By Ashley Ragone
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Off the success of their third album “Jubilee” and New York Times bestselling memoir “Crying in H Mart,” both released in 2021, Japanese Breakfast is back.
In “For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women),” released on March 21, band frontwoman Michelle Zauner takes a darker approach, with a heavy guitar focus as compared to her electronic-pop background. In an interview with NPR, she describes themes of yearning explored on the album through various storylines. “All of these characters succumb to some sort of temptation or disrupt a balance in their lives and are then grappling with the consequences or regrets of that decision-making,” she said.
On the first track, “Here is Someone,” Zauner expresses a desire to escape the fast-paced music industry, retiring to a calmer life with the person she loves. This described person most likely refers to bandmate Peter Bradley, who she married in 2014.
The lead single off the album, “Orlando in Love,” refers to the consequences of misguided temptation. Zauner’s discussion with Uproxx explored the inspiration and meaning behind this song.
“The title comes from an epic poem by Matteo Maria Boiardo called Orlando Innamorato, which ends abruptly…because Italy was invaded by French troops…After writing it, it felt like the perfect thesis statement for an album that is largely about people, often men, who find themselves seduced by temptation and are duly punished for it,” Zauner said.
Zauner’s musical focus on people goes beyond yearning and temptation though, also continuing to reflect on her heritage following her mother’s passing, the topic explored further in her memoir. “I think especially after my mother passed away, I’ve felt like I’ve just been running through life trying to do everything I can because I’m so much more aware of how short it is,” she said.
“Honey Water” brings more bittersweet guitars and strings, detailing a lover who only seeks out the sweet temptations, displaying no loyalty to Zauner. This partner is compared to an ant, both drawn in by the sweet smell of honey water and traveling in a colony. With short verses and repetition of the final lyrics, Zauner packs an emotional punch without many words.
Toxic masculinity becomes the main thread in “Mega Circuit,” with imagery of guns, cars, and “incel eunuchs.” The swinging, brighter tone juxtaposes with Zauner feeling sorrow for the young boys being misled by toxic societal norms. Sadness and misplaced emotion lead to the unchecked anger of several generations of men.
Both “Little Girl” and “Men in Bars” are more overtly sorrowful and reflective, seeing the consequences of destructive habits and their effect on relationships. “Little Girl” is written from the perspective of a father to a daughter, who regrets his actions and seeks forgiveness. Zauner found inspiration in her estranged father, who she grew distant from after her mother’s death.
“When people grieve or go through a great loss, there are just ugly parts that come out of people when they’re in survival mode,” Zauner said in regards to the track. “Men in Bars” sees a narrator who additionally regrets her actions, a dysfunctional relationship pushing them to find comfort in the arms of strangers.
The album’s closer, and a personal favorite of the entire collection, is “Magic Mountain” inspired by the novel of the same name by Thomas Mann. The novel touches on coming of age, illness, and transformation through the eyes of the narrator. Zauner’s touching ballad turns the global stage of the novel into the lives of one relationship, as she sings “Bury me beside you in the shadow of my mountain.” The yearning and despair documented throughout the album, specifically through the experiences of women, is concluded on a loving, tender note.
Japanese Breakfast, despite being known for its bright pop sound, has successfully employed a sorrowful indie motif within its latest release. Each song feels valuable and well-placed within the album, with each storyline fully explored and resolved within the context of the project. The personal note and relatability from Zauner add authenticity and weight to the album that is clearly felt by the listener.
The Melancholy Tour in support of the album begins in California on April 12, with tickets available on Ticketmaster.
