Laurel Hell
by Mitski

The overall theme of the “Laurel Hell” seems to be emotional vulnerability. Mitski sings about expectations, not feeling loved, and anxiety fairly earnestly. “Stay Soft” embraces the topic best with its scared but very affirming discussion of sex. A limitation is many of the songs feel underwritten. It’s not what is written is not well put together but more verses would flesh out the topics better. Instrumentally, Peter Gabriel like synths coat the album. The synths are antiquated in the best way possible. Their slight awkwardness adds to the topical assailability. The unfortunate exception to this is “That's Our Lamp”. It sounds so goofy that it completely negates the conflict of the lyrics. “Laurel Hell” is not overwhelming in quality, but it has a charming heart to it.

The 80s nostalgia thing is so tired now that even when it’s delivered well it leaves a bad taste. This album also lacks a lot of the mitski flair that her other albums had to make it more palatable for larger audiences but actually just makes it pretty lackluster. It’s still good but a rare drop in quality from mitski.

From Brad1770 TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/13/2022 02:24 | #287351 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

How does an artist follow up the modern classic that is ‘Be The Cowboy’? An album so perfect its impossible not to think Mitski will never release an album quite as good.

‘Laurel Hell’ (named after the Laurel bushes where legend has it victims become trapped and ensnared within their thorny clutches unable to escape) follows a turbulent time in Mitski’s world whereby she all but quit the music business disillusioned and disappointed best summed up in pivotal track “Working for the Knife” and follows the tried and true Miski DNA of Less Is More with 11 tracks coming in at 32 minutes 6 of which are under 3 minutes. There’s some real standout tracks here in the afore mentioned “Working for the Knife”, opener “Valentine Texas” (not to be confused with her “Texas Reznikoff” from 2014), “Love Me More” and saving the best till last the Avicii love letter “That’s Our Lamp”

Mitski is a genius and francs her status as one of our times most important artists and songwriters

From chisholm.matt 02/19/2022 14:00 | #281530 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

How can such a short album by such a disillusioned artist be so good? The production team deserves as much credit as Mitski on this one.

Mitski proves to be potentially a very strong songwriter but there are still some songs that seem to be incomplete, like they're circling around themselves without an aim.