Olivia Rodrigo’s release of “drivers license” was a pop culture reset, leaving her song at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. Rodrigo didn’t stop there and released two more songs, “deja vu” and “good 4 u.” All three singles correspond well with each other, showing us her feelings after a serious breakup.

Rodrigo started as an actress on the show “Bizaardvark” on Disney Channel. When “Bizaardvark” ended, she starred in a new series called “High School Musical: The Musical the Series.” It was a big step up from her first show, however, I believe she has much more potential as an actress/songwriter and should move away from Disney.

The new album “Sour” tells us a story of her journey going through a rough breakup, and it was even better than my expectations. I thought Rodrigo might have a few good songs but I was amazed with the whole album. It’s important that you listen to everything without skipping a song to get a deeper understanding of Rodrigo’s feelings.

As the album gets closer to the end, we can see Rodrigo’s progress in her self discovery. In the beginning, Rodrigo talks about the struggles of trying to move on from an ex-boyfriend and how watching him move on quickly is painful in her song “happier”. However, near the end of the album she finally finds herself and starts to push forward from the toxic relationship. “Sour” is a graceful album which I enjoy being able to listen to Rodrigo’s vulnerable side.

One thing I didn’t like about the album is that there were no upbeat songs except “good 4 u” and “brutal”; most of them were depressing and I was hoping for a bit more happy songs. Moreover, her lyrics during every song are captivating and extremely powerful, proving she’s not afraid to say what she’s feeling.

My favorite song from the album is “happier.” I love the meaning behind the song and how Rodrigo presents herself — it gives me chills everytime. The lyrics and instruments are mesmerizing and I find myself getting lost in the song. In “happier,” her voice glistens in the song which compliments it very well.

Rodrigo is still a young artist in the making and has a bright future ahead. Hopefully, she’ll be able to come out with more projects like “Sour” and keep creating elegant music.

“Sour”: ★★★★★