Olivia Rodrigo’s long-awaited debut album is here and it’s everything we need it to be.
SOUR is the debut album from up-and-coming artist and actress, Olivia Rodrigo. What started as a breakup, sparked an entire 11-track body of work. Throughout the album, there are elements of pop, rock, and punk with one message through it all- it can be hard to get over an ex.
This album covers a lot of ground. Rodrigo sings about the difficulty of being a teenager in 2021 along with getting over her ex who moved on quickly after they ended their relationship.
It begins with “brutal.” The teenage angst really shines through in this song because of the punk feel. It’s a shorter track that leads into “traitor,” which has a more somber tone and is a lot slower-paced with somewhat of an old Taylor Swift feel.
Rodrigo put out a couple singles before the album dropped, one being “drivers license.” It debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 and it stayed there for eight consecutive weeks. A catchy song that has a deep-rooted message: breakups hurt. This track leads into “1 step forward, 3 steps back” where the somber tone remains. This song is an interpolation of Taylor Swift’s 2017 hit “New Year’s Day.” Short and sweet, it touches on the challenge of navigating relationships.
Another single that was dropped before the album was “deja vu.” The gloomy tone stays true in this hit released in early April 2021. This song expresses how there are similarities that overlap between old relationships and new relationships. Moving on from heartbreak, this track leads into the third single “good 4 u.” Because of the pop-rock feel, it feels comparable to 2000s Paramore. The use of drums and guitar in this song give off an angry, angsty energy that is perfectly placed in the middle of the album.
“enough for you” is a heartbreaking track that describes how much effort can be put into a relationship only for it to crumble and fall apart. Although slow, the tone feels more optimistic than the beginning of the album. “happier” is the next track that exudes passion. Rodrigo teased this track on her Instagram in January 2020, and we’re pleased it made it on the album.
The angst reappears in “jealousy, jealousy.” The pop-rock feel in this track is refreshing. “favorite crime” follows and does not disappoint. A hopeful tone breaks through this song as she is realizing she deserved more in the relationship. This is where the process of moving on begins.
Rodrigo closes it out with “hope ur ok.” Written from the perspective of one of her friends, she reminisces about past friendships and connections. It’s a hopeful tone to round out the album and to remind us that nothing lasts forever.
SOUR is a strong piece of work that expresses heartbreak, moving on but not forgetting, and teenage desperation all in one. Olivia Rodrigo shows her range throughout this album and has a bright future ahead of her. It has been inspiring watching her hard work pay off and we can’t wait to hear what’s next for Rodrigo.
Rating: 8/10
Our Favorite Tracks (in no particular order):
- “enough for you”
- “traitor”
- “deja vu”
- “jealousy, jealousy”
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