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A little over two years after the release of her last album—The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We—Mitski has released her eighth studio album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me. Although the album recycles a lot of similar-sounding production from her previous work, Mitski has found a sound that works perfectly for her level of musical creativity, producing another great album in her discography.
I had the opportunity to listen to the album an entire week early at the Muncie local record store, Locked Groove Records. The record store hosts plenty of album listening events, even hosting one for Mitski’s previous album. If there’s ever an artist hosting a listening party, I cannot recommend Locked Groove Records more.
The Cohesion Shines Through
Mitski writes on this album about watching a relationship start to die but being too enamored to be the one to cut it off. This relationship could be romantic, platonic, or even her complicated relationship with fame and music, but it’s so present throughout the album that it feels palpable through the entire 35-minute runtime. Mitski has always been very particular with the writing of her songs; she wears her heart on her sleeve. It’s so personal, and this album does not shy away from that. Her writing is what really shines through as an artist.
“Rules” is her most unique song on the album. She uses counting in her chorus to highlight the rules that she sets in the verse. I love it when artists get a chance to experiment with their work, and this song definitely feels like it gave Mitski a chance to flex her creative muscles. Although I was a fan of Laurel Hell, it was definitely one of Mitski’s messiest projects and comparing Nothing’s About to Happen to Me to it, the cohesion is immensely better. Even with some experimental sounds sprinkled within the tracklist, it feels so beautifully crafted.
Mitski Understands Her Sound
The production of the album goes in a lot of different directions, but that is not uncommon for Mitski. Compared to other records, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me is very sonically well-rounded. Some artists prefer to change up their music style to produce something new, but in Mitski’s case, she has a pretty distinct style of music that suits her so well I could easily listen to 10 more albums with the same production. “Cats” and “Lightning” are reminiscent of Bury Me at Makeout Creek, whereas “Where’s My Phone?” and “Rules” have similar production to Be the Cowboy, which I personally enjoyed.
Tracks like “Dead Woman” and “I’ll Change For You” have perfect instrumentals. The backing behind “Dead Woman” feels haunting, exactly the kind of emotion you’d want to feel when listening to that track. Where “I’ll Change For You” has a slowed-down, soothing sound, matching the atmosphere she builds in the lyrics and all of the imagery about being at a bar. There are even natural sounds that play that you would hear in a somewhat crowded bar on an evening out; it pulls the song together beautifully.
She’s Done it Again
Standouts on the album for me include “In a Lake,” “Cats,” “Rules,” and “That White Cat.” The writing on each of these tracks is so descriptive, I felt encapsulated by it. The cat metaphors that Mitski weaves throughout this record are charming, breaking up the intense themes of the record with a simple white cat. Mitski has always been an artist who writes about very personal experiences, making her records very unique and personable, and Nothing’s About to Happen to Me continues her mission to personify the difficult parts of love and life.
Sources: Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Instagram, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify
Contact Sam Jasionowski with comments at samantha.jasionowski@bsu.edu or on Instagram @sjasionowski.
