Mitski – Be The Cowboy

Mitski’s “Be the Cowboy” sheds its skin from the raw vulnerability of previous albums and instead explores a character cloaked in a facade of steely control. This isn’t bravado, however, but a carefully crafted persona masking a deeper yearning for connection and a flicker of existential loneliness.

The album simmers with a quiet tension. Musically, it expands beyond the guitar-driven sound of her earlier work, incorporating layered synths, melancholic piano melodies, and even the occasional horn flourish. These elements weave a soundscape that feels vast and cinematic, mirroring the internal landscape of the protagonist.

Lyrically, Mitski plays with the concept of being a symbol – the expectations and pressures thrust upon her in the wake of critical acclaim. Tracks like “Nobody” grapple with the isolation that comes with being seen as an object of admiration rather than a person. Despite the outward persona, a potent desire for intimacy and emotional connection surfaces throughout the album. “Geyser,” the opening track, explodes with this raw, unbridled yearning, while “Washing Machine Heart” exposes a deep-seated longing veiled by a nonchalant exterior.