The last Mitski album I reviewed was 2018’s ‘Be the Cowboy’ which was a dark and intriguing look into the psyche of an emerging young artist. I saw her at a festival in 2019, playing low down on the bill, unknown by most of the crowd, partly performing hiding under a table. Even if some of the performance was inexplicably odd you could tell then she had the guts and gravitas to become a star.
Since then she’s gone stratospheric, with viral success during the pandemic, an actual chart hit and a younger generation of fans embracing her music to the point of extremes. For a while it felt strange and uncomfortable being an older Mitski fan since her crowd had skewed so young.
This new album was recorded with the intention of going back to her indie rock basics, after three albums of gothic synth pop. In the end the songs dictated the music and she did bring in some more orchestral arrangements, some Americana sounding flourishes and weirder elements too.
‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me’ is centred around the story of a woman living alone, dealing with the recent break-up of a long term relationship, inspired by Grey Gardens, Shirley Jackson, cats and Victorian houses.
From the opening sway of ‘In a Lake’ we see a woman slightly apart, one who doesn’t want to live in a small town, who wants to be different, and escape from herself. Out floating on a lake, she’s free from everything.
This is not an easy album of sweet songs though, as ‘Where’s My Phone’ kicks in with the rocking, brutal reminder of the harshness of life. She wants her mind to be clear glass, but the real world keeps dragging her back down.
The cover image is a theme throughout the album, starting with ‘Cats’ a devastating sad song about the end of a relationship and the comfort found in rescue cats. ‘If I Leave’ continues that thread, sounding like the unraveling of the relationship in real time with heavy, crunching guitars. ‘That White Cat’ is a wryly funny take on the pressure to earn money and succeed.
‘Dead Women’ functions as a story of both personal relationships and public fandoms, exploring how it feels to be commodified even after death. ‘Instead of Here’ shows Mitski’s vocal restraint, her ability to pull you in closer to her. The song tells the story of her retreating to somewhere ‘nobody can reach.’
Some feminists may flinch at the title ‘I Will Change for You’ but there’s a honesty to the sadness within this song which while depressing, feels true.
The album finishes with the brooding rock of ‘Lightning’ where she asks to be reincarnated as rain. The song ends by accepting, even encouraging, the storm of fame, of life, of love.
‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me’ feels like Mitski’s best album yet, with a central concept that feels both personal and thematically wide ranging. Her lyrical ability to wryly stare into the darkness of modern life and stardom feels revelatory every time.
BUY: https://mitski.bandcamp.com/album/nothings-about-to-happen-to-me
Highway Queens 
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