So close to what could be a Grammy? Tate McRae’s new album dropped in February and has been sweeping the Billboard charts, trending all over the internet. McRae’s new album took a new and different experimental twist compared to her previous pop albums, with hints of hyper-pop and rap. The album also includes uplifting danceable songs like “Dear God” and  “bloodonmyhands” (feat. Flo Milli), with powerful, lyrical, deep ballads like “Purple Lace Bra” and “Nostalgia.” After hearing the singles that McRae had released, the album became long awaited and exciting for many fans. When you think of what a pop album should be, So Close to what does not disappoint in any way. 

“But her ability to dig into those intricacies and turn them into arena-worthy singalongs makes  “So Close To What a pop album worth digging into,” Rolling Stone magazine reported in speaking about Tate McRae’s writing and performance ability with her music as a whole.

On this album, McRae truly shows how to make relatable music that people can understand. For example, the song “Signs” is all about how her partner can’t see the signs or underlying message of what she is truly saying. With lyrics like “If you love me, you should know me better, see the signs/shouldn’t have to tell you or/whatever, read my mind,” McRae highlights her relatability and down-to-earthness, that many pop stars struggle with, in a catchy, upbeat way. 

Another area where McRae did not disappoint was with the features that she had on the album, collaborating with Flo Milli and the Kid LAROI. The song ‘bloodonmyhands (Feat Flo Milli)’ enters McRae’s music into a new genre featuring a rapper, and it fit perfectly with the fast-paced beat that her songs already have, along with the rebellious and jealous nature of the song. Including a rapper on a song is a refreshing mix-up to what recent pop stars have been doing, rather than just another pop star feature. Her other song with a feature, “I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI),” is a very endearing, yet flirtatious, song with her current partner, The Kid LARO, that is all about their relationship. The song is also built around the metaphor of how they both know love when it hits, but more specifically comparing love hitting them like a drug, including lyrics like “Yeah, I know love when it hits, when it feels like this/it’s a little like drugs.” The song reinforces the archetype of love feeling like a drug. Both songs are absolute hits, one for going out on a night on the town while making someone jealous, and the other for a fast-paced love story between people. 

Along with dropping the album, McRae also released a brand new music video for a song titled “Revolving Door” which describes the never-ending cycle between McRae and a relationship that takes a emotional toll on her over time, yet she can’t seem to break free from it, stuck in a metaphorical revolving door. Although the song has become widely popular, the music video is what really stands out because again we see the incredible dance ability that Tate McRae brings to the table, and how her years in dancing and her ability to to perform make her distinctly different from other modern day pop stars. One specific move even became a TikTok trend because of how her crazy flexibility and strength differs from the average person. Not only does McRae have amazing vocals, heard on tracks like “Revolving Door” and “Means I Care,” she can also perform them with amazing dance visuals, making her performances like no other. 

Something that, as a listener, was really enjoyable, was that McRae dipped her toes into the hyper-pop genre throughout some of the songs with lyric reverbs and beat drops into her music. This comes as somewhat of a surprise because, in the past, the best singles of her previous projects have been remixed by DJs, really entering the song into the hyper-pop/EDM genre with her remix of “Two Hands” with Don Diablo and her “It’s O I’m OK” remix with Ian Asher. Hearing the genre twist in her song, like in the end of  “Greenlight” in which there is a beat drop and the lyrics enter a deeper octave, creates a pleasing ending to the track. She does this throughout the album, specifically in some of the slower-beat songs, and near the end, hyping the listener back up with a touch of hyper-pop. Props to McRae and her producers for branching out successfully into different genres. 

There is something about this album that feels different compared to her past projects, feeling more adult and grown up. There is a much heavier, flirtatious, and happy tone, yet still reflective in the tracks compared to her sophomore album “Think Later.” In “Think Later,” it seems that she is getting back and getting over someone, and in “So Close To What,” McRae has begun to move on and see where she struggled in her past relationships. This album has surely introduced McRae into a more mature lighting than she has previously been in. This kind of transition was also seen with Tate McRae’s friend, Olivia Rodrigo, as both artists can be seen growing up and entering their early 20s through albums released. 

McRae’s album definitely has become a personal favorite, with my favorite songs being “Dear God,” “Purple Lace Bra” and “Greenlight.” Overall, I would give the album 4 stars and no skipped songs on it. This album has something for everyone. The project is well-rounded with relatable lyrics, upbeat back tracks, fantastic music videos, and what will hopefully be a successful world tour coming up in the spring and summer. Tate McRae has definitely made a name for herself in contemporary pop music.