Mitski : "This Land is Unhospitable and So Are We"

 This indie pop singer has a bizarre relationship with making music, as well as he cult like fan base. She has vowed to quit making music, and yet here we are two albums later with her 7th full length. It is well crafted though I am not sure if it is deserving of the hype because there is nothing here that has not already been done by the likes of Amiee Mann or Azure Ray. There is a melancholy to the melodies, and the music supporting her resonate yet timid singing style, is well recorded and full sounding. "Heaven" has an almost 1950s country style, with the vocals sitting in reverb against this pastoral setting. Almost too orchestrated for folk music , but that is an influence. Not trying like Lana Del Rey for a certain retro sound, it just kind of happens. She is not as hooky in her song writing as Lana either. However her music proves effective for other reasons. 

There is a loneliness to her voice, which explains her mental state that keeps her feeling perpetually drained by her fans. She feels more comfortable in isolation , but with that comes a price. This is the underlying mood of the songs, which might have a birther happier façade. As the title "I Don't Like My Mind" suggests my theory regarding her relationship with the world around her , finds Mitski, making herself sick by her resistance to how the world works. I music is the only place she can get honest with herself about this. Where Lana Del Rey's dramas are self created machinations of being a neo-Diva, Mitski's carry more of a hypochondria to them." the Deal' is another song that rides the line between western country and folk, though it expands in a more Phil Spector like crescendo. It's very organic and real which makes it anti pop in some respects, at times feeling like a more produced version of what the Carpenters did.

"When Memories Snow" retained the 60s pop sound, it was not as catchy or memorable in terms of how the hooks came together.  This style of vocal arrangement works better on the more overt country ballad "My Love Mine All Mine" which nails the guitar sound , while refining the rest of the twang from it. The vocals are smoother rather than a raw expulsion of emotion. Perhaps this is because she is a more guarded person.  She stays in this direction for 'the Frost", though perhaps too much so, as I had to go back and give it another listen to form thoughts on it. 'Star" features one of her more heartfelt vocal performances, that perhaps has the most emotion to it. "I'm Your Man" is driven by the strum of acoustic guitar for a more folk feel. There is an odd ambiance that transpires as the song progresses.  'I Love Me After You " closes the album. it's hushed  fever dream folk. It gives a dynamic melody to the drone it rides. Despite her contrived conflict it creates music that works well as a dream like soundtrack that I will give a 9.5 .