Albums to watch

For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women)

Japanese Breakfast

For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women)

Fourth solo album of lo-fi pop from Philadelphia musician Michelle Zauner produced by Blake Mills (Fiona Apple, Perfume Genius, Laura Marling) and featuring a guest appearance by Jeff Bridges

ADM rating[?]

8.1

Label
Dead Oceans
UK Release date
21/03/2025
US Release date
21/03/2025
  1. 10.0 |   NME

    Michelle Zauner’s deliciously nuanced songwriting shines on the indie rockers’ bold, beautifully realised fourth album
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  2. 10.0 |   DIY

    Both a leap in musical maturity as well as a callback to vintage Japanese Breakfast
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  3. 10.0 |   Dork

    It’s the sound of a supremely gifted songwriter lifting every facet of her craft to a new level
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  4. 9.0 |   Paste Magazine

    You don’t so much listen to Michelle Zauner's band's new album as immerse yourself in it, letting it bathe you in its brilliance
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  5. 9.0 |   All Music

    Zauner invites us into the magic mirror of her life and pulls us through to the other side
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  6. 9.0 |   Under The Radar

    Doubtless, this is Japanese Breakfast’s “artist’s” album—daring, literary, entirely inspired, and unique. This time around, Zauner sings for the artists, poets, and every swollen heart dying of love
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  7. 9.0 |   musicOMH

    Orchestral arrangements, guitars with just the right amount of reverb and Michelle Zauner’s wistful, sad vocals at the centre of everything – this is an album to luxuriate in
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  8. 9.0 |   Slant Magazine

    The album’s production is imbued with a rich sense of depth and warmth
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  9. 8.6 |   Beats Per Minute

    If her first three records form a sort of triptych, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) forges a new path ahead under the gauze of a dawning sun, resulting in one of her strongest collections of songs yet, a finely-hewn and blushing jewel
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  10. 8.1 |   Spectrum Culture

    For Melancholy Brunettes is a surprising shift from Michelle Zauner’s Japanese Breakfast, but once the shock wears off, you’re left with something truly beautiful
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  11. 8.0 |   Far Out

    It’s a brilliant record that perfectly captures these emotions and embellishes them with gorgeously crafted melodies
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  12. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    A wonderfully fragile collection takes off with Honey Water – not to mention an unexpected appearance from the actor Jeff Bridges
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  13. 8.0 |   Rolling Stone

    Michelle Zauner’s latest, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), is another example of her eclectic indie-pop excellence
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  14. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    Michelle Zauner's follow up to Japanese Breakfast's breakthrough record Jubilee, For Melancholy Brunettes finds beauty in softer, darker sounds
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  15. 8.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    These poignant songs are as relevant as ever in the United States, now equipped with an insatiable leading figure who has become a patron saint of noxious male authority for the impressionables. It’s only a shame that the music, albeit beautifully composed, doesn’t feel as forceful as the subject
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  16. 8.0 |   Uncut

    Showcases the melancholic beauty of Zauner's songwriting, her storytelling skills honed across mediums. Print edition only

  17. 7.7 |   Pitchfork

    Michelle Zauner’s lovely, pensive, capital-R Romantic fourth album takes a step back from autobiography to examine the performances and peril of fame itself
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  18. 7.2 |   Northern Transmissions

    The missing spontaneity and grit of the band’s back catalogue is not a problem in itself. But departing from both is a risk
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  19. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    On For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), Japanese Breakfast quiet the fanfare but deliver enough quality to stay relevant
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  20. 6.0 |   The Independent

    Her soothing voice, though very lovely, doesn’t always sell the cleverness of her lyrics
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  21. 6.0 |   The FT

    Michelle Zauner’s first album since the publication of her bestselling memoir ‘Crying in H Mart’
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  22. 6.0 |   The Observer

    Michelle Zauner addresses big themes on her band’s fourth album, but her sharp writing isn’t best served by wistful arrangements
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