Mitski – Puberty 2

Mitski – PUBERTY 2 is here in its original cassette format, released on Dead Oceans in 2016, and if you’ve been looking for a physical copy that isn’t the standard LP, this is the one worth tracking down.

About Mitski and PUBERTY 2

Mitski Miyawaki built her reputation through a run of self-released albums before Dead Oceans picked her up, and PUBERTY 2 is the record that shifted her from underground word-of-mouth to genuine critical recognition. Released in June 2016, it caught the attention of listeners and press alike for the directness of its songwriting and the raw, often uncomfortable emotional territory it covers. It arrived at a moment when a lot of people were paying close attention to what was happening in independent rock, and it delivered something that felt specific rather than calculated. Mitski has continued to release records since, but PUBERTY 2 remains a fixed point in conversations about that period of indie music.

Format and Label Details: Mitski – PUBERTY 2

This is the cassette pressing on Dead Oceans, catalog number DOC 123, from 2016. Dead Oceans is an Indianapolis-based independent label with a strong track record for quality physical releases, and this cassette sits within that catalog as a legitimate label-issued format rather than an afterthought. Cassette releases from this era of Dead Oceans releases tend to be produced with care, and DOC 123 is a catalog number that places it firmly within the label’s core output from that year.

Why Collectors Want This Copy

Cassette collecting has real momentum right now, and label-issued tapes from 2016 on respected independents are increasingly difficult to find in good condition. This isn’t a dubbed or unofficial release. It’s a properly manufactured cassette from the original label, pressed the same year as the album’s release. For collectors who prefer format completism, or who want a physical copy of this record outside of the more widely circulated vinyl pressings, this cassette fills a specific gap. Dead Oceans catalog items from this period don’t tend to stay available, and a clean copy of a 2016 tape issued under catalog number DOC 123 is not something you’ll find easily through conventional retail channels. If the cassette format is part of how you collect, this is a legitimate and original pressing worth having.