Sometimes, Mitski feels life would be easier without hope, or a soul, or love. But when she closes her eyes and thinks about what’s truly hers, what can’t be repossessed or demolished, she sees love. “The best thing I ever did in my life was to love people,” she says. “I wish I could leave behind all the love I have after I die, so I can shine all this goodness, all this good love that I’ve created onto other people.” She hopes her newest album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, will shine love long after she’s gone. That’s precisely how it feels: like a love that’s haunting the land.
image and quote from Mitski’s website
Mitski’s new album (CD) arrived this week. “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We” has been listened to exactly once so far, but already it’s had an impact. With Mitski, it’s about small musical movements and large lyrics. My ever-increasing Attention Deficit Disorder allowed me to read the lyrics to the first two songs, “Bug Like an Angel” and “Buffalo Replaced” before my gaze wandered off and my ears kept listening while doing other things. I remember reading somewhere that when you don’t give songs your full attention while listening you are being disrespectful to the artist. I don’t fully buy into that but I can see where the person is coming from. This is a first listen on the album. It deserved my full attention. Sorry, Mitski!
Will update this post once I’ve had a chance to listen to it more.
Tao Talk 
Mitski is big on XMU, which is what I listen to when I am in the car, but I haven’t heard either of these yet. (XMU is XM radio’s “independent artist” channel). Very interesting quote from her website at the top of the page. I enjoyed the music – the gospel choir makes a great addition to the first one.
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Trent, there is also a YouTube out there of Mitski explaining how the song came together, including the choir. I listen to Spotify and usually just my liked songs list. Glad you liked the music. She’s a talented, interesting person, not just another pretty face.
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Sounds really good Lisa…very down to earth…especially Bug like an Angel…I really like that. Very rootsy which I didn’t expect…both of them were.
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I listened to it again last night (while playing solitaire) and unfolds like a beautiful flower. This album is going to be up there with Be The Cowboy, I think. I still thank Hans for making me aware of Mitski.
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I’ll tell him on Tuesday…we talk every Tuesday and Friday.
I liked how it wasn’t just pure pop…nothing is wrong with that but it had some rootsy elements to it.
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OK very cool, Max. You’re so right about it not being pure pop. I played it in the car this afternoon while running errands and some of the later songs have a kdlang/countrified flavor. Can’t remember which song but one of them she shows her singing chops that’s pretty impressive. Not the Mariah Carey way, more enunciation and clarity.
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Good…I dont’ like vocal gymnastics but she sounds like she actually sings for the song…not for “hey look how good I am” but for the betterment of the song….if that is a word lol.
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Heck yes it is a word. And yes, she does.
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very intriguing!
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I’ve got all of her albums to date. Be The Cowboy is hands-down better than the others, but I’m thinking this one will be up with it.
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I, too, have only listened to it once so far, but it sounded good on first listen.
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I like the twangy stuff she’s put in there.
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I like how a gospel choir drops out of nowhere on “Bug Like an Angel”
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Li, I havent heard of her! I will be checking out her music!
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Carol Anne, I really hope you do. There is something both soothing and profound about it.
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