Addison Rae - Addison
“Feel so free, it’s my religion”.
Addison Rae’s run of singles in the last two years showed that she may have what it takes to become a notable figure in the ever-expanding pop landscape. The long-awaited release of her debut studio LP, Addison, erases any doubts on that matter, confirming her as a major breakout star.
The first thing that becomes obvious about Addison is that it shows huge progress and evolution from Addison Rae’s previous project, the 2023 EP AR. While that showed some promise, it lacked a distinguishable presence. That could not be more different this time around. Mixing together all her influences, from Madonna to Lana Del Rey, and adding something that is uniquely her own, Addison Rae shows plenty of personality as a performer on every track, with her carefree, liberated attitude shining through from track to track. There’s a real confidence in who she is, and it’s quite charming. This makes the album a very fun listen, and gives it a light, airy feel in a lot of moments.
Another thing that was interesting to see was whether the album would be able to live up to the fantastic singles - “Diet Pepsi” and “Aquamarine” were among the better pop tracks of last year, and the 2025 singles, “Headphones On” especially, were also great. However, the album cuts very much hold their own as well. The stretch of the record which includes “Summer Forever”, “In The Rain” and “Times Like These” is probably the strongest on the project, with those tracks containing some of its most memorable moments and melodies.
The production and the mixing contribute greatly to the atmosphere of the album, of course. The wispy, spaced out mixes give the songs an almost fairytale-like quality, and the instrumentals are very well composed, with the synths being a particular standout. The general ambience of the record is also perfectly suited to Addison Rae’s vocals, which makes the project feel even more natural and like she’s coming into her own as an artist. There’s still things to work on, naturally, primarily a few somewhat strange lyrical moments, but minor flaws here and there are to be expected at this stage in an artist’s career, and absolutely don’t spoil the fantastic impression this album makes.
Overall, as far as debut albums go, Addison is fantastic. It’s very enjoyable, incredibly atmospheric, gorgeously produced, and centers around an artist who I believe has serious staying power if she continues along this trajectory.
8.0/10
