SOUR is the debut album by Olivia Rodrigo. Released on the 21st of May, I personally couldn’t wait to hear it as her past three singles teased different genre blends but also such strong vocals. Based on my last review of deja vu, we all know J*shua Ba*sett is shaking!
The album starts off with “brutal”, an angsty-too-loud-punk track, but as you listen on, you realise that it’s a prelude to the real meat. With songs like “traitor”, “1 step forward, 3 steps back”, and “happier”, there’s a really melancholic measure to the theme of this album. It’s as if she’s going through the five stages of grief of her past relationship. Most of the songs really render a folk-like melody. They sound like cotton candy but taste like wine; even if it’s bitter you can’t stop indulging. There’s such a discomfort with how detailed and raw her writing really is. The vividness really puts you in her place, and she’s shared this story to the whole world – especially in “favorite crime”.
Though, because it is so intriguing, there’s only a total of eleven tracks in a debut album, which isn’t so bad I guess, but there just seems to be that cliffhanger feeling when the album loops back. There’s no privacy in this mixtape, and Rodrigo makes it clear: that privacy was lost once he did what he did (ooof!). Discomfort quickly turns into relief, and you get that feeling through the eleven tracks. John Mayer got one song written about him, and Joshua Bassett got a whole album. Sheesh.
“Nine out of ten. She’s so sad omg but go her!”
