Olivia Rodrigo’s new album entitled “GUTS” pierced the heart and ears of her listeners with her punk-infused pop sound. Visually and auditorily, the album took heavy inspiration from 2000s pop culture. She began her drop with the single entitled “vampire”, an interesting combination of powerful vocals that represent the hard-hitting tone of the album with a heavy dose of dramatic flare.
I have to admit, the opener of the album being “all-american b****” threw me off after listening to “vampire”. It is punchy and bratty in the best way. It was straight out of the film Ten Things I Hate About You and is entirely too fitting for anyone who has experienced rage unique to teenage girlhood. Her references to childish games in the lyric “I am light as a feather and as stiff as a board” combined with the finale of screaming followed by light and airy tones made for an all too familiar experience as a female listener.
“bad idea, right?”, her second single and third track, is an absolute banger. I might be biased because this song will most definitely end up on my Spotify Wrapped, but everything about the sound itched a part of my brain. The scream-worthy lyrics combined with a catchy sound will get stuck in your head and you’ll be grateful for it. Of course, Rodrigo had to remind us how diverse her discography is capable of being with the heartwrenching fourth track “lacy”. For those who prefer softer sounds, often I am one of them, this track is for you. Twisted and delicate, her lyricism paints a vivid portrait of envy in the face of beauty.
Whiplash once again with track five, “ballad of a homeschooled girl”, which possesses some universal relatability in its lyricism. The sound is reminiscent of the earlier pieces with its hard-hitting backing track. She brings back a conversational element to break up the quick tempo, much like “bad idea, right?”. Her shock-value in the song is where she picks up some much-needed momentum before diving headfirst into one of the most tragic songs on the album.
The tracks “making the bed” and “logic” work together to slow the listener down and pay attention to the heartbreaking undertone of the album: the reality of a warped perception of love. Rodrigo details her own romantic experience and heartache with poetic lyrics intertwined with an emotionally evocative sound. I have always been a lyrical person when listening to an album, as a writer it’s in my blood to analyze the undertones and parallels to earlier tracks, and Rodrigo does an excellent job drawing comparisons to the louder expressions from before.
She once again captures teenage girlhood perfectly in the snapshot of “get him back!”, picking up the pace and showcasing the glamour combined with nitty gritty feelings when it comes to complex relationships in the industry. It’s dynamic, flexible as it jerks the listener between soft and strong sounds. Her vocals work well with the punk-infused melodies on the album and “love is embarrassing” is just another example of it.
The grand finale of the album being the final three tracks makes for a soul-crushing combo. My personal favorite is “the grudge”, I am sentimental before I am a critic and while some may say the track is lackluster, I’d argue it is a masterpiece. She is vulnerable, admitting her own mistakes while still coping with heartbreak and the confusion that follows. Hyperspecificity in music can be a hit or miss, but Rodrigo accomplishes to tell a story and relate to her audience. “pretty isn’t pretty” isn’t my favorite on the album, but carries the weight of her previous work “jealousy, jealousy” and it’s always nice to echo a previous work for consistency’s sake.
The final blow of “teenage dream” delivers a stunning ballad, expressing all of the inner thoughts Rodrigo has held onto since her debut album. Growing up as a child star and up-and-coming female artist puts an unworldly amount of pressure on her which she tells through the last track. It wraps up the themes in a neat bow that somehow leaves the listener curious to relisten from the beginning through a new perspective.
Taking into account all of the story-telling elements on top of a visually compelling aesthetic, the album exceeded my expectations. Of course, some would argue that the hits of her debut album could not be outdone by her sophomore work. However, if you’re a part of the sensationalized “teenage girl in her twenties” trope like myself, it will hit a little too close to home and is certainly one of my favorite releases of the year.
