Indie singer-songwriter Mitski released her sixth studio album “Laurel Hell” on Feb. 4 via Dead Oceans. From the pre-released singles, the album seems to continue the shift to a fuller pop sound that she emulated on her previous album, “Be the Cowboy.” While it may lack some of the originality that set her apart on previous records, it is still a tight record. The instrumentation and production are a big step up from her earlier albums, especially those from before “Be the Cowboy.” While she still reigns in the indie scene, “Laurel Hell” could definitively mark her foray into more mainstream material. New listeners will likely find “Laurel Hell” to be the easiest entrance into her music due to the 80s production and pop structure compared to her more eclectic earlier albums.
The album opens with “Valentine, Texas,” a song fitting for the end of a movie as the drama ramps up at the end. Mitski’s vocals are haunting, and when the full band kicks in the song shines. However, her vocals and lyrics are harder to make out in this song, getting lost in its bombastic production. “Working for the Knife,” the lead single, is a standout on the album. She encapsulates a distressing feeling of emergent adulthood, working and being creative under pressure and stardom and thoughts of unfulfilled potential. It is a prime example of her songwriting ability.
Similarly, in a press release for “Stay Soft”, Mitski describes the connection between the lyrics of the song and its music video release. “This song, frankly, is about hurt people finding each other, and using sex to make sense of their pain,” said Mitski. She couples the darker lyrics with an upbeat tempo and production style, like Robyn’s “Dancing on my Own,” where sad lyrics are masked behind production.
“Everyone” continues her discussion of the drawbacks of fame from “Working for the Knife.” The sparser production really brings attention to the vocals, but the song never builds to its full strength, and it leaves the listener desiring more.
“Heat Lighting,” another single from the album, describes insomnia and trying to manage stress with anxiety. The buildup towards the chorus and beat fit the song’s message, and the instrumentation is a nice change of pace for her, especially after “Everyone.” “The Only Heartbreaker” is a prime example of her ability to write pop songs that still pack a punch. “Love Me More” details a desire for love to fill an emotional need that she is missing as she uses love and affection as a coping mechanism.
“There’s Nothing Left Here for You” is a marked departure from the upbeat style of her preceding songs on the album. It sounds more like a song that would be on her earlier records with her standout, emotional vocals tied with the fuller sound of the album.
“Should’ve Been Me” is another shift for Mitski. The song stands out with its classic pop beat and how upbeat it is. It sounds more like a typical older school pop song, but her vocals and lyrics still set it apart. “I Guess” is more of a downer towards the end of the album. At the beginning, it sounds like a cut from her earlier albums with its raw production. The only thing this song was missing to be a true old school Mitski song was a scream somewhere. “That’s Our Lamp” is a return to the album’s 80s sound, mixing an upbeat pace and instrumentation with lyrics describing the disintegration of a couple’s relationship.
Rating: 8.8/10. Mitski continues diving into pop, but it is unclear if she manages to keep the hallmarks that her longtime fans expect out of an album. “Laurel Hell” is a fine album, but it is a departure from her starker early work. While her raw lyrics are still present, the shift to pop packs less of an emotional punch than her previous albums. “Laurel Hell” may be more of an album to dance to than to scream or cry along to, but that’s not a bad thing as she continues her evolution as an artist.
An earlier version of this article made it unclear that the quote from Mitski was in reference to the song, “Stay Soft”. The Tiger regrets this error and has since corrected it.