Japanese Hybrid-SACD pressing: Acclaimed singer-songwriter Mitski returns with Be the Cowboy, her fifth studio album and the highly anticipated follow-up to the breakthrough success of 2016's Puberty 2. Released by Dead Oceans and recorded with longtime collaborator and producer Patrick Hyland, this 14-track collection further showcases Mitski's distinctive artistry, blending intimate songwriting with adventurous and genre-spanning arrangements. Throughout the album, yearning harmonium drones, dreamy and emotionally rich vocals, mournful organs, woozy keyboards, and haunting melodies create a captivating atmosphere, while melancholy folk-inspired songs with subtle country influences sit alongside sweeping orchestral flourishes and moments of irresistible disco-pop energy. Drawing on the perspective of an internationally raised and widely traveled artist, Be the Cowboy balances vulnerability, longing, and resilience, resulting in one of Mitski's most ambitious and acclaimed works, a record that is equally suited for quiet reflection and cathartic sing-alongs on the dance floor.