Mitski Announces New Album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We

In the wake of a surprise album announcement on Monday, Mitski has released lead single “Bug Like an Angel.” 45,000 eager fans crowded onto a YouTube livestream at 12 PM EST today to watch the single’s premiere, signaling just how much excitement around her new work has garnered since the week’s beginning.

“Bug Like an Angel” starts slow and sweet, a softly thrumming guitar looping beneath Mitski’s signature croon. Like a callback to her pre-Be The Cowboy days, the track pulses into and out of a series of choral interjections, lending a gospel tone to the contemplative piece. The tune reads more contained than some of the propulsive, critical work on 2022’s Laurel Hell, raising questions about what the indie titan’s next sonic turn will be. The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We will be released September 15 via Dead Oceans.

Watch the video for “Bug Like an Angel” below.