Olivia Rodrigo beat the curse of the sophomore slump with her new album “Guts,” released on Sept. 8. 

“Guts” follows Rodrigo’s transition from her teenage years to her early 20s. The album, which Rodrigo describes as “the confusion that comes with becoming a young adult,” is a homage to the feeling of being scared of adulthood. 

Following the release of her record breaking debut album “Sour” in 2021, fans were eager to see the 20-year-old singer-songwriter’s next project. Rodrigo released two singles preceding the album that are making Billboard’s Hot 100 their home. While the first single “vampire” resembles Rodrigo’s previous works, “bad idea right?” strays from strictly pop to a pop-punk vibe which hints at a new direction for her writing style. 

The album features 12 original tracks with no other artists, and four extra tracks each only available on different vinyl variants. 

Most of the album’s songs are upbeat with a fast tempo, perfect for listening in the car or on a run. At the moment, “all-american b****,” ballad of a homeschooled girl,” and “pretty isn’t pretty” are my favorite songs on the album because of their exhilarating sound and relatable, catchy lyrics.

One of my favorite qualities of Rodrigo’s new album is her tendency to create songs with a two-act structure, where she starts with a soft tone that gradually builds to a heavier, louder ending. “Vampire” offers a perfect example of this. The song begins with a light piano melody and lofty vocals and slowly builds as more instruments are added until Rodrigo is belting the bridge alongside heavy drums. 

The general response to the album was overall positive as Rodrigo was able to connect with her target audience. However, multiple people online have complained about the lack of consistency throughout the album. While “Sour” had a definite storyline about a person’s first heartbreak, “Guts” presents a scattered tracklist with a variety of sounds without a visible, connective string. Yet, this resembles the transition of a teenage girl into her twenties, where life doesn’t fit an exact storyline.

While Rodrigo rebranded her sound for “Guts,” the lyrics still hold a sense of depth and emotion that makes you stop and think. Her ability to pair devastating lyrics with an upbeat tone makes her album one for both dancing and pondering life decisions. In “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” Rodrigo sings, “Feels like my skin doesn’t fit right over my bones,” alluding to the idea that she feels like she cannot fit even her own standards in a world focused on critiquing every detail of her life. “All-american b****,” where Rodrigo compares the ideal American teenage girl to her own self-tendencies, also includes this theme.

As The New York Times wrote in its review, “Rodrigo’s music pulses with the verve of someone who’s been buttoned tight beginning to come loose.”