BLACK VINYL

In just a year, Canadian pop singer Tate McRae made the jump from her relatively wide-eyed debut to this star-making sophomore statement, the fierce and fiery Think Later, a sonic amplification that makes I Used to Think I Could Fly feel almost rustic. Like similar leaps from Britney, Christina, and Dua, everything is intensified here, from the beats and energy to the choruses and the emotions. Finally taking some first steps beyond early comparisons to Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, both in style and delivery ("Want That Too" is one of a handful of moments where similarities persist), Think Later feels like her grand-premiere statement, the marquee breakthrough meant to plant McRae's flag on Planet Pop. Staking her claim with cinematic atmospherics ("Run for the Hills"), beat-forward production ("Cut My Hair"), irresistible pop hooks ("Exes"), and journal-worthy lyrics for fans of her earlier work ("Messier"), the set is all-killer-no-filler from the opening run that includes the international smash hit "Greedy" -- an addictive earworm that rides popping Timbaland-esque production to a sweaty, breathless conclusion -- to the moving comedown of "Plastic Palm Trees." For every mega-moment, like "Think Later," which recalls the bass-heavy boom and singalong thrill of M.I.A.'s "Bad Girls," she drops something absolutely pained like "Calgary," a torn ode to her hometown that swirls confusion and hope into a relatable mix, or "We're Not Alike," a tale of betrayal that cuts as deep as a stab to the back. McRae excels at balancing these two sides of the spectrum, injecting attitude and swagger into the radio-friendly pop gems while keeping listeners on the verge of tears with her tender moments of vulnerability. That kind of double threat elevates Think Later, revealing McRae as a potent voice and keen ear that can deliver emotion and excitement in equal measure.

A1        Cut My Hair
A2        Greedy
A3        Run For The Hills
A4        Hurt My Feelings
A5        Stay Done
A6        Grave
A7        Exes
B1        We're Not Alike
B2        Calgary
B3        Messier
B4        Think Later
B5        Guilty Conscience
B6        Want That Too
B7        Plastic Palm Trees