Olivia Rodrigo's third album has arrived, and with it comes the inevitable frenzy to decode lyrics for clues about her personal life, particularly her relationship with British actor Louis Partridge. One magazine has already published a 1,200-word annotated essay, while a British broadsheet ran a news story about Rodrigo changing lyrics to reflect the breakup. Even The Hindustan Times in New Delhi speculated on a possible reunion. But while the gossip mill churns, the real story is the music itself.
Rodrigo's new album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, is a song-cycle tracing a relationship from its romantic start to bitter post-breakup recriminations. It marks a confident pivot from the pop-punk of her previous album, Guts, embracing 80s new wave influences from the B-52s, New Order, Devo, and especially the Cure. Robert Smith even duets with Rodrigo on 'What's Wrong With Me?', his voice blending remarkably with hers.
The songs are uniformly well-crafted, with memorable melodies and thoughtful lyrics that go beyond the simple recriminations of her earlier hits. Tracks like 'Begged' capture the queasy relatability of denying a relationship's demise, while 'Less' depicts decline with wince-inducing details. Rodrigo also shows a sharp wit, as on 'Expectations', which opens with a barbed take on a former partner: 'I met him at a party, I think he was on drugs / He wasn't smart or funny, I convinced myself he was.'
Ultimately, the identity of the album's subject is the least interesting thing about it. This is a spectacularly accomplished pop record, whoever it's about. Fans would do well to stop parsing for gossip and simply luxuriate in Rodrigo's craft.
