In just a year, Canadian pop singer
Tate McRae made the jump from her relatively wide-eyed debut to this star-making sophomore statement, the fierce and fiery
Think Later, a sonic amplification that makes
I Used to Think I Could Fly feel almost rustic. Like similar leaps from
Britney,
Christina, and
Dua, everything is intensified here, from the beats and energy to the choruses and the emotions. Finally taking some first steps beyond early comparisons to
Billie Eilish and
Olivia Rodrigo, both in style and delivery ("Want That Too" is one of a handful of moments where similarities persist),
Think Later feels like her grand-premiere statement, the marquee breakthrough meant to plant
McRae's flag on Planet Pop. Staking her claim with cinematic atmospherics ("Run for the Hills"), beat-forward production ("Cut My Hair"), irresistible pop hooks ("Exes"), and journal-worthy lyrics for fans of her earlier work ("Messier"), the set is all-killer-no-filler from the opening run that includes the international smash hit "Greedy" -- an addictive earworm that rides popping
Timbaland-esque production to a sweaty, breathless conclusion -- to the moving comedown of "Plastic Palm Trees." For every mega-moment, like "Think Later," which recalls the bass-heavy boom and singalong thrill of
M.I.A.'s "Bad Girls," she drops something absolutely pained like "Calgary," a torn ode to her hometown that swirls confusion and hope into a relatable mix, or "We're Not Alike," a tale of betrayal that cuts as deep as a stab to the back.
McRae excels at balancing these two sides of the spectrum, injecting attitude and swagger into the radio-friendly pop gems while keeping listeners on the verge of tears with her tender moments of vulnerability. That kind of double threat elevates
Think Later, revealing
McRae as a potent voice and keen ear that can deliver emotion and excitement in equal measure. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
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