MITSKI IS THE MODERN-DAY JONI MITCHELL THAT WE ALL NEED

            With the release of her most recent album, Be The Cowboy, Mitski reminds you of every heartbreak of your life. Whether it be a serious multi-year romance, small high-school crush or a stranger that you passed on the street once. She brings you back to the point where things just didn’t work. Mitski fits right in along other contemporary ‘sad-girl-rock-singer/songwriters’ like Courtney Barnett, Julien Baker and Frances Quinlan of Hop Along. Yes, she has sad lyrics and she shreds on her guitar, but this album transcends the architype of the forlorn rockstar who just can’t catch a break.

            This album stands as a series of diary entries in which we get a peek into Mitski’s life and the listener follows her on this personal journey and suddenly goes pale as they realize that these songs were written for them. These songs resonate on a weird transcendent level. They come from a place of honesty, and because of this they ring true and physically makes your heart hurt.

            Mitski’s soft voice reminds me first of Joni Mitchell. They both have sad songs, and intricate lyrics. Mitchell will forever be a classic artist for all of time, her songs are brutal yet beautiful. Her discography is meant to be cried to and are there for the days when you need to reflect. Blue will forever be a staple for these kinds of days, but Mitski is bringing this necessity into the 21st century. She doesn’t necessarily sing about how she needs a man or significant other. She talks about things like legacy and just wanting to not fade away in “Remember My Name” and “A Horse Name Cold Air”. Mitchell will forever be a staple in the world of folk and for women musicians, but her songs are a time capsule of the 60s, and 70s, of the Woodstock era and her songs were made for those people Mitski makes her music for the lonely, reflective hearts of today.