On May 27, Tate McRae’s debut album “i used to think i could fly” was ready for takeoff. Detailing the trials and tribulations of young love, this album is one guaranteed to soar to new heights.
The first track of the album, “?”, acts as a spoken introduction to the album in a style reminiscent of Billie Eilish. McRae speaks about the pressures of growing into adulthood; her final words before the music begins are “When I was younger, I used to think I could fly”.
The first fast-paced song on the album is its fourth track, “what would you do?”. The track begins with a hard hitting guitar strum, and the addition of a kicking drum beat adds to the energy of the piece. In each chorus, the beat doubles, giving the song a more uptempo feel in addition to the sweeping melody, making it the perfect revenge song to dance to.
Another highlight is “she’s all i wanna be”, which was released as a single prior to the rest of the album. This song also utilizes crisp guitar strums augmented by drum beats, elevating the stylistic cohesion of the album as a whole. McRae’s lyricism regarding comparison and competition also resonates as she sings, “she’s got everything that I don’t have, how could I ever compete with that?”
The final track on the album, “i still say goodnight”, acts as a toned-down, heartbreaking ballad. Soft, delicate piano fills the track, giving it a calmer, more vulnerable feel. The song builds in harmony through the second verse to the final chorus, adding a soaring descant before landing once more, settling in the sound of hushed piano. This song is a soft place to land at the end of this album’s journey.