Mitski’s latest album, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, was released on September 15th, 2023. I listened to it the whole way through as soon as it was released, and needless to say, it was amazing. One thing I love about Mitski’s music is that so many of the lyrics, and the meaning behind them, are up for the listener’s interpretation, resulting in endless possibilities of thoughts and emotions being tied to her productions. This is the first released record where Mitski stopped caring about what others thought.
“Bug Like an Angel”:
“There’s a bug like an angel stuck to the bottom,” is the opening line of this song. Mitski has stated that she likes to begin her songs with a description, setting the scene with some imagery. Mitski also clarified that this song is about addiction and with the chord progression, hoped to create a sense of unbalancedness to express that state musically.
I find that with Mitski’s lyrics and imagery, as mentioned before, she opens up scenes and situations I would not have imagined without such descriptions. Along with the intensity of the chorus in certain sections of the song, I think that this adds a more urgent feeling, almost like they’re making their feelings be recognized.
“Buffalo Replaced”:
I find this song’s lyrics to be one of the most interesting. In fact, this song was the “North Star” of the album. Mitski stated that she used this song to help guide the others on the album.
“Heaven”:
This was one of Mitski’s older songs, however, she was not able to release it until she created The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, where she felt the song best fit. It is one of the more romantic songs on the album. I absolutely love the lyrics and how they compare being in love with someone to Heaven. I also thought that the orchestra in this song was beautiful and added a fairy-tale-like energy.
“I Don’t Like My Mind”:
Of all the songs, “I Don’t Like My Mind” is the most relatable. Saying “I don’t like my mind, I don’t like being left alone in a room,” was something that made perfect sense to me. The feeling of being alone with your thoughts and having nothing to occupy your mind usually leaves plenty of time for overthinking. In a way, it is a sad song, but it’s also an honest one that I can relate to. Definitely one of my favorites on the album.
“The Deal”:
This song begins with guitar and Mitski’s soothing voice at a fairly quick pace. Then the music gets louder when you’re not expecting it. In this first change in volume (there are multiple throughout the song), the one telling the story is asking someone, anyone, to take their soul, for they’re unable to bear the weight of their emotions, and are unwilling to accept any of the consequences for this act. The song once again begins its slow, melodic pace as you begin to feel at ease once more, then there are loud drums that gradually overshadow the voice as it repeats over and over, “There’s a deal that I made.”
“When Memories Snow”:
I think that this song was used to describe being bombarded with old memories and past experiences. This is not always a bad thing, however, I did interpret this song in particular to be a more negative viewpoint of these types of situations.
“My Love Mine All Mine”:
This is one of the most popular songs on the album, immediately blowing up on social media.
“I tend to make up songs in my head when I really want to dissociate for a moment… and I was like: My love mine, all mine…,” sung Mitski. This song is how she expresses her love of life, of living, and of people. “…I was thinking I wish this love in me that is temporary, could go up to the eternal moon, and keep shining down with it.”
I do enjoy this song, but after hearing about it so much, it’s lost its touch for me.
“The Frost”:
Mitski consistently uses the analogies of “frost” or “snow” to describe secreted memories. She later says that she was “hidin,’ or forgotten, the only one left.” I believe this was her explaining her feelings of lonesomeness and being left alone for so long forgotten. She is remembering and cherishing her old memories, but is saddened at having no one to share them with.
“Star”:
There were many different variations of this song that Mitski created. However, in the end, she decided to go with a more simple approach with the chord progression so as not to take away from the lyrics.
This song compares love to a star, how it comes and goes quickly, and even after it’s gone, you can still “see” it.
“I’m Your Man”:
This is my absolute favorite song on the album!
“…my intention behind the song, I wanted it to be a masculine song, I’m Your Man,” said Mitski in a YouTube video through which she explained her thought process during the creation of the album.
“I know it may sound like a “mean male character,” but what I wanted to do for this song was write from the perspective of the man in my head.” Mitski later added as an explanation for her previous statements. She expresses that she believes, no matter what gender you are, that there is the voice of a patriarch inside your head. She later described this mentality for her as being negative.
“I thought, you know what? Maybe I should write a song where I give a voice to that, the man in my head, and maybe it’ll help me sort of come to peace with it,” said Mitski.
“I Love Me After You”:
I am completely in love with this song. It’s about being able to take care of one’s self after a breakup. The opening lyrics are all steps of self-care. Sometimes, it really is all about the little things that you do for yourself.
Towards the beginning of the album in My Love Mine All Mine, the singer claimed, “Nothing in this world belongs to me,” however, by the time I Love Me After You plays, the singer calls themself “King of all the land”. I think that this really signifies the phases of growth after being in highly emotional and stressful situations.
Mitski’s music often sends me into deep thought. The lyrics, tone, and imagery she uses in all of her songs is what I find makes her music so incredibly relatable. This album has to be one of my favorites that she has released so far. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good album.
