On Oct. 18, American pop singer Gracie Abrams released the deluxe version of her second studio album, The Secret of Us. The original album featured 13 tracks, and a feature from the award winning singer, Taylor Swift, who Abrams often opens for. The deluxe version featured three of the songs from the original album, which were re-recorded live from Vevo, and four new tracks, Cool, That’s So True, I Told You Things and Packing It Up.
The first deluxe track, Cool, sets an accusatory and angry tone. The song recaps Abrams’ feelings after the end of a relationship, and how she is dealing with the fallout. She sings about her suspicions, which many viewers believe to be about actor Dylan O’Brien.
I felt the song was nicely written, and I enjoyed the key details in the lyrics. Though, I did find the song to be mildly repetitive, and after only a few listens I began getting bored. It seemed like the type of song someone would like for a few days, forget about it, remember one month later and cycle through the same process forever.
The next track is That’s So True. Before coming out, the song was already making massive waves after being leaked on TikTok, so it’s no surprise the song became the biggest hit out of the new releases. The track is once again another compilation of Abram’s inner thoughts, as she reflects on a relationship and realizes ending it was for the better.
Like many, I really enjoyed this track and it was my favorite. There were new things I noticed in every single listen, and the melody is very catchy. I also enjoyed how the bridge sped up, bringing an intense feeling to the ending of the song.
The third track on the deluxe album is, I Told You Things. This track covers the idea of feeling dazed after losing someone or something. The line “you were in my hands, now you’re on my ceiling,” is describing how something she used to have can now only be imagined as she lies down and looks at the ceiling.
This song caught my attention, and I would say it is my second favorite of the deluxe release. The strong background instrumentals and forceful lyrics made the song feel very powerful and thoughtful. However, I did find the lyrics lacked a certain catchiness that I was hoping to find.
Lastly, the new songs wrap up on Packing it Up, a clever title to finish off the album. The song features a clear tone shift, as it features optimistic and excited lyrics with softer instrumentals.
The song was a nice switch, as I felt it ended the tracks on upbeat notes. Similar to I Told You Things, the lyrics lacked a certain catchiness, but it was still very enjoyable to listen to.
Overall I would rate the deluxe The Secret of Us album at 8/10. Unfortunately, I felt it lacked the originality and appeal that I was hoping to find. Still, I enjoyed the creative lyrics and impactful instrumentals. In the end, it is no secret why these fantastic songs have already become fan favorites.
