Mckenna Grace, most notably known for her numerous acting roles, released her new album Bittersweet 16 on March 3rd, 2023. It is a classic breakup record and is incredibly trendy with its theme and sound. It feels like an early Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo album with a mix of pop punk anthems. Though she has released singles in the past, her vocals are incredibly impressive on each and every song and her producers did a wonderful job highlighting them. She wrote every song on the album making her an outstanding writer. The lyrics are emotional, expressive and filled with imagery to paint the picture of how she felt when writing.
The first track “Ugly Crier” is a self hatred, anger-filled song. At first it comes across as a pretty basic pop song but strikes the listener with an angsty pop punk chorus with distorted vocals in the post chorus. This direction becomes very clear with the rest of the track and the following track “City Leaver.” This song has some riveting production filled with metal-inspired electric guitars and plucked synths.
“Checkered Vans” is a teen anthem. The vocals are drenched in anger and fire making the listener feel Grace’s pain. She coats the lyrics with imagery in an extremely poetic way as well. “Buzzkill Baby,” the four track continues with this but in a more toned down way. It slides perfectly into the next track, “What If?” A ukulele is paired with vocals with a telephone sounding effect. This is definitely the most stripped back song on the album yet the energy and passion she exudes is still apparent.
“Post Party Trauma” is the most impressive song vocally, sonically and lyrically. It starts off with vocals and piano but then picks up with the second verse. Strings, pads, synths and guitar support the energy change into the chorus where elements of percussion are introduced. The expanded vocals here make this her best vocal performance on the album. She channels the emotions she uses in her acting, imbuing it in her songs. It is soul-stirring and could move listeners to tears.
The last song and title track “Bittersweet 16” is aptly named, closing the album’s intensity and wrapping up the theme wonderfully. Grace laments not being able to be compared to Taylor Swift but her entire performance and writing on this album beg to differ since this is a spectacular debut album.
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