Album Review: So Close To What by Tate McRae

Once an infrequent alt-pop star, she's finally broken through via her stage presence and ability to craft a shiny banger. 2023's lukewarm LP THINK LATER relied on generic pop tropes, but recent singles have sharpened her vision - "It's ok I'm ok" and "2 hands" were bombastic, but "Sports car" was score-settling. So Close To What, her third album, is a sleek and flirty collection that proves "greedy" was no fluke.

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We can uh-uh in it. YouTube critic Todd in the Shadows once made the very astute observation that pop stars have a lot in common with superheroes and wrestlers. To be reductive, the iconography of these figures all require a certain elegance of "character design" that aim to be easily readable and wholly unique. The last few years have had an embarrassment of riches in this department as pop music has experienced a much needed shot in the arm.

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When you think of iconic pop stars, names like Britney Spears instantly come to mind. Her impact on the music industry is undeniable -- no one was doing it like her . She defined a generation, blending infectious hooks, captivating visuals, and raw vulnerability that made her a household name. Now, as the torch passes to the new generation, Tate McRae appears to be taking inspiration from those who came before her.

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On “Cut My Hair,” the opening declaration of her 2023 sophomore album “Think Later,” Tate McRae cast off the gloomy clouds that hung over her oft-downbeat catalog: “Sad girl bit got a little boring,” she proclaimed. Indeed, up until that point, the Canadian pop star was prone to teenage navel-gazing — “Feel Like Shit” and “Don’t Be Sad” had about the subtlety of a “Keep Out” sign hanging on her bedroom door. And so she sized up to big girl pop with “Greedy” and “Exes,” two whip-cracking hits that reupholstered the Y2K serve of her foremothers.

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