Mitski has announced a slew of tour dates in North America for June. She will be stopping in “American towns and cities that she doesn’t usually get to play on tour” which includes Santa Fe, Woodstock. Katie Von Schleicher and Caroline Rose are joining her on certain dates. Find the itinerary below.
Mitski
Watch Mitski star in new short film SITTING
Mitski stars in SITTING, a new film directed and written by Emily Yoshida. Mitski plays a “sitter” for people taking an intense drug that allows them to “meet God.” The short film is also heavily soundtracked by Mitski’s Puberty 2 song “Thursday Girl.” Watch it below.
Mitski reviews Weezer’s new album
Mitski has written a review of Weezer’s most recent studio album Pacific Daydream for the Talkhouse. She looks into the band’s relationship with youth culture and compares Rivers Cuomo’s songwriting to the creative processes of David Lynch. She also calls the album “an honest representation of a middle-aged rock star.” “Weezer’s newest album has provided unexpected clues in an examination of my own writing, too, as I inevitably age and negotiate an ever-evolving self with an enduring idolatry of youth,” she wrote. Read the full thing here.
The Melodic Tree’s Top Six Albums of the Year
1. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
2016 was a break-out year for Will Toledo, aka Car Seat Headrest, whether it was signing to Matador Records to releasing Teens of Denial, their second on the label and first that consisted of entirely new material. On their thirteenth album, Toledo’s lyrics are, as always, emotional and reflective, looking at his dealing with mental illness and dealing with the inevitable feeling of dread that has been a recurring theme throughout this album and their previous 12. In the opening track, “Fill in the Blank,” Toledo goes on to say: “You have no right to be depressed. You haven’t tried hard enough to like it. Haven’t seen enough of this world yet. But it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts. Well stop your whining, try again.” The idea of no one truly understanding his depression and what is going on inside his head repeats back and forth in this song until the outro when he affirms he has a right to be depressed and that he has tried to fight it. This reflectiveness is not uncommon for Toledo in the third track on Teens in Denial, “Vincent,” where he talks about googling his depression and his previous albums, especially the track, “We Can’t Afford (Your Depression Anymore)” on his album, Nervous Young Man. This cleaner sounding and breakout album from Car Seat Headrest is just the beginning of what will be even more critcal success for the band in the future.
2. Bon Iver – 22 A Million
The highly anticipated return of Bon Iver and follow up to 2011’s self-titled, 22 A Million, heads in a completely different direction than what Justin Vernon has done in his history. However, it is somewhat expected from Bon Iver as For Emma, Forever Ago, showed what Vernon could do alone, not including what he released previously under his own name, and Bon Iver showed what could be done with a full band and recording with more people. 22 A Million shows what Vernon can do as a musician and what the band can do outside the realms they built for themselves in indie folk. This turn to a more experimental and somewhat strange new sound that Bon Iver brings to the table with this album is an interesting new step in what might be a new era of the band.
3. Mitski – Puberty 2
The 25-year-old singer-songwriter, Mitski’s fourth studio album discusses the struggles of being happy from day to day, especially shown on the track, “My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars,” where she sings: “I don’t know how I’m gonna pay rent. I wanna see the whole world. Would you kill me, Jerusalem.” The lyrics go on to talk about how she hopes she does well in a job interview and the stereotypical interviewee line “I work better under deadlines” being repeated. This sort of trying to find something to grasp onto in order to find some sort of happiness in the cloud of depression and anxiety is a recurring theme throughout this album as Mitski shows off her chaotically good sound that she has had across her discography.
4. The Growlers – City Club
The Growlers, have always managed to combine “country, surf pop and rock” all into one, something that is somewhat trademark to them and lead to the definition of their sound, “Beach Goth” to a popular festival under the same name. The industrial-esque funkiness of “I’ll Be Around” allows it to be one of the best tracks on the albums. Another notable track is “Neverending Line” because of how seemingly miserable the chorus sounds: “It’s the end of a line. Another shit job. Another piss-stained room. Another tomb. Another city. Hardly make it to the other side. Just to find, it ain’t so pretty.” The darkness of this song encompasses the album and its mood in what seemed to be one of the somewhat slower tracks.
5. Iji – Bubble
The almost always upbeatness of iji’s (pronounced “eehee”) latest album, Bubble, is the perfect album for anyone in need for the perfectly groovy pop album. The song, “Wild Music,” is particularly a favorite, where the singer, guitarist, and saxophonist, talks about wanting to “play the saxophone in your band” and the fluidity of this track is both is invigorating as it gets to the two-minute mark and soothing at the same time. This eccentrically melodic pop album is erratic as they masterfully maneuver through these weird but engrossing 13 tracks.
6. The Washboard Abs – Have U Scanned Ur Club Card
Denver-born and Olympia-based, The Washboard Abs’ Have U Scanned Ur Club Card gracefully goes through bedroom indie music as Clarke Sondermann sings somber and reflective lyrics in the seemingly melancholic backing tracks. The song, “Window,” is the perfect example on this album as the lyrics are earnest (i.e.“Early in the morning but later in the day, your brother snoring the sky will slowly grey, and I will drink my coffee and I will try to say I think about you often I hope you’re not okay”) and yet it is a seemingly warm song with the guitar repeats. The third track, “Sugar Skulls” differs n the sense that it is somewhat more upbeat and the Sondermann’s lyrics talk about self-destruction. They are one of our favorite local bands and it makes sense why they are on the rise and opening for bigger and bigger indie bands.
Watch Mitski’s new video for “A Burning Hill”
Mitski has released the music video for her song “A Burning Hill,” the final track off her album Puberty 2. It was directed by Bradley Gray and the video was shot during “a weekend just driving around New York and Pennsylvania.” Mitski said in a press release: “It felt like a vacation, but it was also quite emotional, as I was thinking about the song and what it means to me now while jumping in rivers and driving down dirt lanes.” Watch it below.
The Melodic Tree’s Weekly Playlist
1. Your Best American Girl – Mitski
2. Love Is a Losing Game – Amy Winehouse
3. Not in Luv – QUARTERBACKS
4. Bamboo – Hinds
5. Avant Gardener – Courtney Barnett
6. Wanted You – Twin Peaks
7. Berlin 1971 – Shorts
8. Sleep Deprivation – Glycerine Queens
9. Interesting Thing No. 2 – Posse
10. Going Forth – Axxa/Abraxas
11. Pretend U Are Free – Vertical Scratchers
12. Sandstorm – Popstrangers
13. Pedestrian Support League – Street Chant
14. Lichtung – Grayson Gilmour
15. Here She Comes – Ghost Wave
16. New Jacket – Literature
17. Second Skin – Zen Mantra
18. Honey Do – Beverly
19. Lights Are Low – Robert Scott
20. Something That Feels Bad Is… – Haunted Hearts
Listen to Mitski’s new song “Happy”
Mitski’s Puberty 2 is the follow-up to her 2014 album Bury Me at Makeout Creek, and is due out June 17th on Dead Oceans. After releasing “Your Best American Girl,” she has returned with another track from the album called “Happy.” Listen to it and see her upcoming tour dates below.
Watch the video for “Your Best American Girl:”
Mistki:
06-20 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
06-22 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall *
06-23 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle *
06-24 Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA *
06-25 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel *
06-26 Durham, NC – The Pinhook *
06-28 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade: Purgatory *
06-29 Birmingham, AL – The Syndicate Lounge *
07-01 Houston, TX – Walter’s Downtown *
07-02 Austin, TX – The Sidewinder *
07-03 Dallas, TX – Three Links *
07-05 Phoenix, AZ – The Rebel Lounge *
07-06 Santa Ana, CA – The Constellation Room *
07-07 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo *
07-08 San Francisco, CA – Bottom Of The Hill *
07-09 Oakland, CA – Starline Social Club *
07-11 Portland, OR – Analog Theater *
07-12 Vancouver, British Columbia – The Cobalt *
07-13 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile *
07-15 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court *
07-16 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge *
07-19 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry *
07-20 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall *
07-22 Toronto, Ontario – Horseshoe Tavern *
07-23 Montreal, Quebec – Bar Le Ritz *
07-25 Portland, ME – SPACE Gallery *
07-27 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg *
09-20 Dublin, Ireland – The Workman’s Club
09-22 Berlin, Germany – Berghain Kantine
09-24 Copenhagen, Denmark – Loppen
09-26 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
09-27 Frankfurt, Germany – Brotfabrik
09-28 Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
09-30 Paris, France – Le Pop Up Du Label
10-01 Brighton, England – Green Door Store
10-02 Leeds, England – Brudenell Social Club
10-04 Glasgow, Scotland – Stereo
10-05 Manchester, England – Deaf Institute
10-06 London, England – Dome Tufnell Park
* with Japanese Breakfast and Jay Som
Mitski shares “Your Best American Girl” video
Mitski recently announced Puberty 2, which is her follow-up to 2014’s album Bury Me at Makeout Creek, and also released a single called “Your Best American Girl.” That single now has a video, directed by Zia Anger. Watch it below, and find all of her upcoming tour dates.
According to the press release, the video “plays on the idea of, as a Japanese girl, never quite fitting in with the genre’s surplus of white American guys.” The video has cinematography from Ashley Connor, art direction by Caiti Hawkins, and styling by Creatures of the Wind. Puberty 2 is set to be out on June 17th on Dead Oceans.
Mitski:
04-17 Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique – solo show
04-19 London, England – Birthdays – solo show
04-21 Paris, France – La Mécanique Ondulatoire w/ Twin Peaks – solo show
04-23 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso Basement – solo show
06-20 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
06-22 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
06-23 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
06-24 Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA
06-25 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
06-26 Durham, NC – The Pinhook
06-28 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade: Purgatory
06-29 Birmingham, AL – The Syndicate Lounge
07-01 Houston, TX – Walter’s Downtown
07-02 Austin, TX – The Sidewinder
07-03 Dallas, TX – Three Links
07-05 Phoenix, AZ – The Rebel Lounge
07-06 Santa Ana, CA – The Constellation Room
07-07 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
07-08 San Francisco, CA – Bottom Of The Hill
07-09 Oakland, CA – Starline Social Club
07-11 Portland, OR – Analog Theater
07-12 Vancouver, British Columbia – The Cobalt
07-13 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
07-15 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
07-16 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
07-19 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
07-20 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
07-22 Toronto, Ontario – Horseshoe Tavern
07-23 Montreal, Quebec – Bar Le Ritz
Mitski announces new album, Puberty 2, releases lead single “Your Best American Girl”
Today, the Brooklyn rock artist, Mitski, has announced the follow-up to her debut Bury Me At Make Out Creek named, Puberty 2, which due out June 17th throughDead Oceans.
According to the press release, Puberty 2 shows the artist born as Mitski Miyawaki exploring how happiness can be virtually as damaging as sadness. “When you realize you can’t have one without the other, it’s possible to spend periods of happiness just waiting for that other wave,” she explains. Considered “kind of a two parter” with its predecessor, the record has a similar vibe to the previous one. “I had a certain confidence this time,” Mitski says. “I knew what I wanted, knew what I was doing and wasn’t afraid to do things that some people may not like.”
You can hear that on lead single “Your Best American Girl.”
Take a listen below.
Pubert 2 Artwork:
Puberty 2 Tracklist:
01. Happy
02. Dan the Dancer
03. Once More to See You
04. Fireworks
05. Your Best American Girl
06. I Bet on Losing Dogs
07. My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars
08. Thursday Girl
09. A Loving Feeling
10. Crack Baby
11. A Burning Hill
Mitski has also announced an extensive leg of North American and European tour dates in support of Puberty 2.
Mitski 2016 Tour Dates:
03/12 – McAllen, TX @ Galax Z Fair V at Yerberia (South by Southwest)
03/16 – Austin, TX @ Hype Hotel – YVYNYL x S&S x Hype Machine (South by Southwest)
03/17 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda – Secretly Group & Friends (South by Southwest)
03/18 – Austin, TX @ PEN – Portals SXSW 2016 (South by Southwest)
03/18 – Austin, TX @ Hole in the Wall – Stereogum x Exploding In Sound’s Austin Invasion 2 (South by Southwest)
03/19 – Austin, TX @ Studium – She Shreds x Punctum Records Presents (South by Southwest)
04/17 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique (solo show)
04/19 – London, UK @ Birthdays (solo show)
04/21 – Paris, FR @ La Mécanique Ondulatoire (solo show)
04/23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Basement (solo show)
06/20 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
06/22 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
06/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
06/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA
06/25 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
06/26 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
06/28 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade: Purgatory
06/29 – Birmingham, AL @ The Syndicate Lounge
07/01 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s Downtown
07/02 – Austin, TX @ The Sidewinder
07/03 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links
07/05 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
07/06 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Constellation Room
07/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
07/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
07/09 – Oakland, CA @ Starline Social Club
07/11 – Portland, OR @ Analog Theater
07/12 – Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
07/13 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
07/15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
07/16 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
07/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
07/20 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
07/22 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
07/23 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
The Melodic Tree’s Weekly Playlist
1. God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
2. I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt
3. Ask Her to Dance – Coconut Records
4. So Many Things to Tell You – Mark Redito
5. Cavalier – James Vincent McMorrow
6. Callow – Novo Amor
7. Francis Forever – Mitski
8. I Wanna Boi – PWR BTTM
9. Lousy Connection – Ezra Furman
10. Listen to the Man – George Ezra
11. I Love You So – The Walters
12. Sleepwalking – Modest Mouse
13. All I Want Is You – Barry Louis Pollsar
14. A Crack in Time – Ferraby Lionheart
15. Friday I’m In Love – The Cure
16. Our Love – Sharon Van Etten
17. Heartbeats – The Knife
18. Flaws – Vancouver Sleep Clinic
19. Say Yes – Elliott Smith
20. Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Melodic Tree 