We all remember when Olivia Rodrigo’s first hit single ‘drivers license’ came out. It played constantly on the radio, and was the hot topic of the music scene. Only 17 at the time, the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star probably wasn’t expecting the song to become as big as it did. Her honest and relatable lyrics along with the catchy melody helped it hit the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 only fifteen days after its release.

Rodrigo’s debut album, SOUR, is a youthful breakup album characterized by her truth-filled lyrics and strong emotions. From vengeful rants such as “good 4 u” to more thoughtful songs like “1 step forward, 3 steps back”, she shows that she knows how to tell a story. Since late June, fans have been anticipating the Disney Channel star’s second album, GUTS, which released this past Friday. The 12 tracks on her sophomore album show that Olivia isn’t scared to expand her style while keeping her signature candid storytelling and unapologetically impassioned flair.

Olivia first teased her album by releasing two singles prior to its arrival: “vampire” and “bad idea, right?” “vampire” is a dark ballad about regretting past decisions and being taken advantage of by an older love interest. Showcasing the variation of styles of her new album, it starts out with an ominous piano accompaniment and lyrical imagery, then gradually gets more energetic and intense. The second single, “bad idea, right?” brings a whole new attitude while describing wanting to get back together with your ex. Although it’s more of an acquired taste for some, Rodrigo’s bold and playful narrative is enjoyable to listen to.

GUTS is a pop album heavily influenced by rock. Many songs feature strong electric guitar, drums, and bass lines, which add to the feel of chaos, youth, and teenage angst. While some of the tracks in Olivia’s previous album also edge towards this feel, in GUTS it is even more prominent. The album includes some gentler songs played on acoustic guitar or piano, notably “lacy” and “the grudge.” However, the subject matter of these tracks still covers deep topics that aren’t all happy.

The album does have a Parental Advisory warning because of the language, so keep that in mind if you’re interested in listening to it. Rodrigo did release a clean version of the album to make it accessible to a slightly younger audience, but older listeners may appreciate the songs more.

Olivia Rodrigo knows how to tell personal experiences in a way that speaks to everyone. While SOUR mainly focused on a breakup with a cheating boyfriend, the songs of GUTS branch out to cover feelings of insecurity and the impossible standards for teens and women in society, for example, the opening track, “all-american b—-”. Talking about the song in an interview with The Guardian, Olivia said, “I’ve always struggled with wanting to be this perfect American girl and…not feeling like that all the time.” This theme continues in “pretty isn’t pretty”, where she sings about beauty standards making it impossible to fit into a world where it’s never enough, and also “ballad of a homeschooled girl”, where wearing out-of-style clothes and liking guys that end up being gay are just a few of the cringey experiences she describes.

Another thing that seems to have influenced Rodrigo’s sophomore album is her recently skyrocketed fame life. The most obvious example of this is in her song “making the bed”. It seems as if the life of fame isn’t quite what Rodrigo expected, as she feels like a “tourist attraction”, and writes, “Another perfect moment that doesn’t feel like mine”. While not many of us can relate to being in the public eye, the thoughts that Olivia mixes in about blaming herself for the current state of her life are sincere and relatable.

Olivia Rodrigo’s newest set of songs still isn’t without discussion of love and relationships. Similarly to “bad idea right?”, she uses the songs “get him back!” and “logical” to explain her conflicting feelings about her relationship with her ex-boyfriend. She applies witty wordplays to parallel how she wants to get him back while simultaneously getting revenge on him, and also gives illogical and false statements to show how much she was manipulated and began believing untrue things during their relationship.

The final song in the album, “teenage dream,” really wraps up the list of songs with a thoughtful and genuine note. A song about youth, fame, and the fear of no longer being interesting, to many teenagers it may be the most relatable song yet. It draws on many of the themes Olivia sang about in previous songs, mentioning how young she is and wrapping up with questions about her life. The final chorus of the song slowly builds up and ends the album perfectly, leaving you to mull over all of the songs you just heard. I got chills when listening to it, and would say it’s one of the best tracks.

Despite my love for it, Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album may not be for everyone because of the somewhat overdramatic teenage feelings that are portrayed. However, the storytelling, honesty, and emotional beauty are things you don’t always find in music. That’s why I would say GUTS is something that anyone who loves music should check out.