The Secret Of Us (Deluxe) - Gracie Abrams, 7 new tracks
by Nyah Lin | October 22nd, 2024
Just this Friday, Gracie Abrams released the deluxe version of her album, The Secret Of Us.
Released just before summer, The Secret Of Us had singles like Close To You, Risk, and us. (Ft. Taylor Swift) with songs staying on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks. Fans loved her new music, calling it the “album of the summer” because of the many upbeat songs.
Currently on tour, Gracie has made stops all over the US. Fans love the small note changes she performs live, inspiring the release of I Love You, I'm Sorry (Live From Vevo) before the release of the deluxe album. Similarly, the “surprise songs” that come with each show can vary between songs from previous albums or even unreleased songs, where she debuted many of the additional songs on the album.
The new tracks include:
Cool
That’s So True
I Told You Things
Packing It Up
I Love You, I'm Sorry (Live From Vevo)
I Knew It, I Know You (Live From Vevo)
Free Now (Live From Vevo)
Gracie’s songs focus a lot on her voice with very simple elements to accompany them. That being said, a lot of deep inhales are emphasized in her songs to exaggerate emotion and vulnerability. This only builds on to the lyrics she writes about love and heartbreak. Throughout the album, there is a reverb, or echoey effect in her voice, which differentiates from her live songs.
Track 14: Cool
“Cool” was first announced as an unreleased surprise song in Chicago, Illinois. The song is very emotional with the most focus on the lyrics and her voice rather than the instrumental and production aspects. The notable breathiness and inhales complement the vulnerable lyrics. This song is about the changes in a relationship that come with time and in this case, becoming toxic.
“Calm down, maybe, baby, calm down
Waited for your walls to close on me, they did
I spun 'round, hate the way I spun 'round
All the way 'til I could barely breathe”
Track 15: That’s So True
“But I know what I know and you're just another dude”
“That’s So True” has definitely been a fan favorite from this release. Last September, she sang it as a ‘surprise song’ at her first show in Los Angeles, where she invited her best friend, Audrey Hobert, to sing the song together. This song is a reflection of a past relationship. As the other person moves on, she is still reflecting and comparing the things they did together to what they are doing with someone else now. The song is upbeat and focuses on her voice and guitar. The melody of the song and the “ohs” in the chorus make the song so addicting. The song builds up to the bridge where the drum changes, making it more dramatic and frustrating.
Track 16: I Told You Things
“I told you things that I never said
You're the golden boy and my worst regret”
“I Told You Things” is for the overthinking thought daughters. The writing of the song has short lines filled with questions associated with thoughts after a breakup. It’s about the regret of sharing things with the wrong person and the effects of their responses looking back. It has a consistent synth throughout the song adding the simplistic element and focus on her voice and lyrics.
Track 17: Packing it up
“Packing It Up” was the surprise song in New York City at Radio City Music Hall Night 2. While the other new songs seem to reference a breakup, this song shows the start of a relationship. It shows closure and finding comfort with a new person when it's needed most. The subtle guitar and piano in the back create a soft atmosphere without taking the focus away from her voice.
“I swear that I wasn't looking for much
But that’s just when you happened”
I Love You, I'm Sorry, I Knew It, I Know You, and Free Now were all featured on the deluxe album as a live recording from Vevo. Right off the bat, the live version of all three songs has an instrumental intro leading into the opening verse. Throughout the song, the backing instrumentals are almost orchestral with it being a lot slower and smoother than the studio recorded version. Her voice live shows her vocal strength with it beginning remarkably similar to the studio recording. What makes her voice so unique is the small rasps that are more noticeable in the live versions.
