The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess
Chappell Roan

An incredibly confident debut album that I enjoy more with each listen. The production and Roan’s songwriting are so strong, and the album combines amazing hooks and danceable pop with more tender and genuinely touching ballads. The lyrics are clever, impactful, and often very very horny, and the songs really stay with you. It does tail off a bit after Pink Pony Club in my opinion - the last three songs are probably the most forgettable on the album which is a bit of a shame as it gets so close to a perfect landing. But it is such a strong debut on the whole and, especially after blowing up even more with last year’s fantastic single Good Luck Babe (her best song by far), I’m very excited to see what Chappell does next. Not only does she write great music but she’s already proven herself to be a significant voice for change in the music industry, whether that’s being very vocal about trans rights and honouring her various influences from queer and drag culture to her recent speech after winning Best New Artist at the Grammys calling on record labels to offer healthcare and other work benefits to their musicians. The Midwest Princess has had a meteoric rise and I do not expect her fall to come any time soon

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