Music Corner
On Feb. 4, Japanese-American singer-songwriter Mitski released her sixth studio album, “Laurel Hell,” her first release after declaring an indefinite hiatus in 2019. Through 11 tracks and 32 minutes, “Laurel Hell’’ incorporates a moody synth-pop tone, which is a shift from the singer’s earlier grunge indie rock style. “Laurel Hell ‘’ explores the notions of living in a world that extracts one’s humanity for profit, and experiencing love, whether it is toxic or genuine.
The opening song, “Valentine, Texas’’ perfectly captures the idea of love, while depicting the concept of the unknown. Love is not inherently good or bad, but rather has a transformative power that can take on nearly every emotion. Though not every song is filled with melancholy, it doesn’t mean the songs are not emotionally vulnerable. The album’s lead single, “Working for the Knife,” discusses the singer’s relationship with herself as an artist in the music industry.
The singer metaphorically compares her motivation to work as a knife, a cold, unforgiving object, and the eventual death of creativity. In the song “I Guess,” Mitski mourns the loss of a loved one over hazy, tolling keyboard chords. Even though the album incorporates a new feel, the descriptions of universal feelings continue to shine throughout.
