On her sophomore album "GUTS", Olivia Rodrigo takes a darker, angrier turn that sees her leaning further into her pop-punk influences. Gone are the sugar-sweet pop anthems of her debut - this 12 track effort finds Rodrigo channeling inner turmoil over guttural guitar riffs.
Sonically, GUTS is a bold evolution for the young artist. Where "SOUR" played it relatively safe within the confines of mainstream pop, Rodrigo now embraces rawer textures with distorted electric guitars driving many of these tracks. Singles like "Be Happy" and "The Moment I Knew" showcase her embrace of less-polished punk pop influences.
Lyrically, Rodrigo gets introspective here, delivering unflinching looks at her fears, insecurities, and discomfort with fame/relationships. She tackles heavy topics with a maturity beyond her years. Standouts include the seething "Call Me When You Get This Meltdown" and devastating breakup anthem "Broken & Bruised."
While some may miss the pristine pop of her debut, GUTS finds Rodrigo pushing creative boundaries in an angsty new direction that gives listeners a glimpse at her emotional processing in real-time. It's a refreshingly raw effort in an industry where polish is prioritized. While not for every fan, it solidifies her as one of Gen Z's most compelling artists.
In positioning herself as a voice for her generation's mental health struggles, Olivia Rodrigo strikes confident new ground on GUTS that should cement her status as a singular talent.