REVIEW: For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) by Japanese Breakfast

Written By: Ariana Droz-Santiago

Japanese Breakfast returns with their anticipated fourth studio album. The band released
For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) on Friday, March 21st and has already captured the
attention of many indie music lovers. The ten-song project was released under Dead Oceans
record label and follows their Grammy nominated album, Jubilee (2021). Vocalist, songwriter,
and front woman, Michelle Zauner, graces the album with her sweet, solemn voice over lush and
hopeful arrangements. While the album’s overall sound remains true to the band’s indie pop
roots, it dances around folk and rock music and recalls the moody atmosphere that they
originally started out with.
Each song in succession presents the listener with a new concept to contemplate through
shifting sounds and poetic lyrics. Michelle Zauner details grappling with complex emotions over
sparkly instrumentals. The Best-Selling author lets her words shine on this project as she is
pensive, meditative, and sharp in her use of language and metaphor. Produced by Blake Mills,
each track feels light and radiant while maintaining a fullness with layers that include acoustic
guitars, string sections, and ambient pianos.
The record opens with Here is Someone, which features sparkling strings and airy flutes
while the singer yearns for a life that is slower and carefree. This song may be an ode to a life
lived before the pressures of larger commercial success and it fits perfectly with the themes that
Zauner visits later. This track truly sets the tone for what is to come further into the record. The
leading single, Orlando in Love, tells of the inspirations for this project as it details an ironic
fantasy of falling in love influenced by the book, The World of Apples by John Cheever. Picture
Window takes center stage in the latter half of the album and maintains the juxtaposition of
abundant instrumentation and somber themes as it explores yearning, death, and anticipation of
sadness.
This is arguably the most realized work from Japanese Breakfast that has been put out
thus far. It is successful in its allegorical construction and layered instrumental arrangements.
Also, it’s just downright a beautiful listen that gets better each time. The band has already
announced a tour for this album, and they are coming to Philadelphia in mid-May. If you like
artists like Fiona Apple, Faye Webster, and Mitski, you may find something in this album for
you! My favorites are Honey Water, Leda, Little Girl, and Mega Circuit.

Listen to For Melancholy Brunettes (&sad women) now on Spotify