On December 8, 2023, Tate McRae dropped her newest album THINK LATER. The album debuted in the top 5 of charts across various countries, including the United States. At only twenty years old, McRae’s name gained recognition with her second album, following the release of her first studio album I Used to Think I Could Fly back in 2022. 

McRae’s artistic career began at six years old, when she decided to share her singing on the Internet. Initially, she showcased her talent by recording and uploading videos of her singing original songs, while also filming her dancing. Her talent attracted many as she gained millions of subscribers on her YouTube Channel. Eventually, McRae signed to a record deal for her extraordinary vocals. Likewise, her dancing earned her spots with pop stars on stage, and many awards. Now, she utilizes her talent in the spotlight of the music industry. 

The songs in THINK LATER are unlike many of the songs McRae previously released. Before, McRae wrote her songs from a sorrowful perspective. Unlike her first album, however, McRae’s second album embraces a rebellious and fierce attitude. 

The track, “cut my hair” notes a change in McRae’s own behavior and  songwriting person as she sings “Sad girl bit got a little boring” and “Couple years back so sensitive.” Another track, “greedy,” topped the charts on Spotify globally. The pop song defines a new era for McRae, since she sings confidently and powerfully. Initially a single, the song “exes” reflects an attitude of carelessness towards McRae’s past relationships. 

Other tracks like “run for the hills,” “we’re not alike,” and “hurt my feelings” display feelings of jealousy and frustration in competition for love. Meanwhile, “guilty conscience” and “think later” define the era of teenage rebellion. However, we still hear McRae slightly holding onto her traditional self as “grave,” “calgary,” “messier”, “want that too,” and “plastic palm trees” resemble McRae’s previous perspective of songwriting: a melancholic and regretful broken-hearted girl. 

In Radnor, McRae fans are raving over her new album. Senior Mia Simpson says that her favorite songs from the new album include “run for the hills,” “grave,” and “think later.” Senior Grace Gordon noted her personal favorites including “think later,” “run for the hills,” and “we’re not alike.” Grace emphasized her admiration for McRae’s new energy displayed in her songs. Meanwhile, “greedy,” “exes,” and “guilty conscience” are my personal favorites. The song “greedy” depicts girl-boss energy. The beat, particularly, is jaw-dropping, and makes for a great midnight-dancing session in my room. “Exes” also radiates a girl-boss attitude. The lyric “sorry that you love me” displays a careless demeanor that I appreciate. Also, this song is immensely catchy. I constantly sing this song in the halls, or while test-taking. Finally, “guilty conscience” is my all-time favorite. The beat of this song is immaculate, and makes for a top-tier driving session. Specifically, McRae wraps up the song with a final repetition of the chorus, while also singing an additional set of lyrics at the same time. Such an ending further contributes to the beauty of “guilty conscience.” I look forward to hearing my favorites of McRae in-person, since she will tour Philadelphia this August!