Tate McRae’s ‘So Close to What’ Is a Solid Pop Record With a Few Great Songs

Tate McRae’s So Close to What is a pop record that wants to feel urgent without losing its grip on melody. It runs 16 tracks and 45 minutes, and it moves fast enough that the shorter cuts don’t feel like filler. This is a record about obsession, control, and the small pleasures of being alive, wrapped in production that keeps the tempo high even when the subject matter turns dark.

Miss Possessive Opens the Record

The album starts with “Miss possessive,” a track that sets the tone immediately. It’s about wanting someone back, and the song leans into that need without apology. It’s one of the sharper statements on the record.

“Revolving door” follows, and it’s a quieter turn — a song about being stuck in a relationship that won’t let you go. The melody is the standout here, carrying the weight of the lyric without needing to shout it.

“bloodonmyhands” picks the pace back up. It’s a track built around guilt and blame, and the title tells you exactly what it’s about. It doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Dear God Through Purple Lace Bra

“Dear god” is a plea, plain and direct. It’s one of the more emotionally exposed moments on the record, and it lands because McRae commits fully to the feeling.

“Purple lace bra” is a lighter turn, a song about desire that stays playful even when the subject matter could easily tip into something darker. It’s one of the record’s best hooks.

Sports Car and Signs Keep the Momentum

“Sports car” keeps the energy up with a driving beat and a lyric about freedom and excess. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be.

“Signs” slows things down slightly, a track about reading the signals someone else isn’t sending. It’s one of the more reflective moments on the record, and it works because McRae lets the emotion sit in the arrangement rather than pushing it forward.

The Middle Stretch

“I know love” is a short, sharp statement — a track about recognizing what’s right in front of you. It’s a good example of the record’s knack for saying something simple in a way that feels immediate.

“It’s ok I’m ok” is a song about pretending everything is fine when it clearly isn’t. It’s a solid track, but it’s also one of the more forgettable moments on the record.

“No I’m not in love” is a direct answer to the question it poses in its title. It’s a track about denial, and it plays that angle honestly.

“Means I care” is a softer turn, a song about showing affection through action rather than words. It’s a decent track, but it doesn’t quite stand out in the way the earlier songs do.

Greenlight Through Nostalgia

“Greenlight” picks the pace back up again, a track about moving forward after a difficult period. It’s one of the more hopeful moments on the record, and it benefits from a strong hook.

“2 hands” is a track about doing things on your own, and it’s one of the more self-assured moments on the record.

“Siren sounds” is a track about warning signs, both literal and metaphorical. It’s a solid closer to the album’s middle stretch, though it doesn’t break new ground.

“Nostalgia” closes the record with a look back at what’s gone, and it’s a fitting end to a record that spends most of its time looking forward.

The Verdict

So Close to What is a consistent pop record with a few truly sharp moments. The shorter tracks like “I know love” and “It’s ok I’m ok” don’t quite measure up to the best material around them, but the album’s overall energy keeps things moving. McRae’s strongest instincts are her ability to make urgency feel immediate and her willingness to commit to uncomfortable emotions fully.

Key Facts
– Artist: Tate McRae
– Album: So Close to What
– Tracks: 16
– Total running time: 45 minutes
– Genre: Pop

Track List
| # | Track |
|—|——-|
| 1 | Miss possessive |
| 2 | Revolving door |
| 3 | bloodonmyhands |
| 4 | Dear god |
| 5 | Purple lace bra |
| 6 | Sports car |
| 7 | Signs |
| 8 | I know love |
| 9 | It’s ok I’m ok |
| 10 | No I’m not in love |
| 11 | Means I care |
| 12 | Greenlight |
| 13 | 2 hands |
| 14 | Siren sounds |
| 15 | Nostalgia |

This is a record that knows what it wants to be and mostly delivers on it. The highs are high, and the lows aren’t low enough to sink the whole thing. It’s a solid pop record with a few great songs hiding inside it.

The recordSo Close to What Tate McRae16 tracks · 46 min