her coping strategies: “sometimes a drink feels like family.”
Earth and nature are motifs Mitski uses to discuss her vulnerable state throughout the album, which can be seen through the songs heaven “Heaven,” a country ballad where Mitski’s love is a Willow and a river, and “Star,” where she compares her memories to stars in the sky; beautiful, yet painfully unrecoverable and out-of-reach. In “My Love Mine All Mine,” the track that captures the essence of the album, Mitski manifests her love in the form of the moon, a celestial being that has witnessed humanity, to express her desire to reciprocate all the love she has received. The soft percussion, bass, guitar, choir and piano on this track create an intimate and heartfelt experience. Its comfortable lyrics and gentle tune help it function as a lullaby, almost ushering the listener into a state of tranquility.
The themes of this album permeate throughout every lyric. Mitski does not express melodrama or gut-wrenching pain, but instead the empty void of emotion. This is her most mature album, to date, and is made from reflection of years of lived experiences. It’s emotionally raw and sometimes ugly, uncomfortable and personal. In just 11 tracks and half an hour, Mitski advises the listener to make a shift in perspective; while the land might be inhospitable, our attitudes do not have to be, and that is why this album deserves five stars.
