Why Mitski’s The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We Is the Fall Album to Listen To, by Selvin Alfonso

Singer/songwriter Mitsuki Laycock, better known as Mitski, released her 7th studio album on September 15th, 2023. Though it’s been 2 years, ever since the leaves changed color, Mitski’s The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We has constantly been in the back of my mind. Not only for its diverse musicality, but for the home and mysterious lyricism that connects you with nature and the world. Oxford campus with its beautiful trails, shops, and townie feeling is the perfect environment for this album to flourish in. I firmly believe that The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We should be on your fall 2025 playlist!

For years, Mitski has engraved her melodies, lyricism, and talent into the veins of fans all around, including myself. It’s Mitski’s unique take on instruments, lyrics, and messages that invites listeners to dive into her world of pain and love. In The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, a brand new Mitski is brought out with her mysterious usage of dogs, screaming, and melodic lines. This environment is perfect for anyone wanting to be mysterious at their local coffee shop. The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We has a diverse selection of music to listen to and though it may not be for everyone, any person who listens to it will take a part of it with them.

Mitski is known for her mellow and dramatic pieces. This album, though not many, holds fast paced songs with a story-like sensation for individuals who enjoy a more funky style. “When Memories Snow” is a great choice. It has fast-paced instrumentals, the ominous sensations and sounds, and eluding echoing in the background, it feels as if this song could be one of those songs you listen to whenever you’re on a run, drunk walk back home, watching the train pass by, or on a hike and one with nature. It allows you to contemplate and want to be around trees and fallen leaves.

“The Deal” is a second contender when it comes to those same emotions. With its guitar line constantly being heard, sudden boosts of musical energy, its violin flowing with Mitski’s vocals. The ultimate drive for this song is the big impactful drums towards the end of the song. A masterpiece of emotions. This song leaves you with a rushing feeling, as if you yourself were the leaves swaying in a pile outside Academic Quad. Walking outside while the moon is hovering above Oxford as you walk atop crunchy leaves or sitting near a creek contemplating what your Halloween costume will be, evokes a fall stimulation to whoever listens to it.

When it comes to fall, romantic emotions begin to flourish throughout Oxford. As the leaves change color and begin to fall, fall is reassuring that change is coming, and with it brings beauty. Fall for me in Oxford is the most beautiful season. From asking that class crush out, going on a coffee date, sitting and chatting near the creek behind Collins Hall, fall love in Oxford is the time to be alive! The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We consists of what I believe are three beautiful love songs which fit into fall love in Oxford.

“My Love Mine All Mine” became popular on TikTok two months after the album’s release. Why is it a good song? It’s soothing, demanding for love from the moon, showing the world what love sounds like through the piano and guitar constantly being entangled, creating the center of the song with beauty. The perfect time to listen to this is with either your significant other as you walk hand in hand watching the leaves change color. Or, for any single individual, this song will make you fall in love with fall and its beautiful scenery. No matter what situation you are in, I assure you this song just makes you fall in love with yourself ten times more than anyone could.

The most romantic and perfect song in the album and for fall has to be “Heaven.” No matter where you are, what you’re feeling, this song will make you want to twirl around the arch of Upham, run around the woods in bachelor, really make you feel one with nature. What makes the song perfect has to be Mitski’s vocal lines; it’s playful with the instruments, it feels angelic, she’s showing us her branching out with the usage of instruments.

Lastly for our love song, this specific song I believe is a hidden gem. Granting that it's the third to last song of the album “Star” consists of beautiful melodic lines, symbolic messages of love being seen as a far away thing.. Standing out as one of the more empowering songs for love, this song feels as if the wind is picking you up and granting you the ability to fly through Oxford during fall weather. Unlike “Heaven”, this song is more demanding, pushing for the distant and far away thing seen as love, but knowing that love is so beautiful and worth it.

Mitski always has tricks up her sleeve when it comes to changing the dynamics towards the end of her albums. What I mean is, the ending of The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We is the best album ending she has. Listening to the two closing songs, “I’m Your Man” and “I Love Me After You,” it feels powerful, as if the story leaves on a cliffhanger, her mood changes drastically. With dogs barking, the sounds of night, the intense screaming, powerful instrumentals, beautiful lyrics. This is the beginning or maybe ending of fall for Mitski. “I’m Your Man” consists of guitar, powerful lyrics of self worth.. With the use of dogs, humming, night life sounds, screaming. This evokes the eerily feeling of fall, the sensation of someone creeping up on you at night while trick or treating. It’s a beautiful entrance towards the last song, “I Love Me After You.”

Words can not describe the love I have for this song. First off, incorporating fall into this, imagine yourself walking back home late one night after coming back from King. Now imagine wanting to feel like the center of the universe as you walk home with the leaves on the floor, the weather dropping. Listen to this song. Its intense, powerful, and demanding grasp of sounds and instrumentals is what drives this song to be perfect. Any fall lovers that invoke main character energy, this song is for us. “Stride through the house naked/dont even care that the curtains are open/ let the darkness see me/streets are mine the night is mine.” Love, fear, anger, and desire for love is invoked into this album. The leaves changing, the movement of water, pumpkins and tricks. This is why The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We should be on your playlists as fall approaches our homey and cozy little town.