by Scarlett Downes
Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams just released her new album entitled Good Riddance on Friday, February 24. Filled with many well written and gut-wrenching lyrics, multiple songs on the album have reached Billboard’s “Hot Trending Songs” chart. The overarching theme throughout the album seems to be a mix of heartbreak, growing up, and internal struggles.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, the 23 year old emerging artist’s career is off to a promising start. Abrams gained vast popularity on Instagram, especially during quarantine, where she posted covers and rough drafts of brilliant originals. She has released one EP, Minor, and one other album, This Is What It Feels Like, over the past three years.
Good Riddance consists of 12 tracks and has a total running time of 52 minutes 32 seconds. Aaron Dessner, a well known musician, song-writer, and record producer who is widely known for working with Taylor Swift, worked closely with Abrams on the album. The two did much of their work and recording at Long Pond Studio, Dessner’s personal recording studio located in Hudson Valley, New York.
The first track on the album is entitled “Best”, which is about Abrams admitting that she made mistakes in her relationship and that she was a big part of the problem. What makes this song so unique is that it is so honest. Oftentimes people don’t want to admit when they’re in the wrong, let alone create a song about it. The vulnerability in all of her songs allows her lyrics to resonate with listeners to a whole new level.
The fourth track on Good Riddance is entitled “Where do we go now?” This song was released as a single on January 13, and now seems to act as a transition song between the idea of realizing she’s in the wrong, to overcoming it and moving on. I like this song a lot; however, it’s not my absolute favorite due to the fact that the lyrics are quite repetitive towards the end.
The song “Amalie” is the seventh track on the album, and is a reflection on the way that small interactions with people we don’t even know very well can have a deep impact on us. It’s a very soft song with light instrumentals, and although seems specific to Abrams at first, allows the listener to step into her shoes and be reflective about their own past interactions.
The final, and my personal favorite, song on the album is entitled “Right now”. This song is about growing as a person, taking a minute to slow down, and finding yourself after a long period of blurriness. Something about this song is so nostalgic, and a fantastic way to wrap up Good Riddance. It seems as though Abrams is able to find peace within herself, despite making mistakes in the past. Although she recognizes she is achieving great things and is happy, part of her remains sad about growing up and moving further away from her childhood.
While there tends to be a more mellow and soft vibe throughout the album, there are also a few upbeat songs mixed throughout. Good Riddance is definitely worth listening to, and a major success for Gracie Abrams.
