[ALBUM REVIEW] Olivia Rodrigo – ‘SOUR’

If there is any artist to fixate on this year, it is Olivia Rodrigo. Yes, we know she’s been hyped a ton since she released her debut breakout single, “drivers license” this past January, but it’s all justified and we don’t care what anyone says.

Reaching fans beyond her age group, Rodrigo has proven that she’s as versatile as they come. Being 18 in the industry and with Disney attached to her name can go either way, but she’s shown she has a good head on her shoulders; her lyricism drenched in self-awareness wise beyond her years while giving those older listeners a comforting sense of relief that maybe we weren’t as alone in our teen years as we thought we were.

Originally meant to be an EP, Rodrigio’s SOUR turned into a full-length. In an industry (or society) where attention spans are low, releasing a full length early on in your career is ballsy, and for those who still appreciate taking the time to dive into an entire album, it is so appreciated.

Opening up with “brutal,” Rodrigo gives us a dose of reality as she navigates the world of adolescence and the brutal music industry  – “I’m so sick of seventeen. Where’s my fucking teenage dream? If someone tells me one more time, ‘enjoy your youth,’ I’m gonna cry.” If anything can match up to the aesthetic of SOUR‘s album cover, this is it. Those who remember singer-songwriter Katy Rose will be taken back to the first time they listened to her 2004 debut, Because I Can, instantly!

“traitor” comes in strong and gets right to the point, leading us into where it all began with “drivers license;” the former giving us more of a backstory into what we’ve already established with the latter. No matter who these songs are about, you can’t help but feel an affinity for Rodrigo as we are taken right back to when we were in those situations ourselves.

Perhaps the most exciting part of SOUR may be how “1 step forward, 3 steps back” interpolates Rodrigo’s hero Taylor Swift’s “New Year’s Day.” Being a Swiftie herself, you can’t help but wonder if the 1 and 3 are a tribute to Swift’s favorite number, 13. Delving into the tales of a toxic relationship where you don’t know whether you’re loved or hated, this track hits home for those who are afraid to leave and whether it will happen all over again with someone else because it is literally all you know.

That angst continues on in “deja vu,” “happier,” and recent single, “good 4 u,” while “enough for you” goes there emotionally times ten as she shares how hard she tried to be enough for someone who was never going to see her worth.

“jealousy, jealousy” just might be the musical love child of Lorde and Billie Eilish as Rodrigo confesses her habit of comparing herself to other girls on the beast that is social media while “favorite crime” can’t help but be reminiscent of a track off of Taylor Swift’s folklore or evermore as the singer takes half responsibility for how her relationship went awry set to an acoustic dream meant to be listened to in a dreamy, nature-esque setting.

While the majority of SOUR goes deep into love and heartbreak, closing track, “hope ur ok,” just might be the tearjerker of the eleven tracks as Rodrigo sends love to the friends of her past that stood out in her mind due to unfortunate life circumstances. Wishing them love and encouragement to move on, the power of music comes through once again as listeners take that love and use it to fuel their way out of their own struggles.

All in all, SOUR is anything but. It’s a compelling tale of genuine honesty, grit, and bravery from a teenage girl who isn’t afraid to bare her soul to the entire world. They’ll criticize, mock, marvel, love, and lift her up all at the same time, but that’s the price of being a true artist. Sounds like someone we know and love dearly, and if our predictions are accurate, Rodrigo will reach the success of Swift’s caliber in no time if she keeps writing songs like these. Pretty sweet, indeed. We can’t wait to see what’s next.

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