Mitski’s music feels like hibernation: crawling into a dark, cozy cavern to uncover the deepest parts of your soul. Close your eyes, rest and ruminate. In “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me,” her eighth studio album released last Friday, Mitski stays true to her indie style, poetic lyricism and melancholic harmonies.
An immensely influential indie artist, Mitski makes music that feels experimental yet natural. For many other artists, using unconventional melodies and trying to step out of their comfort zones can often feel forced. Mitski’s songs, on the other hand, feel carefully crafted yet effortless. That being said, “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me” is much less experimental than her other albums. It feels like a mix of her old albums, predominantly “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” with a sprinkle of “Bury Me at Makeout Creek.” “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me” lacks vigor compared to “Be the Cowboy,” rhythm compared to “Laurel Hell,” intensity compared to “Puberty 2” and drama compared to “Retired from Sad, New Career in Business” and “Lush.”
“In a Lake” gives the album a peaceful start as Mitski pensively sings of desiring freedom using imagery of a tranquil yet confined small town. The final chorus reaches a climax, but fades out before transitioning into “Where’s My Phone?” Released in January as the lead single, “Where’s My Phone?” seemed to indicate a new style for Mitski. The piece conveys a sense of spiraling, especially when coupled with the frantic scenes from the music video that border on insanity. The song devolves further into chaos at the end, as Mitski’s voice morphs into jagged static. Despite the piece’s hallucinatory quality, it is catchy, iconic and well received. Fittingly, it encapsulates the feeling of losing your phone.
The next track, “Cats,” slows back down. The music is lovely, but a bit forgettable in the big picture. Like much of Mitski’s work, “Cats” is sad yet comforting. “If I Leave,” however, is not as soothing. A uniform beat flows distinctively throughout the song, but the instrumentation is dynamic. Mitski’s voice undulates, growing loud and soft as she sings of desperation, longing and hopelessness. “If I Leave” sounds like the songs from Mitski’s third studio album from 2014, “Bury Me at Makeout Creek.”
“Dead Women” embraces the transition into darker themes set up by “If I Leave.” Mitski’s voice is haunting, the lyrics vulnerable and raw. She sings of how women are objectified after death, their narratives controlled and exploited. The lyrical electronic notes flowing through the background instrumentation in the second half of the song transcends listeners. Each note is melodious — together, they encapsulate beauty.
Continuing the theme of mortality, “Instead of Here” personifies death. Next is a personal favorite: “I’ll Change for You.” As the second pre-released single, “I’ll Change for You” is easily the most gorgeous, mellifluous song of the album. The instrumentation is heavenly, with drumset, piano and bass. Mitski’s angelic vocals stirs within listeners both tranquility and a pitiful longing as she sings “I’ll do anything / For you to love me again.”
“Rules” takes an upbeat turn, even incorporating trumpets. Yet, the lyrics remain bleak. Mitski begins the track by chanting numbers, counting “one, two, one, two, one two, three, one two, three.” The lyrics convey following a set of self-imposed rules on repeat, living in a cycle of desiring conformity, facing dejection and attempting change, but then falling back into the old rhythm of life once again. “That White Cat” returns to darker melodies, dominated by faster beats and haunting chants. Backed by drumset, guitar and tambourine, Mitski’s vocals gain intensity as she sings of carrying the burden of others’ needs and expectations using a metaphor of animals. Both of these tracks’ quicker tempos allow them to be more memorable.
“Charon’s Obol” continues this metaphor as the lyrics describe feeding the hounds of dead women. At this point in the album, however, the melody feels a bit stagnant and predictable, as the same vibe has been continuing for a while. The album ends with “Lightning,” which has slow, distinctive beats. The lyrics bear resemblance to Mitski’s most popular song, “My Love Mine All Mine,” as she connects mortality to nature, singing “When I die / Could I come back again as rain? / See the world again, to fall again?” Though poetic, these two tracks end the album on a rather unremarkable note, especially compared to the last tracks of other Mitski albums like “Bury Me at Makeout Creek” and “Be the Cowboy.”
Overall, the album was enjoyable, but not inventive. “Where’s My Phone?” and “That White Cat” are the two tracks that take on more novel melodies. “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me” feels like a less hopeful version of “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We,” instead returning to some of her old “sad girl” music where she delves into themes of death, loneliness, despair and longing.
While there are standout songs like “Dead Women,” “I’ll Change for You,” “Where’s My Phone?” and “That White Cat,” the rest are not as memorable and may take a few listens to appreciate. This album will most likely be remembered for a few songs, while the other tracks melt into the rest of Mitski’s repertoire.
Nonetheless, those who like Mitski’s more comforting pieces will enjoy “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me.” The album is best listened to on gloomy nights alone. Even after you emerge from hibernation, Mitski’s music will still hold a special place in your heart.
Rating: 4.2/5
