Gracie Abrams Unveils More: Inside Her Deluxe Album with New Tracks and Performances
Written by Samantha Hume on October 28, 2024
The pop hits emerging from Gracie Abrams’ second studio album, The Secret of Us, have established her as a significant success. She has now unveiled a new side to her music with the release of the deluxe edition, which includes four bonus tracks and three live Vevo versions available for streaming.
Although many fans hoped for the inclusion of Abrams’s unreleased track “Inbetween,” she has delivered four incredible tracks that do not disappoint. Abrams has been on her headline tour for The Secret of Us since the start of September, showcasing the vulnerabilities of her album and featuring some songs from the deluxe edition.
Her new song, “That’s So True,” was first performed on this tour in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre with collaborator Audrey Hobert. She also previewed “Cool” during a surprise set in Chicago, giving fans a glimpse of the now-released album.
“COOL”
Abrams’ deluxe album opens with “Cool,” exploring the complexities of spite and indifference at the end of a relationship. The track begins with electronic tones gradually blending into a piano and bass mixture.
She uses lines such as “I’m acting bored, it’s my right after all the love that you bombed” and “Now I’m so cool, I’ll be cool for the hell of it”. Juxtaposing the anger towards an ex-partner with the relief of finally ending the constant push and pull.
The track builds in intensity, leaving Abrams almost breathless, until it finally comes down, signaling acceptance rather than the anger felt earlier in the song.
“THAT’S SO TRUE”
The second bonus track by Gracie Abrams highlights the challenges of letting go of a past partner and seeing them enter a new relationship. She conveys feelings of disdain and hurt in a way that resonates with many of her listeners.
Her talent for making these feelings so tangible within her lyrics is what continues to push her towards new levels of success. The bridge of this song proves her capabilities with an intense build that is made to be screamed out of rolled-down car windows.
Additionally, the subtle ad-libs, melody and bridge build have turned this song into a streaming success.
“I TOLD YOU THINGS”
Next, from Abrams, we have a soft atmospheric song that opens up about the vulnerability and regrets that come from fleeting relationships. The quiet, breathy tones at the beginning of the song seem to symbolize the pain of feeling exposed after opening up too quickly. Which, seemingly mirrors hesitation about sharing personal emotions.
Throughout the song, we see the same gradual build prominent in her other tracks but done so in a way that feels fresh every time. Furthermore, her growth as a songwriter flourishes within this track the way she toes the line between sadness and resolve.
“PACKING IT UP”
The final track takes a break from heartbreak, delivering a love song that contrasts with “I Told You Things.” In the earlier song, Abrams sings “I’ll pack it up and practice leaving,” but shifts to “Got so damn close to packing it up, but that’s just when you happened.” Bringing in the infamous thought that things come to fruition when you give up on love.
The song features soft guitar picking and closes the album on a hopeful note, contrasting the earlier themes of heartache and the unraveling of romantic relationships.
To summarize my feelings on this project, I loved how Abrams created a cohesive addition that offered a more relatable reflection of her life. From her first project Minor to this deluxe release, her growth is evident not only in her songwriting but in her vocal performance as well.
In addition to the four bonus tracks she has also released three live Vevo versions of her songs:
