Olivia Rodrigo Releases Debut Album 'Sour'
The "Driver's License" singer takes fans through the ups and downs of being a teenager.
Just four months after her debut single "Driver's License" became the most-streamed song in a single day, Olivia Rodrigo's first album Sour cements her rising star status.
The singer has already performed on stage at the 2021 Brit Awards and Saturday Night Live, but her new record adds a greater depth to her unmistakably Gen-Z sound. The collection of breakup ballads and punk-inspired tunes chronicles the turmoil of today's teenage life. Coming out strong with the first track "Brutal," an angsty bop à la Bikini Kill, the 18-year-old criticizes pop culture's idealization of youth, wondering, “Where’s my fucking teenage dream?” It's the same type of '90s guitar banger as her single "Good 4 U."
Other songs on the album like "Enough for You," "Happier," and "Favorite Crime" lean more to her Swiftie side. The singer has openly expressed her love for Taylor Swift and talked about how the "Love Story" songstress has impacted her songwriting. As a result, these slower tracks adopt Swift's emotional writing and some of the more wistful sounds heard on her Folklore album. In fact, the song "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" interpolates Swift's "New Year's Day" from her Reputation album.
However, the final song "Hope Ur Ok" sets itself apart from the rest. Rather than tackling the struggles of young love and heartbreak, the track calls attention to some of the real challenges teens face at home—abuse, homophobia, etc. Prepare yourself because it's a tear-jerker.
On Instagram, Rodrigo celebrated the record's release with a list of thanks for the people behind its creation. "My first album SOUR is out everywhere now. every song is so personal and close to my heart. getting to share them with people is the most special thing I’ve ever done in my life," she writes. "I’m so lucky songwriting and music exists. I hope you guys enjoy the 34 minutes and 46 seconds of me spilling my guts out that is called sour. thank you for helping me turn all my unhappy feelings into one of the best moments of my life."
