After over two years of anticipation, Olivia Rodrigo, released her sophomore album, ‘Guts’, on Sept. 8th. The album is a bold mix of ballads about heartbreak, and grungy pop songs about love and longing.
For starters, the first two singles, ‘Vampire’ and ‘Bad Idea, Right’ did not reflect the album very well. Though they weren’t bad songs, they didn’t represent what the album was about, which, according to Rodrigo, was, “…the confusion that comes with becoming a young adult and figuring out your place in this world.” Instead, they stuck more closely with the themes of her first album, which was centered around a break-up.
However, one song called, “teenage dream” sticks closest to Rodrigo’s stated theme of the pains of growing up. This song not only highlights her abilities as a lyricist and vocalist, but it is also the song on the album that is best able to utilize new styles of music, further showcasing her growth as an artist.
Many of the songs on the album also come with a new sound for Rodrigo that is much closer to alternative, 2000s music. This style may be making a comeback right now, but the way it was put onto this album felt almost forced. The style and aesthetic seemed like a jarring change from the young artist’s previous aesthetic in her previous album, ‘Sour’. This is why the songs that were able to incorporate both her older, and new aesthetic stood out the strongest on the album.
The album has gotten a lot of attention so far, specifically her singles Vampire and Bad Idea Right, which are at #1 and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Similarly to the acceptance of her last album, many of the songs on the new album have gained popularity across social platforms like TikTok, where users are creating unique trends related to the songs.
Overall, I don’t think the album is necessarily a satisfying first listen, but the more I listen to it, the more it has grown on me. I think her bridges are really strong with their lyric and voice aspects. The songs that stood out the most to me were the more ballad songs, as they highlighted her voice the strongest.
It’s remarkable to see Rodrigo pave her way as a strong female artist and very inspiring to see her success. If you haven’t heard the album yet, I would definitely recommend giving it a few listens.
