Retired from Sad, New Career in Business

Retired from Sad, New Career in Business is Mitski's second studio album, originally conceived and recorded as her senior project at SUNY Purchase. Released in 2013, it represents a significant sonic bridge between the piano-led minimalism of her debut, Lush, and the more rock-oriented sounds of her later career. The album is most notable for its use of a 60-piece student orchestra, which provides a massive, cinematic backdrop to Mitski's intimate songwriting. This orchestral element gives the album a 'chamber pop' or 'baroque pop' feel that is unique in her discography. Lyrically, the album explores themes of aging, the fear of the future (most notably on 'Class of 2013'), and the complexities of desire and shame. Critical reception has retrospectively hailed the album as a brilliant display of her compositional skills, with many noting its theatrical, almost Off-Broadway quality. It remains a fan favorite for its raw emotional honesty and its ambitious, large-scale production.