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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
A visceral work that shares the immediacy of classic punk and confessional singer/songwriter fare at once, Puberty 2 takes listeners behind closed doors with the kind of no-holds-barred lyrics that are likely to leave a lasting impression.
100
Puberty 2 exposes new dimensions to Mitski’s voice, revealing its true richness and range. Mitski is an exceptionally keen observer of the human condition, and Puberty 2 marks a triumphant new step in her evolution.
91
While this might sound like dangerous territory for an artist who’s known for searing riffs and vicious live performances that include screaming into the pickups of her guitar, Mitski uses her voice to measure the slightest nuances within complex emotions.
90
‘Puberty 2’ features all of those teenage troughs, and the confusing, thrilling peaks too – the starry eyes, manic ambition and constant distraction of sex.
90
It’s a high-watermark of post-irony indie, a cracked safe of perspectives previously unheard in lump-throated punk. It plays like a sketchbook, but you’ll grow to hum every Sharpie stroke.
90
Puberty 2 captures the sense of frustration, resignation and self-awareness that can only come from years of grappling with emotional demons: now, she holds her vulnerability with confidence, in anthemic and improbably striking songs, for all to see.
90
Mitski has long been an integral part of the indie rock world, but with Puberty 2, Miyawaki has proven that she is more vital and more necessary than ever. No other artist is writing music this open and accessible; as a result, Puberty 2 is one of the best records of the year so far.
90
For all its buzzing, sneering self-flagellation, Puberty 2 barrels head-first into contemporary rock’s inner circle. It’s an album both earthy and graceful, performing its own ballet routine in the dirt and the mud.
85
It's sometimes easy to forget that Mitski didn't technically enter the greater music consciousness until last year, and what makes that worth pointing out is that despite her hitting her stride and turning out the most accomplished album of her career yet, she sounds like she's only getting started.
85
On her fourth album, Mitski makes a resounding personal statement and stakes out her territory as one of the most compelling voices in the sphere of indie rock.
85
What Puberty 2 so expertly unearths is the fact that the uncertainty of puberty basically just means you're alive. That exploration alone would make Puberty 2 an interesting album, but Mitski Miyawaki's songwriting prowess makes it into something special.
83
As confessional as singer/songwriters; as confrontational as punk. People have brought up St. Vincent in comparison because both are women and both wield guitars (sometimes noisily), but Annie Clark has never been this naked and poseless.
80
Featuring crunchy guitars, squeals of feedback and masterful melodicism, comparisons to Pinkerton are inevitable, but there's more nuance and maturity at work here.
80
Equal amounts tender and wild, Mitski places power in vulnerability. Validating every topsy turvy emotion, Puberty 2 is a soundtrack of self-awareness and self-acceptance at its most real.
80
Growing ever more creative, with music ever more intriguing and beautiful, Puberty 2 represents the latest natural step in a career going from strength to strength.
80
In the two years between records, the "half-Japanese, half-American but not fully either" songwriter has added heft to her sound and complexity to her lyrics.
80
Bright Eyes-esque confessional folk, riot grrrl and the quiet-loud dynamics of the Pixies are all present, but Mitski updates these reference points with a modernist twist.
80
‘Puberty 2’ leaves no stone unturned in its attempt to make grim tales seem even worse than you could possibly imagine. It’s a brutally tough shock to the system, one that will leave its trace for years to come.
80
It continues her infatuation with love, loneliness, betrayal, hunger, and the afflictions from both sadness and happiness.
80
The songs sway with gravitas and hit home whether you’re wrestling with innate and confounding dependence (‘Crack Baby’) or trying to pilot your own mental health (‘Happy’), Mitski feels dedicated to those who, for once, just want to set their own pace.
80
The progression is so drastic, it at once insists that this is an artist not done growing, and a surefire source of future classics. This album may very well turn out to be one, after we’ve all spent some well-deserved months of listening.
80
Mitski’s boldness is hugely impressive, and couple that with the fact the record is so expertly mixed and edited, she has produced one of the year’s more complete LPs.
80
It’s essentially misery-laden electric-guitar indie rock, in the style of Cat Power and Waxahatchee – but her nihilist worldview is oddly endearing.
80
While Puberty 2 might lack the round variance of an album, it thrives as a singles club, populated by songs that find exquisiteness within themselves—saddened bangers, if you will.
80
Now signed to Dead Oceans for her fourth album Puberty 2, the 25-year-old is as experimental and fearless as ever, whilst also developing a sort of mainstream, more commercial sound.
79
Despite the all-pervasive blue mood Mitski spreads throughout her songs, there’s plenty of spirited, anthemic moments to latch onto with Puberty 2.
75
Mitski’s eclectic nature and unorthodox style may be a turn-off for some, but it grows more relatable and endearing as it runs, and eventually you may even find yourself looking at happiness from her point of view, a testament to a truly gifted musician.
70
As bawdy and unpredictable as anyone is in their first puberty, Puberty 2 shows Miyawaki indulging her whims with a devil-may-care attitude – the result is an incendiary self-portrait.
Surprised this is the mitski album I DIDNT love as much as the others, but with its heartbreaking lyrics Puberty 2 by mitski still gives an interesting listen!
top songs: happy, dan the dancer, once more to see you, fireworks, your best american girl, I bet on losing dogs, thursday girl, crack baby.
least favorite song: a loving feeling.
Although I can see the appeal, this album too me is jus ta bland derivative album loaded with cliché lyrics and alt rocksims. If you love this More power to you! ill just continue to listen to bmatomot and be the cowboy!
Taking in account the only record I have not heard from Mitski is Be The Cowboy this is the best thing she's put out and in my opinion her most ambitious work to date, I don't know what it is but Mitski's singing and songwriting just feels way more crisp than it usually does although that's not why I love this record more than all of her other albums, the reason I like this so much is because the production is way more loud and feels very grand, the drums and guitars are loud and make's it a ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | Happy 3:40 | 94 |
| 2 | Dan the Dancer 2:25 | 88 |
| 3 | Once More to See You 3:00 | 86 |
| 4 | Fireworks 2:37 | 90 |
| 5 | Your Best American Girl 3:32 | 97 |
| 6 | I Bet On Losing Dogs 2:50 | 93 |
| 7 | My Body's Made of Crushed Little Stars 1:56 | 83 |
| 8 | Thursday Girl 3:08 | 87 |
| 9 | A Loving Feeling 1:32 | 86 |
| 10 | Crack Baby 4:52 | 89 |
| 11 | A Burning Hill 1:49 | 88 |
Total Length: 31 minutes
Year End Lists
| #1 | / | Earbuddy |
| #1 | / | LA Music Blog |
| #2 | / | Mashable |
| #2 | / | Uproxx |
| #3 | / | TIME |
| #4 | / | Red Bull |
| #4 | / | Salon |
| #4 | / | The Atlantic |
| #4 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
| #5 | / | BrooklynVegan |
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Added on: March 5, 2016