Indie rock band Japanese Breakfast brings their A-game on Psychopomp. Though I feel a bit late to the game in listening to this record, I certainly feel glad that I discovered it at all. In just 9 tracks and 25 minutes, Japanese Breakfast showcases their ability to stun the listener with the beauty of their production as well as with the vulnerability of their lyrics, provided by band frontwoman Michelle Zauner.
On opener track “In Heaven,” Zauner speaks on the recent death of her mother, using heartbreaking imagery of their dog sniffing her now empty room and walking around confused. Juxtaposed with these lyrics, however, is a wonderfully upbeat tone taken with the production, with dreamy chimes and an up-tempo drum rhythm. The following cut “The Woman That Loves You” features perhaps the most emotional tone taken by Zauner on the entire record; begging the listener to do “as little harm” as possible to the woman that loves them, the lyrics read as incredibly personal and captivating. Taking inspiration from bands such as Silversun Pickups (specifically, their song "Kissing Families"), “Rugged Country” takes a more country/folk-sounding turn. The girlish, high-pitch falsetto provided in the album’s centerpiece “Everybody Wants to Love You” reminds one of childhood, immediately causing the listener to reminisce upon happier, simpler times. It also features a vaguely Oriental-sounding guitar riff to start off the track (and throughout), setting a great mood for the song. With further rotations of the song, it becomes difficult not to chant the lyrics to this one, either aloud or in your head. Title track “Psychopomp” serves as an interlude, splitting the record into two halves. Aside from being a great spacy, atmospheric-sounding track, it successfully sets up the following song, “Jane Cum.” Though it is likely my least favorite in the entire track listing, it is by no means a bad song; it contains admirable elements in not only vocal performance, as it is one of the best throughout the album, but also in use of violin strings. “Heft” is a more accessible song that would be great for introducing the listener to the overall sound of the album. With an opening reminiscent of the introductory riff in BROCKHAMPTON’s “SUNNY,” the song creates another lovely ambience. The beautiful production is again contrasted with dark lyrics, this time with Zauner begging the question if her efforts to become a better person will work, or if the same darkness will come. Again serving as a sort of alley-oop prelude for the following song, “Moon on the Bath” previews the mood of “Triple 7” quite well. Perhaps the one track I underestimated the most on first listens, “Triple 7” is a stirring letter to a lover that does not share the same intensity of passion towards her. She draws comparisons between herself and a slot machine, as she is being used merely for temporary pleasure and consequently is left unfulfilled in her relationship. Simply put, I can’t think of a way to make this one more perfect than it already is. Michelle Zauner develops themes of love, loss, and misery as a result of failing relationships throughout the album in an engaging and relatable way, making for one of my favorite listens all year. Standouts from this project include “Everybody Wants to Love You,” “The Woman That Loves You,” and “Triple 7.”
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AuthorEnrique Cardenas III Archives
November 2021
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