After the enormous success of SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo faced a strange problem: suddenly everyone knew who she was, but nobody knew what album number two was supposed to sound like.
For GUTS, she returned to producer Dan Nigro, who had also made her debut with her. Instead of building a safe copy of SOUR, they pushed the contrasts further. Fragile piano moments sit beside sharp guitars, distorted voices and songs that sometimes seem ready to burst apart.
The pressure of a second album
Around the release, Rodrigo spoke openly about how much she thought while writing about growing up, insecurity and the strange transition from teenager to young woman. You can hear it in tracks such as vampire, bad idea right? and all-american bitch: anger and humour often appear in the same verse.
That makes GUTS more interesting than simply a follow-up to a successful record. It is the sound of someone trying to work out who she wants to be after a huge breakthrough.
Carbon Fibre Brush
Record Cleaner 200 ml