Mitski “Nothing’s About to Happen To Me” Review
Written by Beau Croxton
Mitski by Lexie Alley
Mitski’s captivating eighth LP Nothing’s About to Happen To Me continues her hot streak– it explores isolation, rebirth and vulnerability while showcasing dramatic and gorgeous arrangements.
Today, Mitski returns with her eighth studio album Nothing’s About to Happen To Me by continuing a musical through line from her last record– The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We. She’s had quite an evolution over many years and many great albums– her stacked discography only seems to get sweeter. This reinvention was beautifully documented further in her recent concert film The Land. For of Nothing’s About to Happen To Me, Mitski brings along the touring band from The Land to add live instrumentation and ensemble arrangements, which richly expand the sonic palette. It’s dark, humorous, moving, stunning and it swings between serene moments and more intense ones.
“In a Lake” is an epic opening tune that celebrates the anonymity that comes from life in a big new city, as opposed to the lack of privacy in a small town. This rebirth-celebrating tune starts with a beautiful and calm tone, until some city sounds cue an eruptive and grandiose outro– a thrilling use of dynamics. The outro’s powerful orchestral gusto serves top-shelf drama right out of the gate, and it perfectly leads into the attitude of the next track.
“Where’s My Phone?” is a supremely catchy indie-rocker from the perspective of a recluse who loses her phone and her mind in the process . All hail Mitski's crazy cat lady phase- its an extravagant crash-out. The outro motif spirals blissfully, with the orchestra following suit into the madness. The scorching fuzz tones work beautifully, when taking flight with the orchestra sweeping underneath it. It recalls some of Mitski’s lively earlier material. “Where’s My Phone" demonstrates just how great the louder moments on this record can get. While it may seem as a bit of an outlier as a louder rocker from beginning to end, this record has plenty of more dialed up moments that share similar DNA.
“Cats” is a beautiful and subtle number that yearns with heartache while showcasing pedal steel and tender vocal moments. It's a beautiful song about the unconditional love and “rescue” of two cats comforting you in bed… what's not to love?
“If I Leave” is yet another standout that expertly bridges the gap between the quieter moments of the album and the loudest ones. Snarling fuzz guitars land somewhere between Weezer’s blue album and St Vincent’s heyday of art-rock. There’s more thought-provoking vulnerability on display, as Mitski ponders if she could find anyone to love her the same if she leaves her relationship.
“Dead Women” is an incredible tune with haunting lyrics and a dark premise: She sings “Would you like me better if I died , so you can tell my story the way it ought to be?” Mitski’s playful vocalizations after these words feel truly bone-chilling in a way that totally steals the show. Lyrically, it's cold and calculated: “You’d find my parents and ask to see my things / Rifle through it all / Fill the blanks with what you need”. Strings weep and haunt throughout like some warped, Nightmare Before Christmas-style orchestral romp in the midst of this mostly tender record– it's a beautiful yet stirring moment that demands your attention.
“Instead of Here” dwells on lovely Americana vibes with pedal steel, folky musings and focuses more on the desire to disconnect. “I’ll Change For You” is note-for-note perfection; this song is a timeless heartbreaker with a purely stunning vocal performance. Strings and vocals sing and vibrate in tandem, light brass sections paint serene and emotive touches.
“Rules” is quick to add a pinch of fun with upbeat vocals and marching band fanfare from the brass section. The vocal delivery is extra playful and the orchestral arrangements are jovial, while the lyrics depict a more helpless situation– the dark comedy approach is perfectly tongue in cheek.“Rules” carries a sarcastic enthusiasm for being changed and nearly erased by someone: “I’ll have a new hair cut / I will be somebody else/ And when I leave my body / Please pretend that you don’t see / How I’m no longer there, behind my eyes”.
“That White Cat” pounds with a thumping rhythm section and excellent surfy guitar riffs. The lyrics stew in anger at the leeches in one’s life, and it serves as an energetic peak for the B-side of the record. Mitski’s scathing delivery is demanding and drives the song into dramatic heights.
Closer “Lightning” brings a sense of finality while leaning into the dark vulnerability that runs through the LP. It's a bit gothic with “When I die, could I come back as the rain? See the world again / To fall again” Octave-layered fuzz guitars duel with strings in beautifully boisterous moments as the record draws to a close.
Nothing’s About to Happen To Me is another straight A for a sensational indie artist who’s been on a hot streak for a minute. It’s a gorgeous affair that is just as elaborate and focused in its arrangements as it is messy and raw in its emotions. Most importantly, like Mitski’s best work, she keeps it as real as can be. There is a melancholic darkness that lurks throughout, but it is explored expertly with a witty pop of humor, stunning arrangements and an expert sense of dynamics. It’s also highly-relatable material– anyone who feels a bit anti-social and reclusive can relate, and everyone can always relate to heartbreak. Like many of her records before it, Mitski’s Nothing’s Gonna Happen To Me is another wonderful spectacle of vulnerability and thought-provoking artistry.
Occult Highlights: I’ll Change For You, Dead Women, In a Lake, Where’s My Phone?, If I Leave, That White Cat
(… but we recommend you spin the whole thing while you dissociate at home with your cats.)