On her full-length debut, Good Riddance, pop singer Gracie Abrams focuses in and doubles down on the wispier ruminations of prior EPs, this time in full-on collaboration with This Is What It Feels Like contributor Aaron Dessner, who co-wrote and produced the entire album. Sounding and feeling a lot like a breakup album, a few of Good Riddance's relationship songs were inspired by friendships and family in addition to a traditional breakup (from Grammy-winning producer Blake Slatkin). Musically, Abrams has cited tourmate Taylor Swift as a musical idol, and Swift is a well-known recipient of Dessner's behind-the-scenes assistance, beginning with folklore and evermore. More so than those records, Good Riddance is consistently soft-spoken and brooding as it moves through tracks that both dish out and take blame, such as plaintive opener "Best" ("I never was the best to you") and "I Should Hate You" ("Pulled the knife from my back, it was right where you left it"). Working with Dessner connected Abrams with some of the cream of the crop in indie sidemen, including his National bandmates Bryan Devendorf and Bryce Dessner; Rob Moose (strings, piano, orchestrations), Thomas Bartlett (various keyboard instruments), and Big Thief's James Krivchenia (drums, percussion) are among others who contributed to the album. Award-winning producer Matias Tellez (girl in red, AURORA) assisted Dessner on two tracks ("I Know It Won't Work" and the quietly dancy "Where Do We Go Now?"), while none other than Brian Eno co-produced spacy closer "Right Now." Good Riddance marked Abrams' first appearance on the Billboard 200, where it debuted at number 52.
- Marcy Donelson - allmusic.com
