In a world where the music scene tends to move faster than me, Addison Rae offers a pop record centered on the art of digestion, harkening to the past while looking to the future. "Addison" is Rae's debut album from Columbia Records. She partnered with Max Martin-endorsed producers Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser to create a blend of music you think you've heard before but haven't. The primary perception "Addison" strives to fight is the assumed personality Rae built her career off on TikTok, with a theme of lyrics excavating human depth in a way Rae hasn't yet shown. "Fame is a Gun" dives into stardom as a force she can't control, but she can wield. Her lack of control doesn't change that she's destined for it: "There's no mystery, I'm gonna make it, gonna go down in history. Don't ask too many questions, God gave me the permission." Fame is also something she strives to separate her personhood from in "In The Rain": "Misunderstood, but I'm not gonna sweat it. Isn't it all for the show?" But as Rae herself has claimed, the album does not feature any ballads. Her music serves either as an escape from her true feelings or a medium to fantasize about them. We can assume she has money, but the smirk in her vocal performance suggests that "Money is Everything" is hyperbole.
However, "New York" is a serious matter. It is the best city in America, and Addison is heading to the club without missing a beat. It opens the album perfectly by encapsulating the transformative nature of music by leaving open space for the kick drum without interference. The 12-song tracklist sneaks in two interludes, which are relatively seamless transitions into the next track. "Life's No Fun Through Clear Waters" acts as a lift from the depths of self-doubt on "Times Like These" to the disassociative, feel-good anthem, "Headphones On." Especially in a debut effort, a methodized tracklist reveals a layer of intention that extends beyond the sound of individual songs. If anything else sells the record in a complete package, it's Rae's keen telegenic talent on camera. Her interactions with the audience bolster the story in her music videos, such as standing in the rain adorned with jewels and running makeup in "High Fashion" (not "In The Rain") or the dramatic can opening during the modulation of "Diet Pepsi." It also reflects the medium we first met Addison Rae through: our devices. From the top of the For You Page to the Billboard Charts, "Addison" lets listeners in on her outward and internal nuances through a divinely feminine process. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and will launch a debut tour starting in August and running until November. She comes to Nashville to play The Pinnacle on September 27.
- Ria Skyer
