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Addison Rae’s highly anticipated debut record is here in all its self-titled glory. With a rollout of six dynamic singles with imaginative music videos to match, Rae’s vision could not be clearer. The full-length record completes the world she’s built over the last few years, adding depth at every turn. From the vitality displayed in “Money is Everything” to the quiet introspective of her newest single “Times Like These,” Rae’s impactful entry into pop history is as compelling as it is truthful. 

Addison embodies nostalgia in a manner so intense it surpasses the recent Y2K movement by miles. Its specific visuals, patchwork lyricism, and explorative sonic landscape reflect extremely visceral experiences. Addison is the photoshoots you had with your friends as a teenage girl, romanticizing random items around the house, because anything can be beautiful. It’s the daydreams you had all your life that never felt like they could actually come true, but they do. This record manages to live at the intersection of both freedom and control, nostalgia and modernity, minimalism and excessive detail. But most importantly, it’s about feeling empowered despite being misunderstood. Track by track, the story unfolds and Rae’s lifelong vision comes to life in this stunning body of work made almost entirely by female producers, Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser.

Addison starts off with a massive shift in the young star’s life—the desire to leave Los Angeles and move to New York. The opening track, titled accordingly, sets the tone of explosive, transformative new beginnings that feel impulsive yet methodically planned at the same time. Sonically, “New York” takes a book from pop mother Madonna’s handbook, in both subject and sound. Rae’s delicious talent for spoken word delivery draws you in immediately, encouraging listeners to “Take a bite of the big apple,” metaphorically welcoming us into a world that will only make sense if you’re willing to embrace it. 

After setting the scene in “New York,” we’re immediately taken back to where it all began. Lead single turned smash hit “Diet Pepsi” is the second track on Addison, sending a message of confidence and assurance in the art she's created. This energy is amplified tenfold in the following track, the standout moment that is “Money is Everything.” The track takes notes from every era of modern pop that’s come before her, making sure to shout out icons like Madonna, Lana, and Gaga, who have all clearly shaped not only Addison’s sound, but her pure existence as a woman and artist. “Money is Everything” is Addison directly addressing her success in the most Addison way, half-silly, half-serious, but 100% committed. 

If “Money is Everything” is the manifestation, “Aquamarine” is Rae claiming it and actualizing it. Placed perfectly, “Aquamarine” feels like the pulse of the album, a statement of faith that once committed to, became completely true. Followed by the ethereal “Lost and Found” interlude, this section of the album focuses on drawing inspiration from moments in life that feel directionless, and times where purpose could not be more clear. 

If there’s one song that’s the most misunderstood and underappreciated on Addison, it’s “High Fashion.” For true fans and Addison herself, this track is a career highlight, conjuring pop sounds that were put away from the mainstream for years. Self-expression through fashion is her drug of choice, and that bleeds through this album from start to finish. 

“Summer Forever” feels like a turning point, from now until the end of the record, the music feels lighter and more open-ended. This track is a love song at its core, dedicated to more than a special person but also a love letter to aesthetics. “Summer Forever” feels like you’re scrolling on Tumblr in 2012 in real time, ethereal and impactful, capturing the feeling of being crazy and free with your best friends, bringing moments you dreamt of at 13 to life and making them feel within reach. 

It’s not too early to demand “In The Rain” as the underrated gem, and most vulnerable moment, of Addison. Rae is known for her infectious energy and happiness, but this song is about the flip side of that, without compromising her positive outlook on life. There is a difference between choosing to be happy and faking happiness. If Rae is going to let her sadness to the surface, she’s going to make something out of it. 

Closing out Addison’s debut record is back-to-back hits, all carrying a different message and energy. “Fame is a Gun” brings the energy back, solidifying an instant pop classic with a music video immediately inducted into the gay music video night hall of fame. From “In The Rain” to “Fame is a Gun,” there’s a multi-faceted perspective on widescale perception, something Rae has arguably one of the most unique and modern experiences with. 

The final single (for now) from Addison is the introspective masterpiece that is “Times Like These.” On this track, Rae admits she doesn’t have a handle on everything. From the outside, it looks like she coasts through life, but in this track, she expresses her fear of the unknown, something she mostly revels in. In typical Addison fashion, not once does this confusion feel like a setback, only inspiration born from acceptance. This song feels like the real beginning of Addison’s journey, a step into the unknown, fully ready to receive. 

Addison’s finale could not be more perfect, and calls for its own introductory interlude. In under one minute, “Life’s No Fun Through Clear Waters” perfectly sets up the final track and hones in on the message of positivity over everything. The 12-song journey ends with “Headphones On,” an ode to accepting life’s challenges and using music to cope. A great debut record encapsulates an artist’s life up until that point, giving listeners an idea of what the artist has been through to get them to this moment. For Rae, music has been the guiding light ever since childhood and “Headphones On” catches us up to speed on how melodies have always been there for her, in the good times and the bad. 

There are a plethora of reasons Addison Rae’s debut is making such a splash, from its lovers to its haters. The main one is authenticity, which is being argued on each side. If you actually give Rae a fair shot, beyond the perception of her career trajectory, it becomes undeniably clear that she’s making music purely for herself to fulfill a personal vision. This record shows a lot, but not too much, leaving us hungry for more of Addison Rae’s truth, taste, and passion. 

Listen to Addison below: