Olivia Rodrigo - 'SOUR' Album Review

Known for her debut single, drivers license, Olivia Rodrigo has released her debut album, 'SOUR', which is simply a teenage girl's angst and anger at an ended relationship. We've all been there, and we all will be again. This is the perfect soundtrack to both heartbreak and the pick-me-up that we all must give ourselves sometimes. For a debut album, it's career defining. Taylor Swift has serious competition as the teens' scream breakup song queen.

The album begins with brutal which has an ominous first few seconds, but soon launches into an angry-sounding guitar strum which then quickly changes into something less angry, but the lyrics reflect something else entirely. In the lyrics, there is a reference to parallel parking, which could be aligned to the song which made Rodrigo's name in the music business - drivers license, a later track on 'SOUR'. Rodrigo's lyrics are relatable because they are bitter about an ended relationship where the other person has moved on. It's a strong beginning to a debut album, and is not easily forgettable. It's the kind of song that you can turn up and shout - or sing - along to loudly.

traitor, the next song, is an incredibly emotional song. It has a beautiful guitar part to accompany such beautiful words. There is so much emotion conveyed through just a few short minutes; elements of pain and loss and sadness as well as some remnants of the love which the subject once felt. Listening to this song tugs on my heartstrings, and I feel bursts of sadness at the higher notes in Rodrigo's voice.

The song which earned Olivia Rodrigo her name in the music business, drivers license is catchy and original, and perfectly captures the excitement of finally getting a driving license whilst simultaneously going through a heartbreak. The pain in Rodrigo's voice is so raw throughout this entire song that I believe it is what first caught the attention of so many in the first place. drivers license is the perfect example of what Rodrigo is capable of, and it is truly amazing - she's just eighteen.

The fourth song on her debut album, 1 step forward, 3 steps back is simple with intense language, but it is not unnecessary. The swear word included shows how hurt and angry the narrator of the song is at the person that they once loved. It's a very pretty song despite the fact that you can literally hear the frustration of the narrator.

deja vu is quite like a lullaby, however there is a sinister note to it that parents would not sing to their children at night time. It's full of emotion, as all of Rodrigo's songs so far have been, and is full of regret and pain with a slight note of bitterness. The reference to Billy Joel's Uptown Girl does not go unnoticed, and leads one to wonder how much of an influence Joel's music had on the album.

Just over halfway through the album, and the sixth song is good 4 u. It sounds quite different to the other songs, and I thought that there was some Paramore-esque sounds in there. Within it, the voice of Olivia Rodrigo was almost identical to that of Paramore's Hayley Williams, another talented female vocalist who is in her early thirties. Once again, there is a car/driving reference in the song, though I am attributing this to drivers license again. The guitar is wicked, the bass is catchy and has the audience nodding their heads along immediately upon hearing it. good 4 u sounds like there is a fair amount of anger behind it, but as you quickly learn the words and shout along with Rodrigo, you can't help but punch the air in agreement with what she is saying - "you go, girl!"

enough for you has a beautiful guitar melody but is a song that is about self doubt. Once again, it is relatable for every girl who has ever been through a break up and doubted herself in regards to why the relationship ended. Rodrigo is the voice of the heartbroken, and there is an obvious Taylor Swift influence in the song.

The only piano ballad on the album, happier is such a beautiful song. When I listened to it, I could literally picture Rodrigo sitting in front of a piano in the Sound of Music greenhouse with her back to me, playing along and singing at the same time. It's incredible that a song could invoke that kind of vision for me, because it is very rare that one manages to stand out in such a way. happier is one of my favourite songs on the album, and I think truly demonstrates the potential which Rodrigo has to grow as a singer and songwriter. From this, I look forward to hearing what she comes up with in the future.

jealousy, jealousy has a strong bass and is Rodrigo second guessing herself following the dissolution of a relationship. Whilst the message of second guessing yourself and your actions is something that everybody is guilty of, I do not think that it sends the best message to the young audience which Rodrigo already has and is likely to acquire in the future.

favorite crime is a really soft, really gorgeous song with raw and blatant pain throughout the entire thing. Even the guitar, which is, again, quite special, sounds melancholic and pained to the point where this song was difficult to listen to at parts.

The final song on the album is quite different to the rest because the message is individual in comparison with the previous ten. hope ur ok is a message not to a former partner, but to a former friend who Rodrigo is no longer in contact with. I would argue that it doesn't fit on 'SOUR', but then it is such a perfect way to end her debut album, that it can't not belong on it. It is my favourite song on 'SOUR'.

Olivia Rodrigo is indeed SOUR on this album, but she expresses this through a work of art. It is a career defining album, even if it is her first, and is promising for what is to come from her. Taylor Swift has serious competition as queen of the break up song in the form of this teen pop princess who is sweeter and softer in every way.