For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)

Pitchfork 7.7/10 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.

The Needle Drop 7/10 Arguably Jbrekkie's most holistic set of songs yet.

NME 5/5 True to the literary whimsy of its title, ‘For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)’ sounds like living inside a classical piece of art, every detail an elaborate brushstroke.

The Line of Best Fit 8/10 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.

Rolling Stone 4/5 Michelle Zauner’s latest, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), is another example of her eclectic indie-pop excellence.

Dork 5/5 A dreamy escapist paradise to reflect, to cry, to laugh, to dream. It’s the sound of a supremely gifted songwriter lifting every facet of her craft to a new level.

DIY 5/5 Both a leap in musical maturity as well as a callback to vintage Japanese Breakfast.

The Independent 3/5 Her soothing voice, though very lovely, doesn’t always sell the cleverness of her lyrics.

All Music 4.5/5 With For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), Zauner invites us into the magic mirror of her life and pulls us through to the other side.

The Skinny 4/5 Michelle Zauner's follow up to Japanese Breakfast's breakthrough record Jubilee, For Melancholy Brunettes finds beauty in softer, darker sounds.

Under The Radar 9.0/10 It is a special album whose appeal has been tailored to a specific cohort…poets and their drowned loves, artists and their lethal whimsies, and ultimately devotees of those challenging and defiant fourth albums, eager to see a successful artist break so swiftly with the popular culture and its sometimes-stifling expectations.

Clash 8/10 ‘For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)’ is Michelle Zauner’s most mature offering to date, and one that grows on you with every listen. This is a record to get lost in, an album to soundtrack your moments of reflection. Bewitching, bold and most importantly fresh territory.

Mojo 4/5 Sonically ambitious fourth from South Korean singer/author.

The Observer 3/5 Michelle Zauner addresses big themes on her band’s fourth album, but her sharp writing isn’t best served by wistful arrangements.

Slant 4.5/5 For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) represents a significant sonic step forward for Japanese Breakfast

Pop Matters 7/10 On For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), Japanese Breakfast quiet the fanfare but deliver enough quality to stay relevant.

Spectrum Culture 81% 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.

Beats Per Minute 86% 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.

The Telegraph 4/5 For Melancholy Brunettes is an odd, subtle, suffocating album essaying a complexity and ambiguity you don’t often hear in modern pop.

The Irish Times 4/5 Melody and vulnerability in beautiful equilibrium.

Hot Press 9.5/10 Gleaming with superb production and songwriting, Japanese Breakfast’s latest is a masterpiece.