Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR | Album Review 💿

Singer, songwriter, and actress Olivia Rodrigo shines on her awesome, consistent, electrifying, and unapologetically Gen-Z debut album, SOUR.

One of the most highly anticipated albums of 2021 comes from none other than singer, songwriter, and actress 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo.  Rodrigo quickly warmed up our playlists in January of 2021, unleashing her dominant no. 1 hit, 🎵 “drivers license”.  This was all she needed to build up buzz, though she’d go on to release two more fine advance singles (🎵 “déjà vu” and “good 4 u”).  Early signals indicated Rodrigo was on her way to legit superstardom.  Her awesome debut album, 💿 SOUR – a Gen-Zer’s dream – confirms this. 

“Brutal”

“Where’s my fucking teenage dream? / If someone tells me one more time / ‘Enjoy your youth,’ I’m gonna cry.” Woo! ✅ 🎵 “Brutal” ends up being a terrific opener on SOUR.  Here, we get ‘brutal’ honesty from Rodrigo.  I love the attitude and spunk that she brings to the track. The sound perfectly encapsulates Gen-Z and sets the tone for SOUR.  The chorus is epic, highlighted by the line, “God, it’s brutal out here.”  She keeps the momentum rolling on the ballad ✅ 🎵 “traitor,” delivering emotional and expressive vocals as she confronts her ‘betrayer.’ “And ain’t it funny how you ran to her / The second that we called it quits?” she sings on the pre-chorus, adding on the chorus, “Loved you at your worst but that didn’t matter.” Truly brutal, and much like “Brutal,” I love the way Rodrigo is so honest and open about her feelings.  Very emo. 

Oliva Rodrigo totally compels on her no. 1 single, ✅ 🎵“drivers license” written by herself and 🎼 ✍ Daniel Nigro, who also produces. While she should totally be stoked here – she gets her driver’s license after all – she’s bummed. “Today I drove through the suburbs / Crying ‘cause you weren’t around.” The guy she desired to be with is with someone else, and that person makes her totally insecure.  On the third verse, she continues her lament, expressing how “All of my friends are tired / Of hearing how much I miss you.” She sums up her feelings superbly on the chorus, asserting at the end, “I guess you didn’t mean what you wrote in that song about me / ‘Cause you said forever, now I drive alone past your street.”  She also gets totally in her feelings on the bridge: “Can’t drive past the places we used to go to / ‘Cause I still fuckin’ love you, babe.” “Drivers License” is a bop thanks to the songwriting, solid production and of course, an emotional, strong vocal performance.

“1 step forward, 3 steps back”  

The first time I heard 🎵 “1 step forward, 3 steps back,” I found it familiar.  Why? Hmm – something about those rhythmic piano lines.  “1 step forward, 3 steps back” is familiar because it actually interpolates the 🎙 Taylor Swift song, 🎵 “New Year’s Day” from her 2017 album, 💿reputation.  The results are nothing short of compelling, continuing the consistency and excellence of SOUR.  Besides the great sound, we get another emotionally driven performance from Rodrigo and great, heartfelt lyrics to work with.  “I’m the love of your life until I make you mad,” she sings on the chorus, continuing, “It’s always one step forward and three steps back.”

On ✅ 🎵 “déjà vu”, Rodrigo discusses her ex’s new relationship, ultimately asking the question, “Do you get déjà vu when she’s with you?” Daniel Nigro continues to nail the production work. There is lushness throughout, but it should be noted Nigro picks things up mightily as the record progresses, with the ending being particularly grand. Rodrigo sings relatively calm, cool, and collected on both of the verses.  By the chorus, she goes all 🍳 Emeril Lagasse on us and “kicks things up a notch,” which is pretty awesome. I love her falsetto in particular – it’s quite beautiful. After the chorus, the production begins expanding including the addition of rhythmic drum programming – FTW! Of course, it’s not all sound that stands out as there are some nice lyrical moments as Rodrigo deep dives into her ex’s new relationship including, “Watching reruns of Glee / Bein’ annoying, singin’ in harmony” and “And I bet she knows Billy Joel / ‘Cause you played her ‘Uptown Girl’.” Woo!

✅ 🎵 “good 4 u” gives “drivers license,” the crowning achievement of SOUR, a run for its money. Written once more by Rodrigo and Nigro, Nigro produces alongside 🎛 Alexander 23. Nigro and Alexander 23 craft a lit pop-punk oriented backdrop filled with angst. Rodrigo matches the intensity, bringing ample personality via her angst-filled Gen-Z teenage persona!  Furthermore, she has the songwriting to sell via her performance, dabbling in that ever-relatable topic of heartbreak. The best moment is the chorus where she’s “Cryin’ on the floor of my bathroom / But you’re so unaffected, I really don’t get it / but I guess good for you.”  

“Enough for you”

The first six songs on SOUR are all strong. Following up one of the very best songs, “good 4 u,” is quite a tall task.  Of course, Olivia Rodrigo is up to the task on another compelling ballad, 🎵 “enough for you.”  Here, Rodrigo provides a mix of tenderer vocals and more belted, powered vocals that capture her mood.  Of course, the topic of choice is matters of heart as she speaks of her inability to be enough for him.  However, Olivia asserts on the bridge, “Someday I’ll be everything to somebody else / And they’ll think that I am so exciting.” 

Yet another ballad follows with ✅ 🎵 “happier.” Of course, it’s another home run. Compared to “enough for you,” there’s a bit more groove, thanks to that lilting compound duple meter.  Early on, within the narrative, Rodrigo highlights her breakup – we knew it was coming.  Anyways, she goes on to send her well wishes – at least to a certain extent.

“Oh, I hope you’re happy
But not like how you were with me
I’m selfish, I know, I can’t let you go
So find someone great, but don’t find no one better
I hope you’re happy, but don’t be happier.”

While the sentiment of the aforementioned chorus is very Gen Z in spirit in Rodrigo’s hands, you don’t have to be that young to relate to the feelings being sung about.  Adding to the excellence of “happier” is the production, which is quite lush including the use of some strings.

“Jealousy, jealousy” 

“I kinda wanna throw my phone across the room / ‘Cause all I see are girls too good to be true.” WOO! Olivia remains ‘sour,’ with 🎵 “jealousy, jealousy.”  Even though she’s not in a good place, the song itself is pretty rad… not sure that Gen-Z use ‘rad’ anymore but whatever… bad ass? Anyways, the script is rinse and repeat for Rodrigo but in the best and most positive way possible.  She has a potent groove behind her, is chocked-full of attitude and feistiness, and honestly, continues to deliver ultra-relatable material whether you’re her age or have been her age and remember such jealousy.

“The things I did / Just so I could call you mine / The things you did / Well, I hope I was your favorite crime.” Penultimate cut, 🎵 “favorite crime” features some of the most beautiful vocals and harmonies from Rodrigo the entire album – NO CAP! Here, she sings about the ‘crimes’ she committed to get him to be hers.  Of course, ultimately, things didn’t work out and she’s clearly bothered. “It’s bittersweet to think about the damage that we’d do,” she sings on the bridge, continuing, “‘Cause I was goin’ down, but I was doin’ it with you.”  She concludes SOUR with the thoughtful 🎵 “hope ur ok,” which references the plight of some LGBTQ+ individuals, dysfunctional family units, and honestly some truly insightful, realistic happenings.  This is the perfect closer to a truly well-rounded debut album.  “Hope ur ok” definitely gives chills – those goosebumps.

Final Thoughts 💭

I expected Olivia Rodrigo to impress on her debut album, period.  That said, SOUR far exceeded my expectations.  I love the script she delivers throughout the course of the album.  Furthermore, I love the consistency shown throughout the course of 11 songs where there is literally NO miss.  From the moment SOUR commences, it is truly a superb, utterly thrilling, and ear catching pop album.  Geeked? Totally geeked about SOUR! 

✅ Gems 💎: “Brutal,” “traitor,” “drivers license,” “déjà vu,” “good 4 u” & “happier”

🎙 Olivia Rodrigo • 💿 SOUR • 🏷 Geffen • 🗓 5.21.21

[📷: Geffen]