Olivia Rodrigo really caught my attention when she dragged Robert Smith onto the Glastonbury stage last Summer and performed 2 of The Cure's legendary hit songs with him, "Just Like Heaven" and "Friday I'm In Love". A young girl who really adores The Cure's music and a Robert Smith that looked like he really enjoyed performing the songs live with Olivia. I had better keep an eye on this former Disney actress!
Olivia Rodrigo disappeared somewhat from my radar again though, until I read a review of her new album "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love". I quickly found the album on Tidal, and it blew me away from the first spin. It is a nice varied mix of up-tempo pop songs and powerful ballads. A favorite song of mine "Stupid Song" begins as a ballad with Olivia and a piano and then picks up pace and power and ends up rocking the house while Olivia sings her heart out. Brilliant stuff. Many of the songs have a lot of an 1980s sound to them in the synths and guitars. The album simply doesn't have a single bad song on it.
"I'm a heart made of wax and I'm melting in the sun
I'm a thread on your shirt that is coming undone
I feel right, I feel wrong, I feel totally insane
And I want you more than any stupid song could ever say"
The album has references to The Cure in several ways. There is a song titled "The Cure", the hit single opener and super catchy "Drop Dead" mentions "Just Like Heaven", and there is even a bloody awesome duet "What's Wrong With Me" on the album with none other than Robert Smith himself. This duet is easily my favorite of all the new songs. I do think that Olivia's voice is a bit of an acquired taste. I have come to like it though after I have been listening to the album for a while. And let's not forget, some might say that Robert Smith's voice is an acquired taste too.
"My head is spinning and my stomach is sick
Say I'm in love, so it's hard to admit
I can't eat, I can't sleep
I think you're what's wrong with me"
I have tried giving her 2 previous albums a chance too, but they are not of the same quality. Her first album, "Sour" [2021], is simple bubble-gum pop for teenage girls. Sure, it has a few good songs on it, but most of the songs are very forgettable. Her second album, "Guts" [2023], is better. It has several pretty good songs, but it's still far from as mature, consistent and enjoyable as her new album.
Is "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love" the pop album of the year? Well, it's quite hard to imagine anything else will beat it... Not bad for a 23 year old girl. If Olivia keeps this extremely high quality on her next albums then she has a very bright future ahead of her. She has certainly made me a fan.
Rating: 
Band: Olivia Rodrigo
Record Title: You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
This Release: 2026
RunTime: 51
Record Format: LP
Record Label: Geffen
TrackList:
- Drop Dead
- Stupid Song
- Honeybee
- Maggots For Brains
- U + Me = <3
- My Way
- Purple
- The Cure
- Begged
- What's Wrong With Me (feat. Robert Smith)
- Less
- Expectations
- Cigarette Smoke
Content Type: Record Review
Language: 
Updated: 2026-06-19 19:40
Created: 2026-06-16 17:20
