REVIEW | Olivia Rodrigo GUTS Album Review

Photo Credit: Geffen Records

On Sept. 8, Olivia Rodrigo released her brand new album, GUTS. In some of her songs this album, Rodrigo adopted a more upbeat, rock-inspired style — a stark contrast to many of the tracks in her previous album, SOUR. It’s amazing to see her experiment with different styles, and her new types of songs are beginning to grow on me. However, I think this album is definitely not as iconic or as memorable as her first.

vampire 

This song is probably my all-time favourite from this album! Rodrigo sings with undeniable emotion as she describes a previous relationship. The song starts off with soft piano chords. The vocals begin quiet and melancholy, then build in intensity, balancing anger and disappointment. By the time she reaches the chorus, she’s loud and furious. Rodrigo doesn’t publicize who her songs are about, but there were rumours spreading earlier this year that this song is about Taylor Swift. Regardless, the first time I heard this song, I fell in love with it and played it on repeat for at least a few days. “vampire” on top!

bad idea right?

After the release of “vampire”, I had very high expectations for her next single. Unfortunately, I was met with disappointment at first, since I wasn’t quite sure if I liked it or not. However, as with many of her other rock-style songs, this one grew on me. I have to say, “vampire” still tops it, but this song is probably a close second for me.

get him back!

This was the only non-single song in her new album that was given a music video. It is about how she wants to “get” a boy back. Initially, it appears as if she just wants to get revenge, but with the dual meaning of “get him back”, it’s implied that she misses the boy as well. She talks about how she wants to make him jealous, as well as the petty and childish things she wants to do to get revenge. I like the music video, which was #ShotoniPhone15Pro — the best advertisement ever. In this music video, she has many clones of herself wreaking havoc, especially on car windows. I honestly wonder if they used real cars and car windows. If so, I’m curious as to what on earth the cost of this music video was. This song is probably one of my favourite non-singles on the album.

the grudge

This song stuck out to me when I was first listening to the album. When I first heard it, I thought, man, these lyrics are on a different level. She incorporated strong words and phrases that hit hard. Again, it’s unfortunate that she doesn’t say who her songs are about, because I’d really like to know who hurt her this bad. It’s amazing how she poured all of her pain in the high notes of this slower-paced song, especially in the bridge. If you like deep and painful songs, this song is for you.

pretty isn’t pretty

Like many of us, Rodrigo is subject to her own unfortunate beauty standards, as well as those of the society we live in. This song talks about how, no matter what makeup she uses and no matter what she eats, she isn’t pretty enough and does not feel any different. I’m sure many people can relate to the lyrics of this song. I myself certainly can. Although this track isn’t as catchy as some of her more upbeat ones, I still like it and its message, which is meaningful to me.

lacy 

The first time I listened to the album, this song caught my attention. Originally, it was because I liked the tune and thought it was different from those of the other songs in the album. That alone already made it an favourite of mine. However, I researched Rodrigo’s intentions for the meaning of this song’s lyrics, and I realized that it in fact has a profound message. Rodrigo sings about her feelings of jealousy towards another woman — speculated by some fans to be Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter or Taylor Swift. “lacy” continues to be one of my favourite non-single songs in her album.

all-american b*tch

I didn’t like this song at first, but I started enjoying it as I listened to it more. The lyrics of this song talk about the frustrations Rodrigo faces as a girl, especially as a teenaged one. The repressed anger and confusion that she’s kept to herself can truly be felt through her singing. In this song, she alternates between two singing styles. In the verses, she sings a sweet serenade to gentle guitar strumming. In the choruses, she uses a loud, tantrum-like voice with heavy guitar. Also, Rodrigo actually dedicates a solid ten seconds just to screaming. Like literally screaming at the top of her lungs. That, honestly, deserves some respect!

ballad of a homeschooled girl

Did you know that Olivia Rodrigo was homeschooled from grade 7 onwards? This made her, as she explains on this track, socially awkward around other people her age. This song speaks to her social uneasiness. It talks about how she messes up when she attends parties or tries to ask boys out. For me, this song is pretty relatable; I don’t like to be part of large parties without anybody I know. Therefore, I think this song is memorable for many people in her fanbase.