On Feb. 21, Tate McRae released her sophomore album, “So Close to What,” marking another milestone in her fast-rising career. Known for her viral TikTok hits and moody, whispery vocals, McRae has built a signature style that resonates with Generation Z audiences. This new album showcases growth in her confidence and vocal strength, but despite its polished production and catchy hooks, it struggles to stand out in an oversaturated pop landscape.
“This album feels like she’s growing up — she’s 21 now, and her songs don’t sound like a teenager anymore,” said Hillsdale sophomore Makayla Alex. “They’re more about figuring out life as an adult.”
One of the most noticeable improvements in “So Close to What” is McRae’s vocal delivery. She moves beyond the breathy softness of her earlier work, and has a much more controlled and powerful performance, highlighted particularly in “Purple Lace Bra.”
Rather than focusing solely on breakups, the track explores the pressures of fame and the unrealistic expectations placed on young female artists. The line, “Would you hear me more if I whispered in your ear?” felt like a direct commentary on how women in pop music must present themselves in a way that is overly sexualized by the media to be “memorable.”
“She’s way more comfortable telling her own story now,” Alex said. “This album isn’t just about fail[ing] — it’s about moving forward.”
Instead of overcomplicating emotions with metaphor-heavy verses, she opts for a straight-to-the-point approach that makes her music instantly relatable. In an era where pop artists often strive for poetic depth, McRae proves that sometimes, simplicity is the strongest storytelling tool.
“I’ve never really known Tate to be a lyricist,” said sophomore Lincoln Elliott. “She’s just having fun with her lyrics, and she is able to convey what she needs in a more monotone manner and less of a profound way.”
However, while her vocals have improved, the album doesn’t take many risks. Many songs follow a predictable structure — soft verses leading into heavy, bass-driven choruses. It’s a formula that works well on TikTok, but as a full-length album, it makes several tracks blur together.
Nevertheless, the album has some high points. “Sports Car” is one of the most infectious songs, blending a confident energy with a hypnotic beat that makes it easy to keep on repeat. “I Know Love”, a collaboration with her now boyfriend The Kid LAROI, also stands out as a clear radio hit, with a chorus that sticks long after the song ends.
Unfortunately, not every track makes an impact. “Cut My Hair” and “Stay Done” feel like standard background music — pleasant but indistinguishable from countless other mid-tempo pop tracks. These songs aren’t bad, but they don’t do much to separate McRae from artists like Olivia Rodrigo or Billie Eilish, who have carved out much stronger and distinct musical identities.
“I don’t necessarily think that she stands out compared to [other artists],” Elliot said. “They’re very niche, as opposed to Tate McRae, who is a bit of everything.”
McRae’s success is largely tied to TikTok, where short, catchy snippets often matter more than full-length artistry. This raises the question of longevity: While songs like “Greedy” have taken off, will people still be streaming “So Close to What” a year from now? Right now, her music feels like it’s riding a wave rather than defining one.
Although artists like Rodrigo and Eilish have managed to balance commercial appeal with unique storytelling and production choices, McRae hasn’t quite reached that level yet. While this album is an improvement, it still feels more like a collection of radio-friendly pop songs than a cohesive artistic statement.
“She’s very talented, but I don’t think she’s at the level of those other artists that have been dominating the music scene.” Elliott said. “But she definitely has potential.”
“So Close to What” proves that McRae is evolving as a singer and performer. The production is sleek, the vocals are stronger and the album brings back some of the fun energy of early 2000s pop. However, the repetitive song structures and lack of bold artistic choices keep it from being truly memorable, earning it a three and a half stars out of five stars.
