When Olivia Rodrigo released her debut album ‘Sour’ in 2021, it became an instant success. Her single “Driver’s License” was the first to hit number one on the 2021 Billboard charts. With three Grammys, a Billboard award, and skyrocketing success, fans were eager to see what would be her next move. Over two years later, Rodrigo released her sophomore album, ‘GUTS’. But was it all fans were waiting for?
‘GUTS’ opens with the expletive “All American B****,” switching from acoustic to electric guitar to signal a transformation from ballads into angsty and raw pop-punk. It exemplifies the childlike innocence of “Sour” being lost, with Rodrigo able to be as brutal (get it?) as she wants with her music. The acoustic sections are also reminiscent of Green Day’s “Good Riddance,” which aids her transition into the alternative genre. “Bad Idea Right?,” continues with this sound, containing satirical lyrics about the messy nature of hookup culture. “Vampire” starts with simple piano but then crescendos into a mesh of strings, synth, bass, and percussion to create a pop-rock ballad about a toxic relationship where Rodrigo’s naivety was used to take advantage of her.
The tone switches gears with “Lacy,” a queer-coded mix of acoustic and synth describing a mix of envy, inferiority, and love towards the titular character. The pop-punk feel returns with a vengeance in “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,” a song about Rodrigo’s struggle to socialize among her peers and the awkwardness that comes with being homeschooled. “Making The Bed” is a melancholic ballad about the burnout that accompanies fame. Her personal life garnered lots of attention from both fans and the media even before the release of ‘Sour’, and releasing music comes with a constant reminder of the past.
“Logical” is yet another slow sad song, tackling a relationship with a manipulator. It discusses how being in love can make someone believe the lies someone says, even when their gut tells them otherwise. “Get Him Back” turns back to upbeat pop-punk, with lyrics about a love-hate relationship with an ex-boyfriend. It captures the unhinged nature of teenage love in a satirical and fun to listen to song
“Love Is Embarrassing” is about the humiliation that comes from looking back at a former crush or partner and seeing all of the red flags disguised by rose-colored glasses. This song is very relatable and made me realize that crushing on someone who isn’t worth the effort is a universal experience.
Unpopular opinion: “The Grudge” is overrated. The song is well written, expertly describing the pain that comes from being lied to in a relationship by someone who doesn’t care about the damage they did. However, the instrumental is too eerily similar to “Driver’s License.” Because of its unique backing track, I would hold it in higher regard, but “The Grudge” feels like a carbon copy of its predecessor without the charm.
“Pretty Isn’t Pretty” has a feel similar to “Beach Bunny,” with the topic of insecurity in one’s appearance. It talks of changing things about oneself to appear as the societal expectation of beauty yet never feeling enough. The album ends with “Teenage Dream,” a ballad about the end of Rodrigo’s youth. She explains her thoughts about going into her twenties, hoping she didn’t peak at 19 and that she will get better and grow as she gets older. With this song, Rodrigo puts her adolescence behind her, moving into a new era.
“GUTS” describes the teenage girl experience in a way that is more mature than “Sour.” Rodrigo has deviated from deep-cut ballads but hasn’t left them in the dust, instead blending them with pop-punk to create a different sound than that of her competitors. This new sound and style will aid her immensely, especially in an industry where female artists are constantly pit against each other. While I would have preferred more of her pop-punk sound against repetitive ballad after ballad, “GUTS” is a formidable successor to “Sour” and a step in the right direction.
