<p><span><span>- Olivia Rodrigo craves a teenage dream, but her debut album concerns itself with the growing pains that nostalgia and memory erase; it’s well written, if a little superfluous. Taking influences from <strong>Lorde </strong>and <strong>Taylor Swift</strong>, <em>SOUR </em>feels equally indebted to the distanced, nonchalance of <em>Pure Heroine </em>and the self-involved, vindictive nature of <em>Reputation.</em> What’s most interesting about <em>SOUR, </em>is how Olivia Rodrigo incorporates elements of pop-punk into her sound, diverting from the predictable singer-songwriter route her debut single hinted at; and just what that means.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Coming to fame for starring in the Disney+ original series <em>High School Musical: The Musical: The Series</em>, Rodrigo’s debut is more adult and interesting than you’d suspect the Disney machine would allow. Her relationship with the entertainment super-conglomerate is a point of contention on the record. In <em>SOUR’s</em> booming opening track Rodrigo chants, “<em>I’m so tired that I might quit my job, start a new life and they’d all be so disappointed ‘cause who am I if not exploited.</em>” It’s a fascinating lyric, considering Rodrigo and her fellow cast members are currently starring in season two of <em>HSMTMTS, </em>airing weekly. From the standpoint of a solo artist, it’s a clever way of distancing herself from any accusation of her being an industry plant, in the way that female artists like <strong>Clairo </strong>are labelled.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Drivers License</em>, Rodrigo’s debut single, finds itself early on the album. It’s a song that connected with the world, striking over a billion streams since its release in early January, but it hasn’t aged well. With its overblown chorus, and melodramatic lyrics, it’s a perfect example of how popularity and quality don’t always -or even often- click. Countless Buzzfeed and tabloid articles and interviews would lead you to believe <em>Drivers License</em> was written about Rodrigo’s co-star <strong>Joshua Bassett</strong> -who she suggests is “<em>Probably with that blonde girl who always made me doubt</em>”- has aged terribly since he came out a week before this album did.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>When Olivia Rodrigo sings with herself, her desires and doubts on her mind, her personality shines through the songwriting. <em>Good 4 u</em>, a highlight of the album, is a shouty pop-punk anthem that features explosive guitars and expressive vocals. Though it opens with a muted and forgettable first verse, it makes up for it with a killer chorus. <em>Brutal</em>, which kicks off the record, is an anthemic song with the record’s best line: “<em>I’m so sick of seventeen / Where’s my fucking teenage dream?</em>”</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>SOUR </em>by Olivia Rodrigo reaches into a deep history of pop-punk to rebel against her frustrations. When she sings of men, her songwriting comes across weak and melodramatic, but when she sings of herself and her aspirations and fears, she’s the voice of a generation, a mainstream songwriter emerging with powerful and poignant concerns.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- Sean Tayler.</span></span></p>
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