Gracie Abrams, the 24-year-old indie pop artist, is known for her candid songwriting and open approach. This was evident in her debut EP, “Minor,” released in 2020, which was followed by her debut full-length album, “Good Riddance,” produced by Aaron Dessner. The album was praised for its intimate portrayal of growth and is a testament to Abrams’ songwriting skills.
But it’s not all the same on her latest album, “The Secret of Us.” While the album is still deeply personal, there is a newfound intimacy that was missing before. Abrams opens up about relationships, crying on the dancefloor, and inner thoughts that she shares with her closest pals in the smoking area.
Abrams toured with Taylor Swift on the Eras tour, which had a profound impact on her songwriting. Taylor Swift has a way of making big venues feel intimate, something that Abrams wants to emulate in her music. “‘The Secret of Us’ includes lyrics that feel designed to be screamed back in a live setting,” writes NME, citing the bridge of “Free Now” and the bitter eyeroll of “Blowing Smoke” as examples.
Musically, “The Secret of Us” falls in line with Swift’s folk turn and the work of Phoebe Bridgers, but there are also echoes of Lorde’s second album “Melodrama.” Abrams mimics the visceral emotions of those records in her sonics, creating a feeling of endless possibility even amid heartache. The album’s finale, “Close To You,” is a moment of pure pop catharsis that leans into the good, bad, and messy of infatuation.
“The Secret of Us” was released on June 21 under Interscope Records, and Abrams has never sounded better. The album embraces growing pains and the difficult moments of relationships, celebrating the enduring spirit that keeps us going
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