that one girl who reviews

After a strong introduction into the music industry with her EP Everything to Everyone, it’s hard not to hold high expectations for Reneé Rapp. Yet, her debut album, Snow Angel does more than impress: it solidifies Rapp as a force to be reckoned with.

The album consists of 12 songs that weave seamlessly together to tell the story of a woman; not a cohesive narrative with one linear plot but rather the inner-workings of a girl’s mind.

“Talk Too Much,” the album’s opening track, starts off similarly to “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5 but quickly diverts into a uniquely rock sound as she sings “Talking myself out of/My own happiness/I’ll make it up ‘til I quit/I wonder if we should just sit here in silence ‘cause/I think I talk too much.”

The track delves into the idea of self-sabotage and how someone seemingly goes to great lengths to prevent their own happiness. Rapp expertly creates a bridge that’s not even really a bridge but instead, representative of the track title, Rapp continuously rambling to her muse, talking way too much. 

Next, Rapp delivers a tearful ballad called “I Hate Boston.” While the city unfortunately gets a bad rep with the title, Rapp makes sure to let listerners know that it’s not its fault. When you love someone, every piece of them, including their hometown, becomes haunted for you when they leave. 

“I Hate Boston” is one of the standout tracks and Rapp beautifully says, “How’d you make me hate Boston?/It’s not its fault that you don’t love me/Had it’s charm but it lost it/It’s not its fault, just a casualty/And casual’s the way you chose to leave,” the last line hitting like a cement truck right to the heart. 

She follows this up with a witty pop sound for “Poison Poison” which is a universal experience for everyone listening. I can say with full certainty that everyone’s met someone who is so annoying they could, quite frankly, poison poison. 

The lead single of the album and the titular song, “Snow Angel” is a painful story of addiction paired with loss of love. Starting off slow and tender, the song’s chorus eventually picks up with an intense guitar and drum section that eventually leads into the bridge which speaks for itself.

“I tried so hard/I came so far/I met a boy/He broke my heart,” kicks off the verse as the instruments slowly ascend and Rapp’s vocals truly come out to shine when she sings, “I blame him ‘cause/It’s easier/But I still look for him in her/The season’s change/Addiction’s strange/I love back then what I hate today.”

Track nine, “I Wish,” solidifies the album as something more than just love and hate. The feelings of women and people, in general, are so much more than the people they choose to love. Rapp wistfully talks about the grief that comes when you lose someone close to you as you grow older. 

“I Wish” is truly the standout of the album. While it’s slow and stringy, the song navigates how getting older doesn’t always mean getting better. 

“Hair turns to gray, but the blue’s here to stay,” is a beautiful interpretation of loss throughout life. While we get older, others don’t, and some goodbye’s are permanent whether you realize it at the time or not. 

Writing with a pen similar to Taylor Swift’s and vocals reminiscent of Adele, Rapp creates a sound that is so uniquely her own, it’s hard to ignore.   

While I could go on and on about how every song on Snow Angel is worthy of its own bouquet of flowers, I think it’s safe to say that Rapp’s ability to write so effortlessly about her own feelings, so much so that they transcend universally to her listeners will guarantee her success as a musician.