Tate McRae is back with her highly anticipated third studio album, So Close to What, and it’s already making waves. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It had 15 songs at its release, but another was added a couple days later, which brings the total number of tracks to 16.
The title of the album leaves people wondering, what does the album title mean? In a revealing interview with Jake Shane, Tate explains, “I came up with ‘So Close to What’ which is exactly how I was feeling, like I was driving towards nothing” This candid reflection gives the album’s title a sense of emotional depth, capturing a moment in Tate’s life when things felt uncertain.
Here’s my ranking for each of the songs:
#16 – Nostalgia | This song is very slow-paced and that makes the song extremely boring. I found myself wanting to press the skip button while listening to it, it only made me feel nostalgic for the times I had no hearing in my mother’s womb.
#15 – Greenlight | The intro is tranquil, but the song begins to go a bit faster after a bit, and it has a fairly emotional tone, which adds a lot. If you’re seeing this article, let this be your greenlight to listen to this song.
#14 – Siren sounds (bonus) | This is one of her softer, more emotional tracks, with a slightly upbeat vibe. The title is perfect for this song because siren sounds are meant to attract you to them, and this song will have you coming back for more.
#13 – Like I do | It’s not anything astonishing and it’s not very catchy in my opinion, but her melodic vocals save the song from being bad. The awkward spoken monologue towards the end of the song also brings it down a bit as well.
#12 – No I’m not in love | This song is a song that has a catchy rhythm and smooth melody that makes it hard to not tap your foot along to it, and although it’s nothing groundbreaking, it’s upbeat vibe makes it a fairly enjoyable listen.
#11 – Means I care | The track is smooth and relaxing, creating a sort of laid-back vibe that draws you in effortlessly. At the same time, there’s an undeniable fun aspect to it, with some of the song bringing and energetic twist.
#10 – Dear god | This song has a more subdued sound compared to a lot of the high energy songs on the album, which negatively affects its replay value.
#9 Signs | Although the first 45-50 seconds of the song aren’t especially spectacular, she makes it up to us with the catchy upbeat chorus, where she expresses the frustrations of her partner not being able to pick up subtle hints about what she needs, talks about how she has to spell it out for him.
#8 – bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Milli) | Although the intro and outro make me physically cringe, the rest of the song is really catchy and fun to sing and dance. Flo Milli’s part in the song was a well written verse and it sounded good overall.
#7 – I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI) | It has an infectious, catchy tune that just makes you want to sing and dance to it. The song describes love as something that can feel overwhelming, like a drug, bringing highs and lows.
#6 – Purple lace bra | The chorus is this amazing relaxing part of the song and it’s so addicting, the track features a laid-back, moody beat that complements McRae’s haunting and emotive vocals.
#5 – 2 hands | This is the second single of the album, and although it’s the weakest of the 4 singles, it’s still amazing. It’s a fun pop song that really gets you moving on the dancefloor!
#4 – Revolving door | In her 4th single for the album, Tate explores the cycle of on and off relationships and she really highlights this concept when she sings, “Baby I tried to call you off like a bad habit. But I keep coming back like a revolving door” The song is a mix of melodic and catchy, with a smooth flow that keeps me coming back like a revolving door.
#3 – Miss possessive | The intro is absolutely top-notch, featuring a special appearance by renowned actress Sydney Sweeney, whom Tate personally recruited for the role. The song delves into the obsessive, controlling, and jealous sides of relationships; she emphasizes this by telling someone in the song to “Look at the floor, or ceiling, or anyone else you’re feeling. Take home whoever walks in, just keep your hands off him”
#2 – It’s ok I’m ok | This was the lead single to the album, it had me hooked on the first listen, it has such a bouncy, addictive sound that kept me coming back for more after every listen. She addresses her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend and warns her that he’s not as great as he seems. She highlights this by saying “She be like, ‘He’s so perfect’, I be like ‘Oh, what version?”
#1 – Sports car | The 3rd single to the album is #1 on this list for a reason… it’s pop-perfection, I say this due to its captivating blend of slick production and McRae’s soft, expressive vocals. It’s driving beat and electronic elements make an energetic vibe that hooks you on the first listen.
