Puberty 2
2016 studio album by Mitski
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Puberty 2 is the fourth studio album by American indie pop singer-songwriter Mitski, released on June 17, 2016, the first release through Dead Oceans. It was produced by longtime collaborator Patrick Hyland. Upon its release, Puberty 2 received widespread acclaim from music critics, with many praising Mitski's emotional delivery and lyrically complex themes, which include longing, love, depression, alienation and racial identity. The album was preceded by the lead single "Your Best American Girl" on March 1, 2016, alongside the announcement of the album,[1] and the second single "Happy" on May 3, 2016. A music video for "A Burning Hill" was released on October 11, 2016, followed by a tour covering North American and Europe.
| Puberty 2 | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 17, 2016 | |||
| Studio | Acme Studios (Westchester, New York) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 31:25 | |||
| Label | Dead Oceans | |||
| Producer | Patrick Hyland | |||
| Mitski chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Puberty 2 | ||||
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Background and recording
In a Q&A with Stereogum regarding Puberty 2, Mitski stated that after the breakout indie success of her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, she felt out of touch with music, and that she "went back to her roots" in recording Puberty 2 by drawing inspiration from the compositions of all three of her previous studio albums. She also stated that in contrast to her previous album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, Puberty 2's music would not be made with the intent to be performed live at DIY venues in similar renditions, and instead she would create new renditions of the songs to perform live.[3] The album was recorded entirely in the now-defunct Acme Studios in Westchester, New York, over a two-week period with producer and longtime collaborator Patrick Hyland.[3]
Composition
The New York Times labeled the sound of Puberty 2 as "an impressive collection of D.I.Y. punk and indie rock".[4] According to Jillian Mapes of Pitchfork, Puberty 2's composition contains second-wave emo, "wistful dream pop", "slow-simmering electronics", "brusquely strummed folk-punk", surf guitar, and "plenty of '60s pop hooks". Mapes also noted Mitski's vocal delivery on the album to go through different "modes", including "deadpan disenfranchisement, smooth R&B, dream pop croon, gasping-for-breath pleas, [and] wall of harmonies (with herself)".[5]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.2/10[6] |
| Metacritic | 87/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [8] |
| The A.V. Club | A[9] |
| Consequence of Sound | A−[10] |
| Financial Times |  [11] |
| The Guardian | [12] |
| Pitchfork | 8.5/10[5] |
| Q | [13] |
| Rolling Stone |  [14] |
| Spin | 9/10[15] |
| Uncut | 8/10[16] |
Puberty 2 was released to widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic the album received an average score of 87, based on 22 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[7] Critics praised the album's more restrained and nuanced emotional trajectory, as well as its complex lyrical themes, which include longing, love, depression, alienation, and racial identity.[10][17] Laura Snapes of NPR commented on the album's subtlety, writing that Puberty 2 "is a strike against the happy/sad poles that govern our lives."[18] Katie Rife of The A.V. Club deemed it "a triumphant new step in her evolution".[9]
Accolades
| Publication | Accolade | Year | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The A.V. Club | The A.V. Club's Top 50 Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 8 |
|
| The Observer | The 25 best albums of the century so far | 2025 | N/a | |
| Paste | The 50 Best Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 5 |
|
| Pitchfork | The 20 Best Rock Albums of 2016 | 2016 | N/a | |
| The 50 Best Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 18 |
||
| The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s | 2019 | 30 |
||
| Rolling Stone | 50 Best Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 23 |
|
| Rough Trade | Albums of the Year | 2016 | 73 |
|
| The Skinny | Top 50 Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 15 |
|
| Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 8 |
|
| Time | The Top 10 Best Albums | 2016 | 3 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mitski Miyawaki, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Happy" | 3:40 |
| 2. | "Dan the Dancer" | 2:25 |
| 3. | "Once More to See You" | 3:01 |
| 4. | "Fireworks" | 2:37 |
| 5. | "Your Best American Girl" | 3:32 |
| 6. | "I Bet on Losing Dogs" | 2:50 |
| 7. | "My Body's Made of Crushed Little Stars" | 1:56 |
| 8. | "Thursday Girl" | 3:08 |
| 9. | "A Loving Feeling" | 1:32 |
| 10. | "Crack Baby" | 4:52 |
| 11. | "A Burning Hill" | 1:49 |
| Total length: | 31:25 | |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Fireproof" |
| 1:49 |
| 13. | "I'm a Fool to Want You" |
| 3:49 |
| Total length: | 37:03 | ||
Personnel
- Mitski – music, performance, album art
- Patrick Hyland – production, performance, mastering, photographs
Charts
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[31] | 137 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[32] | 5 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[33] | 18 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[34] | 19 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[35] | 32 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[36] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[37] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
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‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||