“Guts” was a major hit, right?
Let’s go back to 2021. The album “Sour” was released, and people could not get enough of the breakthrough, ex Disney Channel-kid, Olivia Rodrigo. Fans nearly broke Spotify while helping her break the record for the biggest opening week of an album by a female artist. Every mainstream pop radio station was playing “Driver’s License” or “Deja Vu.” Despite the overwhelming glory Rodrigo achieved, there seemed to be a lack of hype for the sophomore album, “Guts,” which was released Friday, Sep. 8. While there might not have been as much initial praise, her lyrics still profoundly speak to the experience of a girl on the brink of adulthood. As a girl on the brink of adulthood myself, I’m here to give you my credible review.
The first songs Rodrigo released as singles were promising. “vampire” and “bad idea, right?” effectively showcased the young singer’s talent to blend the lines between two completely different genres. Though a belty ballad, “Vampire” has bursts of loud and fast drums and a harsh sounding electric guitar, which is parallel to the instrumentals found in “bad Idea, right?”
Rodrigo’s voice carries so much power and emotion, but I unfortunately felt the ballads becoming repetitive as I moved down the rest of the tracks. “making the bed,” “logical,” and “pretty isn’t pretty,” all have beautiful lyricism, but they become buried by the ordinary production.
While listening to “the grudge,” which arguably has the strongest storytelling in the album, I began to sing the tune of “Driver’s License” and found that the two instrumentals and chords bore uncanny resemblance. I understand that there are only so many chord progressions to pick from, but it was still an amusingly disappointing experience. “lacy” is the one ballad I felt stood out from the rest. Rodrigo’s raspy alto register above the simple guitar picking pattern is as heartbreaking as the guilt of envy and lust that the song conveys.
Moving on to her pop-grunge anthems; this is where Rodrigo’s strengths lie. While she has beautiful vocals that she showcases in her contemporary songs, there’s something about her mixture of angst and humor that creates a refreshing sound that is unlike what any other mainstream artist is releasing. Sensing inspirations such as Paramore and Avril Lavigne, Rodrigo brings back Y2K radio hits with a modern twist. While it’s hard to compare this sound with slow, “gut” wrenching songs, “ballad of a homeschooled girl” was the standout amongst the entire album. A belty chorus, humorous speak-sing verses, and unapologetic honesty makes this track Rodrigo’s most unique, and my personal favorite.
It is certain that Rodrigo has come this far due to her songs’ transparency and accurate depiction of the teenage girl world. While I enjoyed a majority of the songs on “Guts,” I hope to hear more of her upbeat songs, or that she at least finds a more creative producer for her ballads.
