A day in 2012: Nothing makes me more elated than a holiday, especially when I was younger as it meant no school (my love for skipping school is comparable only to my obsession with ice cream). But on this particular day, my joy was doubled owing to it also being my birthday which meant FOOD! I’ve never been big on celebrating it, all that pomp and glitter makes me roll my eyes in disinterest, however, my gastric juices had been flowing in anticipation of scrumptious food that I get to glutton during the entire day since a week prior. As is the norm, I was late for breakfast (pun intended). Crawling towards the feast half asleep, up on noticing the contents on the table made me want to make a U-turn to my bedroom and retreat into slumber, hoping it to be just a bad dream… “MOOOOOM!!! WHY IS THERE CAKE?!?!?”
The present: Once again, I was late to get into Japanese Breakfast. Having only discovered her music a month ago, I was completely captivated by the sad and somber themes on Psychopomp and Soft Sounds from Another Planet. Expecting more of the similar sound on Jubilee, I was taken aback when what graced my ears was more joyous and upbeat than what I had anticipated. I was bamboozled, but far from disappointed, for Jubilee is easily the best work Michelle Zauner, the creative mind behind Japanese Breakfast, has penned to date.
Back to the past: A disappointed me pulled back a chair and got seated, all set to eat the cake (I despised cakes, especially on my birthday but you know how moms are). Bamboozled! It was an ice cream cake! Little me, unable to resist, might’ve had a bit too much cake that day.
The present: Older me, unable to resist, has been listening to Jubilee on repeat. It is an intricately conceived piece of sweetness, and you can feel the heart and soul Michelle Zauner has poured into this. The very first song, “Paprika” solidifies itself as an uplifting song, demarcating this album’s upbeat, happier tone, like the first bite of cake which turned out to be smooth, silky ice cream. “Paprika” announces itself with blaring horns and mesmerizing vocal delivery, captivating you into a slow waltz. It is Michelle Zauner, gracefully announcing moving on from the melancholia of the past. “Be Sweet” starts off with a playful tune, akin to something off Paramore’s After Laughter, soft and joyful. Underneath the uplifting and joyous melody, however, are rather dark lyrical undertones, entwined with longing and wanting to forgive (I shouldn’t have made a long face up on seeing the ‘cake’).
“Kokomo, IN” slows down the adrenaline-fueled momentum built by the first two tracks, taking a slower approach. Zauner claims this song to be what she would have said to someone when she was younger had she been wiser then. Is she singing about her once blissful relationship? I suppose we’d have to ask to find out.The following song, “Slide Tackle“ is easily my favorite cut across Jubilee. Featuring a wonderful saxophone solo, the song seems to be about fighting with your mental demons, just as my stomach was screaming it had had enough cake yet greedy young me went on.
“Posing in Bondage” is in a weird spot halfway into the album. A slow burning ballad longing for companionship layered with heavy synths does get the job done. While I’m not big on ballads, what blew me away particularly about this song was the NieR: Automata (one of my favorite video game soundtracks) vibe in the second half of the song, with bells & hymns reminiscent of a lush, forest harmony. “Sit”starts off with a mildly distorted guitar tone and beautifully delivered verses about the struggles of balancing attraction to others in a monogamous relationship. The thick synths ooze atmosphere and Zauner’s mesmerizing vocals are just the icing on the cake. (The cake is so good, and I absolutely do not want to share, but I also want a taste of other delicacies, alas, something’s gotta give.) “Savage Good Boy”embodies “self-validation from the perspective of a millionaire”, says Zauner. Accompanied by a passionate and rather tragic music video, it sees Zauner transform into a vampire. Superficially merry, but dingier as you dig deeper, this song is definitely one to haunt you (in a positive way) for a good while (just as my belly will haunt me after the gluttony).
“In Hell” is another favorite from Jubilee, seconded only by “Slide Tackle”. With the central theme of heart wrenching difficulties due to having to put her dog down (and my difficulty of putting the spoon down), “In Hell”is certainly the saddest song on the album. The succinct synth following the choruses steals the show here. “Tactics”is a luxuriant, string laden ballad that hits a tangibly bittersweet tone. The strings add paramount emotion to the flow of the song and sets up the closer “Posing for Cars”. Starting off with a somber sounding acoustic guitar, chaperoned by Zauner’s tantalizing voice, it goes off on a decrescendo for the entire album, closing it out with a charming guitar. (I realize that I been eternally thankful to my mom yet unable to express it to her directly (and I should)).
Jubilee is the perfect blend of happy and sad, bittersweet tones expressed with utmost zeal and emotion that is sure to bring a tear or two to your eyes. Take it as music, or take it as a life lesson, but Jubilee is an essential listen for indie popheads. Having listened to this album and read her book Crying in H Mart (which is to be adapted into a movie), I feel thankful to Michelle for making foolish old me realize that I should appreciate the ones near and dear more than ever. Hoping to move an ocean and a continent away from my mother in a couple months, I wonder how this album will hit me then. Regardless, I’ll be anticipating to catch Japanese Breakfast on tour by that time. Jubilee is available now via Dead Oceans, and you can purchase/stream the album here.
8/10