Gracie Abrams’ debut album, “Good Riddance,” is a spectacular masterpiece. The album was released on Feb. 24 and is a strong addition to her already amazing discography.
The 23-year-old singer rose to fame following the 2020 release of her EP “minor,” where her single “I miss you, I’m sorry,” broke listeners’ hearts worldwide. She has released multiple singles since then, along with another EP, “This Is What It Feels Like,” which debuted in 2021.
Abrams hinted at new music throughout 2022, and on Jan. 9 she announced the album and its first promotional single, “Where do we go now?” The single perfectly set up the tone for the album with its touching lyrics and themes that can be seen throughout the rest of the songs.
Twelve tracks make up “Good Riddance,” all of them coming together to tell a story of loss, heartbreak and desperation. Well-known musician and producer, Aaron Dessner, co-wrote the album alongside Abrams. Dessner is not only known for his own music, in his band The National, but also for co-writing alongside Taylor Swift, who Abrams is opening for on tour in the upcoming months. Abrams is not only opening for a worldwide stadium tour with Swift, but she is also headlining her own “Good Riddance Tour” beginning in March.
The album opens with “Best,” which follows in the footsteps of her previous music that pulls on heartstrings. It is a painfully honest song about admitting your fault in a relationship. Since the album opened with such a strong song, it was easy to wonder if the rest of the album wouldn’t hold up, but Abrams outdid herself, and the album only progressed as it went on.
One of the strongest songs on the album titled, “I know it won’t work,” showcases Abrams’ heart-wrenching lyrics paired with more upbeat music. It’s the story of knowing that a relationship isn’t working the way you wanted it to and struggling to accept that truth. On the day the album was released, Abrams also premiered the music video for this song which depicts an artistic message of marking your path in the sand hoping someone will follow you.
Another stand-out song, “This is what the drugs are for,” displays harrowing lyrics like “I’m still waitin’ by the phone/ You painted my life indigo, oh/ A kind of blue I hate to know, oh/ Where everything turns kinda cold.” This is one of those songs that can be used as an example to show how strong Abrams’ songwriting truly is. The song evokes feelings of sadness and regret, along with that, the themes of loss and heartbreak strung throughout the album can be noted in this song.
While the rest of the album presents more melancholic songs, the eleventh track, “The blue,” is one of Abrams’ few happy songs. The song still fits the rest of the album’s vibe and takes on an angelic and ethereal tone. The whole of the song feels very light and pairs perfectly with the singer’s delicate vocals. In the chorus, Abrams sings “You came out of the blue like that/ I never could’ve seen you comin’/ I think you’re everythin’ I’ve wanted,” a heartfelt lyric that active listeners of the singer will appreciate since her music rarely depicts a happy relationship.
The album has a consistent overall vibe and sound that some listeners may not enjoy. It isn’t broken up with any super upbeat pop songs, but rather has a singular tone that it follows while the lyrics do all the storytelling. Abrams is known for her sad music and this album is a continuation of that, and an excellent one at that.
This album proves Abrams’ musical ability and she has set herself up for a wonderful year in her career. “Good Riddance” is the long-awaited debut album that fans have been wanting from her, and she shined with it.
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