Olivia Rodrigo’s new pop album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, hits all the right notes, but we’ve heard it before
Olivia Rodrigo takes off again off again thanks to a stylistic shift. Moving from her traditional punk and rock energy, some have been quick to call it her best album yet. You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love is the pop artist’s third studio album, featuring the songs “Drop Dead“, “The Cure“, and “Stupid Song“.
You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love Review
While it’s a good pop record, slick and well-produced, from its opening, it grounds an intense story, building between a gradual narrative that breaks down into anxiety, dependency, and loss of identity until the third act arrives at a breakup. The experience delivers this well, though it faces stylistic challenges.
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The issue with this project is that, while the song material, as melancholic as it is strong, the execution is trite, with rudimentary performances thanks to vocalisations that are synonymous with pop music. If you’re in public — as a fan, you’ll recognise her — though casual listeners will fail to pick her out of an expansive basin of pop artists. Its production leans into a polished mechanism but helps shape a signature blend of derivative sonic pop. While enjoyable, it does little to take off the training wheels and ride alone.
Parts of the album do adapt well, though can feel like it takes too much from other artists, like on “u + me = <3“, and “maggots for brains“. While Olivia Rodrigo’s vocals are great, they’re delivered in a middling way.
The Verdict
You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love is a pleasant listen, though for the most part, it’s a threadbare experience with little musical independence. Her label has indeed mastered the craft of marketing, with Rodrigo leading an astute part of her own publicity. Though in the music department, I’m not sure how memorable this project will be in, say, ten years. It sells, but does it have staying power as a body of work? Probably not.
Buy Vinyl and Stream
You can buy vinyl copies of You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love — as well as a Target exclusive — directly from the artist’s store, including the single “Drop Dead.” The album is available to stream on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube.
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