Reneé Rapp’s second album, BITE ME, runs 12 tracks and 33 minutes. It is a louder, rougher record than her debut Snow Angel, with sharper production and riskier stylistic choices throughout. The songs are shorter and tighter than before, and the whole thing moves faster as a result.
Opening With Leave Me Alone
The record starts with “Leave Me Alone,” a track that draws mixed reactions from listeners. It sets the tone early, but it is the one moment where the album’s ambition shows a small crack in the surface.
“Mad” follows quickly and works better, a strong, direct statement that earns its place in the running order. “Why Is She Still Here?” closes the front half of the record with some of its sharpest writing.
The Middle Stretch
“Sometimes” and “Kiss It Kiss It” sit together in the middle of the record without earning the same attention. They are competent rather than essential.
“Good Girl” is the standout here, a song critics singled out for its confidence and control. “I Can’t Have You Around Me Anymore” and “Shy” follow in quick succession, both solid but less striking than the songs around them.
“At Least I’m Hot” is a brief, pointed track that lands well. “I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone” and “That’s So Funny” continue the run of shorter, punchier material.
“You’d Like That Wouldn’t You” closes the album on a note of quiet resignation, a fitting end to a record that never stays too long.
It’s an intelligent move to vary the album’s shape while still giving Rapp the space to explore tone color and emoti
What Works Best
The strongest material sits at the start and the middle of the record. “Mad,” “Good Girl,” and “Why Is She Still Here?” are the tracks that justify the risk. The production is sharper across the board, even when individual songs don’t quite land.
“BITE ME brings her into a louder, rougher, and more stylized soundscape,” and the arrangement unfolds with no unnecessary ambient padding, giving her phrasing room to breathe.
Final Word
BITE ME is a confident, focused record that improves on its predecessor in almost every way. Some tracks feel like a reach, but the best ones are sharper and more controlled than anything on Snow Angel. The album’s strength comes from its willingness to try new shapes without losing its center.
- Leave Me Alone2:22
- Mad2:55
- Why Is She Still Here?2:30
- Sometimes3:04
- Kiss It Kiss It2:52
- Good Girl3:13
- I Can’t Have You Around Me Anymore2:45
- Shy3:12
- At Least I’m Hot2:34
- I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone2:23
- That’s So Funny2:50
- You’d Like That Wouldn’t You2:49
