You Won’t Regret “The Secret of Us”

Review of Gracie Abrams’ Latest Album “The Secret of Us” 

Photo by Justin Higuchi / CC BY 2.0 / Cropped from original

It is no secret that singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams has been gaining more traction in 2024. After being an opening act for Taylor Swift's “The Eras Tour,” Abrams has been reaching more fans with her alternative-pop discography. Following the 2023 release of her emotional and melancholic debut album “Good Riddance,” Abrams has crafted a fresher, more upbeat sound.

 Abrams’  sophomore album “The Secret of Us” was released on June 21, 2024, leaving longtime fans excited and bringing in new listeners as well. Living up to its high expectations, “The Secret of Us” is an excellent collection of music that mixes poetic lyrics with catchy instrumentals, making for a satisfying and emotionally appealing album. 

Abrams’ songwriting has always been one of her strong suits from her debut single to her most recent work. “The Secret of Us” encapsulates the ups and downs of adolescence and early adulthood, drawing from both personal anecdotes and other concepts of inspiration. In the fourth track of the album, “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” she expresses themes of guilt and taking accountability in a past relationship. Specifically, a lyric in the first chorus, “That’s just the way life goes / I like to slam doors closed / Trust me, I know it’s always about me / I love you, I’m sorry,” is a vulnerable play on words that describes how she feels responsible for the end of that relationship and dreams of apologizing. 

The fifth track “us.”  features singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, presenting a highly anticipated collaboration within the fanbase. This song can definitely be seen as a summary of the album as a whole, a sort of thesis to all the lyrics within the songs. The bridge contains the lyrics “That night you were talking / False prophets and profits / They make in the margins of poetry sonnets.” An interesting play on the words “prophet” and “profit” showcase Abrams’ songwriting capabilities well. Overall, the lyricism really shines in “The Secret of Us” with all the words fitting the vibe of the album, combining the cleverness and poeticism of Abram’s songwriting to create a great listening experience.

“The Secret of Us” is a more upbeat and extroverted album as Abrams described it, which is a pretty big jump from her previous album, “Good Riddance.” The songs were produced by Aaron Dessner, who has been a longtime collaborator in Abrams’ career since she released her EP “This Is What It Feels Like” in 2021. Using Abrams’ typical acoustic guitar, piano and synth sounds, mixed with faster pace beats has set “The Secret of Us” apart from her previous work for the better. The production of the music brings the album together as a cohesive work of art, producing an enjoyable listening experience.

The most improved aspect that really shines through in “The Secret of Us” is Abrams’ vocals. Her unique singing voice has improved immensely from her previous album, and she uses her skills more boldly. She takes more risks and holds more power in her voice. Though a softer voice better fit her sound in the past, now a stronger voice has benefited the success of “The Secret of Us.”

“The Secret of Us” is a near perfect sophomore album. It appeals to a range of emotions, showcases Abram’s improvements and strengths and shines a great light on her abilities. With its enticing and vulnerable lyrics, enjoyable production and unique vocals, this album is certainly worth a listen. 

<Star Rating>

Lyrics: ★★★★★

Production: ★★★★★

Vocals: ★★★★★