In just a year, Canadian pop singer
Tate McRae
made the jump from her relatively wide-eyed debut to this star-making sophomore statement, the fierce and fiery
Think Later
, a sonic amplification that makes
I Used to Think I Could Fly
feel almost rustic. Like similar leaps from
Britney
,
Christina
, and
Dua
, everything is intensified here, from the beats and energy to the choruses and the emotions. Finally taking some first steps beyond early comparisons to
Billie Eilish
and
Olivia Rodrigo
, both in style and delivery ("Want That Too" is one of a handful of moments where similarities persist),
feels like her grand-premiere statement, the marquee breakthrough meant to plant
McRae
's flag on Planet Pop. Staking her claim with cinematic atmospherics ("Run for the Hills"), beat-forward production ("Cut My Hair"), irresistible pop hooks ("Exes"), and journal-worthy lyrics for fans of her earlier work ("Messier"), the set is all-killer-no-filler from the opening run that includes the international smash hit "Greedy" -- an addictive earworm that rides popping
Timbaland
-esque production to a sweaty, breathless conclusion -- to the moving comedown of "Plastic Palm Trees." For every mega-moment, like "Think Later," which recalls the bass-heavy boom and singalong thrill of
M.I.A.
's "Bad Girls," she drops something absolutely pained like "Calgary," a torn ode to her hometown that swirls confusion and hope into a relatable mix, or "We're Not Alike," a tale of betrayal that cuts as deep as a stab to the back.
excels at balancing these two sides of the spectrum, injecting attitude and swagger into the radio-friendly pop gems while keeping listeners on the verge of tears with her tender moments of vulnerability. That kind of double threat elevates
, revealing
as a potent voice and keen ear that can deliver emotion and excitement in equal measure. ~ Neil Z. Yeung