Good Riddance: A Review of Gracie Abrams Debut Album
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Gracie Abrams' music has always pulled every possible thought from your head and put them into her lyrics. Her music does the incredible job of placing you on an emotional rollercoaster whilst also providing comfort. After the success of Abrams’ EPs Minor and This is What it Feels Like, she has gained a well deserved following of fans, including me, who have awaited the release of this debut album.
Abrams collaborates with The Nationals’ Aaron Dessner once again to produce the album. Dessner’s presence is highly evident throughout Abrams work, adding depth to the traditional acoustic feel of her sonic identity and her distinctive vocal sound. Gracie’s soft vocals layered alongside synth and strings create an otherworldly sound. This album is a major shift in her artistic style and her lyrical and melodic maturity is evident throughout.
The album’s first single, titled ‘Difficult’, was released in October of 2022 after she teased it at a live show earlier in the year. Abrams picked the perfect song for a single as it completely encapsulates her artistic style, a fast paced upbeat song with heartfelt, meaningful lyrics. Shortly after, she released ‘Where do we go now?’, a single which captures the essence of this album like no other. It discusses the themes of moving on whilst also reminiscing the past, knowing that you have to move on but struggling with the guilt of it. This is exactly what the album is about: self reflection, self growth and moving on.
‘Good Riddance’ opens with the song ‘Best’, which sets the tone for the album. Abrams says “You fell hard and I thought Good Riddance/I never was the best to you”. Although the melody is repetitive, it comes off as soothing and comforting, feeling like a hug from an old friend. The theme of guilt is prevalent throughout this track and the rest of this album.
One of the most lyrically interesting tracks on this album has to be Track 5, ‘Amelie’. Abrams’ once more shows off her knack for storytelling by creating an intriguing narrative for ‘Amelie’: “I met a girl once/She sort of ripped me open/She doesn’t even know it/ She doesn’t know my name” This song is an interesting addition to the album as unlike the other tracks, it is unclear as to what exactly it is about. Is she talking to an old friend? An old lover? Or her past self? The beauty of it is that it can be interpreted either way.
Another standout song is Track 6, ‘Will you cry?’, which has been dubbed by fans as the ‘Rockland’ (Track 2 on TIWIFL) of Good Riddance, with a similar airy and melodic string sound. This is a perfect example of the artist's growth as the song, although melodically similar, is much more layered and feels almost heavier. The repetition of the bridge feels haunting, an ode to the theme of holding on to something even when the right thing to do is walk away.
Abrams ends the album on a bittersweet note with ‘Right Now’, singing about feeling homesick and lost, a feeling which many of her fans can relate to. It is a culmination of everything the album tackles as the ultimate reflection piece. It is the most honest and vulnerable track on the album as Gracie shares with the audience: “Left my past life on the ground/Think I'm more alive somehow/I feel like myself right now”. The vulnerability that Gracie carries in her lyrics is what draws so many people to her music. Her complex lyricism never fails to speak to the soul, healing you with every word you hear.