Nearly 2 years after her hit debut album SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo has returned to dominating our earbuds and Spotify statistics with her grungy and outspoken sophomore album GUTS, which was released on September 8th. Previously released singles, “bad idea right?” and “vampire,” got fans excited for what her future album held in store. These two songs featured angrier rock instrumentals and deeper lyrics. Now at the age of 20, Rodrigo’s GUTS explores her life as a maturing young adult while also reflecting on the emotional experiences that have made her the person that she is today.
Upon my first listening to the album, I could tell that Rodrigo had discovered her own musical identity that reflected her personal music taste, as the album was full of anthems inspired by early 2000’s pop/punk rock and melancholic soft piano ballads detailing the stages of heartbreak and betrayal. Seeing as some of Rodrigo’s inspirations include her favourite artists such as Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, and Alanis Morissette (two of whom had made appearances during her SOUR Tour), it’s clear to see how she was able to incorporate her idols’ musical styles into her own to craft her beat. I’d like to highlight a few of my favourite songs off the album that are sure to become classic favourites amongst the Livies fandom.
The album’s opener “all-american b*tch” was similar to her first album’s, “brutal,” as it started off with a simple guitar rhythm before transitioning to an angry hard-rock ballad. The song featured punk-styled guitar riffs, background screams, and lyrics detailing her desire to show off her emotional side, rather than her previous picture-perfect persona. Overall, a strong start to a rather “gutsy” album that Rodrigo promised.
Her fifth track “ballad of a homeschool girl” was very reminiscent of a pop song you’d hear in the opening credits of a typical 2000’s teen movie. Rodrigo sang about awkward experiences as a teenager, with lyrics such as “I told secrets I shouldn’t tell / I stumbled over all my words / I made it weird, I made it worse / Every day that I’m alive, it’s social suicide.” Even as one of the most popular and successful artists for her age, Rodrigo reminds her listeners that she has faced the same awkward stages of teenhood that everyone fears, and isn’t afraid to be candid about it.
Another one of the album’s notable rock ballads includes “get him back!” which tells a story of jealousy and revenge after being heartbroken, with clever and witty lyrics such as “and when I told him how he hurt me, he’d tell me I was trippin’ / but I am my father’s daughter, so maybe I can fix him.” Featuring a catchy chorus with Rodrigo’s harmonic vocals, electric guitar, and powerful drum beat, this is sure to be one of the new best break-up anthems following “good 4 u“.
Out of the more sorrowful songs on the album, my personal favourite would have to be “the grudge“. Rodrigo’s lyricism as she described a one-sided relationship that ended in betrayal was strong in this one, with heartfelt lyrics such as “the arguments that I’ve won against you in my head / in the shower, in the car and in the mirror before bed / yeah, I’m so tough when I’m alone and I make you feel so guilty.” The pairing of the piano along with an eerie choral in the background towards the climax of the song created a perfect blend of reflection and healing.
In her song “lacy,” Rodrigo details a fictional character she feels envious of because of her beauty, who’s known as a “dazzling starlet / Bardot reincarnate.” This song reminded me a lot of Dolly Parton‘s “Jolene”, which tells a similar story of jealousy and comparison. However, Rodrigo’s jealousy in this song becomes obsessive, to the point where it may seem as though she begins to idolize her. Rodrigo’s use of poetic comparisons to describe her character of Lacy was well-written, using descriptions such as “skin like puff pastry” and “made of angel dust” to bring her character to life.
The album’s closer “teenage dream” isn’t exactly as light-hearted and poppy as Katy Perry‘s well-known song with the same title, and instead, gives Rodrigo the spotlight to reflect on her upcoming adulthood while also grieving for her childhood. What starts off as a slow ballad soon grows and becomes climactic along with crashing cymbals, electric guitar, and a melodic piano. I thought that the build-up of this song was similar to Billie Eilish‘s “Happier Than Ever.” If you give both songs a listen, you’ll understand what I mean. This song was a perfect ending to a rather moody and heartfelt album.
While SOUR will always remain a staple for Gen Z pop music, GUTS shows that Rodrigo is never afraid to experiment with her musical style and provide her listeners with relatable lyrics that not only reflect her as an artist but also the person she is growing into. This album was overall an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, so be sure to keep your seatbelts on tight when you’re having your first listen. Now that the GUTS world tour has been announced, I, and other Livies included are excited to scream our hearts out to these new songs when they’re performed live.