Canadian singer-songwriter Tate McRae released her third studio album on Feb. 21. The album, called “So Close to What,” is a mix of dance-pop and R&B, and is McRae’s best work to date.
Although McRae has been releasing music since 2017, it was her 2023 song “greedy” that broke new ground for her when it hit top 10 in the United States. She followed up with her sophomore album, “THINK LATER,” that same year.
If “THINK LATER” was McRae’s first step into superstardom, “So Close to What” is when she finally comes into her own. “THINK LATER” felt transitional, stuck somewhere between the intimate bedroom pop associated with most of her career and the hypnotic sound of “greedy.”
“So Close to What” is a nostalgic celebration of 90s and 2000s pop. There are clear influences from powerhouses like the Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, the latter of which McRae has been frequently compared to because of their dancing abilities.
McRae’s embrace of these comparisons ultimately pays off, as this album is probably her best one yet. She dials up the sleekness and glamour, trading bedroom pop ballads for dance-worthy hits.
Although there’s still a certain commercial sheen to the songs, they’re still catchy. McRae’s music is easily digestible, but her unique, breathy vocals give her music that recognizable “Tate McRae” quality.
“Miss possessive” is a fierce competition anthem that sets the tone for “So Close to What.” It transitions well into “Revolving door,” which is slower—and more mellow—but still undoubtedly a great song. According to a video interview with Billboard, it’s inspired by McRae’s life feeling “like a never-ending revolving door.”
American rapper Flo Milli steals the show with her feature on “bloodonmyhands,” but McRae still manages to hold her own. “Dear god” is McRae’s desperate plea to God to get someone out of her head, and “Purple lace bra,” perhaps McRae’s most adult track yet, is a criticism of the media and people’s public perception of who she is.
In “Sports car,” one of the best songs on the album, McRae dials up the sensuality. It has that nostalgic 2000s pop sound McRae tried to capture in “So Close to What,” and in “Sports car” she executes it flawlessly. The beat is catchy, and her scratchy vocals blend with it perfectly.
“Signs” is upbeat but held back by some toxic messaging about unhealthy communication habits in a relationship. Nevertheless, it’s still a fun song to nod along to.
“I Know Love” is a standout because of McRae’s collaboration with her boyfriend, fellow Australian rapper and singer-songwriter The Kid Laroi. It’s a cute, energetic song, and its lyrics are sweeter than some of the other songs on the album. It’s not the highlight of the album, but the hate it gets isn’t warranted.
The quality of the songs quickly deteriorate in the second half of the album. It’s held up by two of the album’s breakout hits: “2 hands” and “It’s ok I’m ok.” Like “Sports car,” “2 hands” is hands-down one of the best songs on the album. It’s fast and catchy, the kind of song you play on repeat. While I did not like “It’s ok I’m ok,” as much as other people did, its booming drums give it character, something “Like I do,” “No I’m not in love,” and “Means I care” all lack. These songs are quickly forgotten as soon as they’re over, and they all sort of blend together.
There’s a Spears-esque monologue towards the end of “Like I Do,” reminiscent of that from “Oops!…I Did It Again,” but McRae doesn’t pull it off quite as well as Spears did.
“Greenlight” and “Nostalgia” are interesting because of their deviation from the standard instrumentals present in most of the songs. They’re both slow and mellow, even more so than “Revolving door.” “Nostalgia” stands out because of how stripped back it is. The acoustic guitar gives it a unique feel, and the lyrics are reflective, focused on family. It’s simple but still manages to find a place on the album.
McRae is still a pop girl, albeit one that is more focused on dancing than singing. She still has a long way to go before breaking into the mainstream, but she’s heading in the right direction. “So Close to What” may just be basic pop music, but it’s still catchy and fun.
McRae is set to make a stop in the CHI Health Center Omaha on Oct. 9 as part of her Miss Possessive tour.
