By Kehinde Adejumo | March 3, 2025
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Tate McRae cemented her status as pop’s new princess after “Greedy,” the lead single from her sophomore album “Think Later,” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. McRae released her third studio album “So Close To What” on Feb. 21, 2025.
According to a Sony press release, “So Close To What” is “an introspective exploration of self-discovery, love, and nostalgia.” While previous albums centered on bedroom pop, McRae has fully embraced dance-pop on this new record.
“It’s ok I’m ok” was the first single from this album, and it hit No. 20 on the Billboard Top 100. The track has an infectious dance break but not enough of an eye-catching chorus. “2 hands” is refreshing for McRae, as it is her first love song. The alternative track craves intimacy with a partner over drums and sirens.
“Sports Car,” the third single, has caused a lot of commotion for its ode to 2000’s pop and its unabashed sexual nature. The song reached No. 21 on the Billboard Top 100. While the refrain could have had better lyrics (“Oh, but you got a sports car / We can uh-uh in it), McRae shines best when she references 2000’s music and positions it in the modern-day music scene.
The fourth single, “Revolving door” discusses an irresistible ex that she keeps finding herself coming back to. The melancholic melody juxtaposes its uptempo beat to capture the emotional rollercoaster of a toxic relationship.
McRae has expressed on multiple occasions that she created “So Close To What” with performances in mind. This album can get anyone on the dance floor as it is filled with hits.
Songs like “bloodonmyhands” and “Miss possessive” are certified confidence boosters destined to lift up your mood. “bloodonmyhands” features the incredible Flo Milli, as the two singers cruise on a Miami-Bass beat. While the song’s message centers on getting back at an ex, the title “bloodonmyhands” had the potential for deeper, more impactful lyricism. “Miss possessive,” the album’s opener, has a certain appeal to it with the line “Just keep your eyes off him.” The song showcases McRae confidently speaking her mind, setting the tone for the rest of the album with its commanding presence. The introductory lyric spoken by actress Sydney Sweeney, “No, seriously, get your hands off my man,” adds a sassy touch to complete the song.
“So Close To What” is McRae’s best album because it shows a more mature side to the singer. With her phenomenal skills as a dancer, dance music is a no-brainer for the star. In this album, McRae talks about new subject matter, especially in “Purple lace bra” which explores how the singer feels sexualized in the media and how they aren’t paying attention to what she is saying in her songs. While the sentiment is there, the melody and lyrics don’t pack enough of a punch to make a lasting impact. “Purple lace bra” hides under the guise of a relationship gone wrong when it needs to call the media out directly.
Even though a majority of the songs from “So Close To What” are upbeat pop, it’s not a McRae album without some ballads. Tracks like “Means I care” and “Nostalgia” provide the gap for fans who prefer McRae’s slower songs. “Means I care” is a relatable track for those who find themselves in an anxious attachment style. As she coos over the computerized hand-clapped fueled track, McRae is able to be introspective and take responsibility for her faults in a relationship. “Nostalgia” closes the album with some hard lessons on how childhood can be brought into relationships and attachment issues. On this country-inspired track, fans hear McRae recall her father’s biggest regret of not becoming an architect. While it is nice to get some insight into the singer’s family life, the lyrics don’t capture the emotional intensity of her father’s story well enough.
“So Close to What” is an improvement from her sophomore album, but there are still a lot of shortcomings when it comes to this project. For one, the songwriting felt too generic and didn’t offer anything new to pop. Dance music doesn’t need to have complicated lyrics, but it should at least be fresh and interesting so we get to know the singer. For instance, “I know love” has lazy songwriting and doesn’t provide any new insights on love. Even though The Kid Laroi and McRae sound great together, this song could have been more introspective when it came to their love story.
My other gripe with this album is that it lacked emotional depth. I know this is supposed to be a dance album, but McRae is supposed to be known as a great songwriter who makes people feel deeply. It’s hard to gauge a sense of personality from this album because some of the slower songs are hard to connect to. Older songs like “run for the hills” or “calgary” are better at storytelling and getting to raw emotion than most of the songs on “So Close to What.”
However, I commend “So Close to What” as the most cohesive album in her catalog, with every song feeling purposeful and fitting within the project. As a fan of McRae’s music, I want her to stand out from the other pop girls in the industry. This might mean finding a new writing team or putting more of her personality into her songs. Dance tracks are great, but they can’t complete an image of an artist. Her ballads should be just as good.
McRae is so close to figuring herself out, but she is just not there yet.
Rating: 7/10
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