Singer-songwriter succumbs to a crush on 含羞草研究社淩isk,含羞草研究社� the lead single of her frantic and melancholic sophomore album, 含羞草研究社淭he Secret of Us.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淗eard the risk is drowning / But I含羞草研究社檓 gonna take it,含羞草研究社� she sings atop fast acoustic guitar, her vocals growing more frenetic as the production thickens. 含羞草研究社淲atch this be the wrong thing,含羞草研究社� she exclaims in the chorus.

The track reveals an evolved, but familiar, Abrams. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter has but 含羞草研究社淭he Secret of Us含羞草研究社� is more intimate and less reserved than her previous work. This time, her songs aren含羞草研究社檛 recollections of waning heartbreak, long held insecurity or lingering guilt. They含羞草研究社檙e happening in real time, developing and dissipating on record.

That immersion is achieved through the album含羞草研究社檚 production, a collaboration between Abrams, her longtime collaborator Aaron Dessner and co-writer Audrey Hobert, with cameos from and producer Jack Antonoff.

The great 含羞草研究社淏lowing Smoke含羞草研究社� sets a biting critique of a lost flame to acoustic guitar and hums that are traded for electric instruments and shouts, as Abrams含羞草研究社� quips lean into frustration.

She belts on 含羞草研究社淟et it Happen,含羞草研究社� where 含羞草研究社淭ough Love含羞草研究社� starts with whispers on a train to Boston and ends with a euphoric drum beat and declaration of self-love: 含羞草研究社淚 know now what I含羞草研究社檓 leaving for.含羞草研究社�

Bonus track 含羞草研究社淐lose to You,含羞草研究社� produced by Sam de Jong and reworked after a clip of it went viral, lives more in the magnetic world of Lorde and Ellie Goulding含羞草研究社檚 2010s hits than it does in Abrams含羞草研究社� own 含羞草研究社� but showcases a pop persona that peeks through on 含羞草研究社淭he Secret of Us.含羞草研究社�

The urgent melodies and breathless bridges on this confident album are progressed from Abrams含羞草研究社� past work 含羞草研究社� when her writerly, soft-sung, 含羞草研究社渟ad girl含羞草研究社� pop music was much more wistful and anxious.

The tracks that exemplify her new personality most clearly 含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社淩isk,含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社淏lowing Smoke,含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社渦s. (feat. Taylor Swift)含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� are the album含羞草研究社檚 most interesting. It含羞草研究社檚 a shift that Abrams to the period of growth between her last project and this one. That year and a half included and extensive touring on her own and opening for Swift.

The album含羞草研究社檚 sparkling centerpiece is 含羞草研究社渦s. (feat. Taylor Swift).含羞草研究社� Their voices weave together, harmonizing the album含羞草研究社檚 title atop a dreamy acoustic track produced by the duo, Dessner and Antonoff: 含羞草研究社淚 felt it, you held it, do you miss us, us? / Wonder if you regret the secret of us,含羞草研究社� they sing, with Abrams leading.

The feature from Swift feels like a stamp of approval for Abrams. And while references to annotated sonnets and Robert Bly could place this track within Swift含羞草研究社檚 it is recognizably Abrams in its youthful and thoughtful angst 含羞草研究社� as well as those private reflections on unrequited love.

含羞草研究社淭he Secret of Us,含羞草研究社� paints a picture of an artist in motion, one who is discovering what excites her creatively as she navigates young adulthood. And by taking listeners along for that ride 含羞草研究社� the frustrations, vanities, chaotic crushes and all 含羞草研究社� she opens an exciting door for her future as an assured and energetic performer.

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AP music reviews:

Elise Ryan, The Associated Press