Album Review: “So Close To What” by Tate McRae

The release of Tate Mcrae’s much anticipated 3rd studio album, So Close To What, had everyone, including myself, on the edge of their seats. With singles “It's ok I'm ok”, “2 hands”, and “Sports car” (as well as “Revolving Door” following the album release), So Close To What was bound to be a sure-fire hit and it did not disappoint. With sassy, sensual, and slow songs, the album has a little bit of everything and accomplishes exactly what it set out to do– to be an absolute banger with something for everyone.

The singles were a strong representation of the album, with each song showing a different side of Tate Mcrae’s personality and feelings. The first single, “It's ok I'm ok”, showed Mcrae’s sassy, fun, and petty side– making a relatable and spiteful bop that peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, her 10th entry on the list and a strong lead for So Close To What. It prefaced other songs like “Miss Possessive”, a song that, as the title states, is about Mcrae’s desire to keep her partner all to herself and her reaction to others’ interest in them. The second single, “2 hands”, demonstrated her playful side with lyrics like “need a little less talk, and a lot more touch” and “if you let go, better put ‘em right back fast” showing her neediness and desire for her partner’s affection. Another playful, fun song off the album is “No I’m not in love”, in which Mcrae sings about being in denial as she claims she is not in love and definitely doesn’t “hate every girl your eyes go to” and that she only sleeps over “cause it’s convenient”. Her third single, “Sports car” dropped before the release of the album and it took fans by storm. Peaking at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Sports Car” became her #2 most popular song, only blocked by Mcrae’s 2023 smash hit, “Greedy”. With a sonically compelling composition and sensual, playful lyrics, “Sports car” earned its place and filled fans with even more excitement for the album’s release. “Purple Lace Bra”, the track right before “Sports car” mirrors its sensual lyricism in a more slow-paced, and at-times, gloomy way. The final single (so far), “Revolving Door” shows a more vulnerable side to Mcrae in which she sings about an unhealthy, addictive relationship that she cannot seem to escape no matter what she does. “Siren sounds”, the album’s only bonus track, follows the lead of “Revolving Door”, as Mcrae sings about the ups and downs of her relationship and the toxicity within it. With lyrics like “I wanna kill you then I call you and say, ‘get in my bed’” and “been a full year now, and we both know it’s not good for us” showing the unhealthy dynamic between Mcrae and her partner, listeners feel the longing and at the same time, the anger that Mcrae sings about in “Siren sounds”.

Like albums such as The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift and Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa, So Close To What is a very consistent album, with none of its songs feeling out of place and the whole album having clear thematic and musical goals. However, this uniformity can also have its drawbacks– one of those being a feeling of repetition. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the album and felt myself dancing and singing along, a good amount of the songs blended together for me. With a tracklist on the longer side, containing 16 songs, I felt that some of the songs began to sound similar the more I listened while others did not make a big impression on me. While the songs were still enjoyable and the album flowed very well, I could not recall the gist of songs like “Revolving Door”, "Dear god”, “Signs”, “Like I do”, and “2 Hands” after my first listen. Though these songs have grown on me and I deeply enjoy them, they did not initially stick out to me due to the repetition of their themes and sounds. Despite this, So Close To What stands as a strong album, with pop and R&B influences and Tate Mcrae’s personal touch, the album re-cements her as a talented pop star and musician. It has also become her most popular album, judging by the amount of songs featured in the Billboard Hot 100. With “Sports Car”, “It's ok I'm ok”, “2 Hands, “I Know Love” (feat. The Kid LAROI), “Revolving door”, “Purple lace bra”, “Dear god”, “Miss possessive”, “Signs”, “Greenlight”, “Like I do”, and “bloodonmyhands” (feat Flo Milli) all entering the Billboard Hot 100, So Close To What is a clear hit with successful and popular tracks throughout the album.

Overall, So Close To What is a beautiful balance of fun and vulnerable, with playful and petty songs as well as sensual and sad songs. Though more of a party album, many of the songs are raw, containing emotional depth and Mcrae’s process of coming to terms with her feelings. With a clear vibe throughout the album and strong personality coming from Mcrae’s lyricism and vocals, the album, So Close To What, gives us everything at once– excitement, sadness, playfulness, confidence, and above all– connection.

For Tate Mcrae’s full chart history visit https://www.billboard.com/artist/tate-mcrae/chart-history/hsi/