My first time listening to Olivia Rodrigo was in my sister’s car, as she and I drove to Florida–where she lives–together. She was moving back to university after a summer away, and she had every song on this album in her primary playlist. I had heard her from time to time after that on the radio, but I hadn’t paid her very close attention, other than thinking that Rodrigo’s music struck me as important to my sister.

Olivia Rodrigo’s music was not at all on my to-listen list until I saw a thread on 32-Bit Cafe where multiple people said that her albums both SOUR and Guts were the first that they purchased. I thought I’d best give Rodrigo a chance.

This is a hardcore poppy album with a nice rock sound throughout. I don’t know that Rodrigo’s music is anything remarkable, but it is catchy and I think some of her lyrics might resonate with those still in high school and university. The lyrics are heavily emotive and they stay in your head. I also think that it might be danceable.

The first song I heard by her, I think, was “good 4 u.” But, if I remember right, my sister liked “Drivers License” more. These tracks are good, but I think that “brutal” might be my favorite here. It’s raw, a bit self-pitying, and visceral. It would get her thrown out of any “twelve steps” program, but it’s ok: it’s teen angst.

The big crime on this album is its plagiarism. The most obvious is “good 4 u”’s obvious and shameless plagiarism of Paramore’s “Misery Business.” It doesn’t take a legal scholar or music expert to pick up on it, and I don’t think it’s just a ripped guitar riff or something. The sound comes so close that it sounds nearly identical.

In short, SOUR is a nice poppy listen, and I know her music resonates with a lot of people, but I don’t think it will stick with me.