Whether it is sitting behind the piano, ratcheting a distorted electric guitar, or scratching a synthesizer, Mitski Miyawaki – or simply Mitski – has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to make personal vulnerability sound bold and, thus, something to not fear. Instead, as she showed on Puberty 2, she wore it like a badge of honor, revealing to the world she was unafraid of its existence and how it defined her. On her fifth album, Be the Cowboy, she further spirals into humanity's emotional complexity and delivers a riveting and extraordinary record.
"Do you wanna be my baby?
Are you waiting to touch me?
toss your dirty shoes in my washing machine heart?", she seductively asks her guest. Mitski, conversely, daydreams about the perfect, suburban couple that sticks together through the highs and lows on the alt-pop number, "Me and My Husband". Is this love, comfort, stability, or all three? Or is she a glutton for punishment, as she reveals on the alt-country ditty, "Lonesome Love".
Hold it in my arms and know it's mine.
Despite the concern that lingers in her voice, she doesn't have to worry about people forgetting who she is or the legacy that she will leave behind. With Be The Cowboy, her star shines brightly, illuminating more powerfully than her peers. As her fame rises, so too will the space she occupies and the more people will remember Mitski as one of this generation's finest songwriters.
Be the Cowboy is out now on Dead Oceans, and it's available on Bandcamp. Dates for Mitski's forthcoming tour are available here.