Music Review: An uninhibited Gracie Abrams finds energy in the chaos on ‘The Secret of Us’

Gracie Abrams, the singer-songwriter, embraces a crush on “Risk,” the lead single from her dynamic and melancholic second album, “The Secret of Us.”

In the song, she sings confidently about diving into uncertainty: “Heard the risk is drowning / But I’m gonna take it,” accompanied by lively acoustic guitar, her vocals intensifying as the music builds. She expresses hesitation in the chorus, musing, “Watch this be the wrong thing.”

The track showcases an evolved yet familiar Abrams. While she has shared personal insights before, “The Secret of Us” marks a deeper, less guarded exploration. Unlike her previous work, which often reflected past heartbreak, insecurity, or guilt, these songs capture raw, unfolding emotions in real time.

This immersive experience is crafted through collaborative production on the album. Abrams works closely with longtime collaborator Aaron Dessner and co-writer Audrey Hobert, featuring contributions from Taylor Swift and producer Jack Antonoff.

The great “Blowing Smoke” sets a biting critique of a lost flame to acoustic guitar and hums that are traded for electric instruments and shouts, as Abrams’ quips lean into frustration.

In “Let it Happen,” she delivers powerful vocals, while “Tough Love” begins with hushed tones aboard a Boston-bound train and concludes with a triumphant drumbeat and a declaration of self-acceptance: “I know now what I’m leaving for.”

The bonus track “Close to You,” produced by Sam de Jong and refined after gaining viral attention, leans into the magnetic allure reminiscent of Lorde and Ellie Goulding’s hits from the 2010s, diverging slightly from Abrams’ usual style but revealing a pop persona that emerges prominently on “The Secret of Us.”

Throughout this confident album, urgent melodies and breathless bridges mark a progression from Abrams’ earlier, more introspective “sad girl” pop music, which was often tinged with wistfulness and anxiety.

Notably, tracks like “Risk,” “Blowing Smoke,” and “us. (feat. Taylor Swift)” exemplify her evolved persona most clearly, making them the album’s highlights. Abrams attributes this shift to personal growth during the year and a half between her previous project and this one, a period marked by a Grammy nomination and extensive touring, including supporting Taylor Swift on tour.

The album’s standout track is “us. (feat. Taylor Swift),” where their voices blend seamlessly, harmonizing the album’s title over a dreamy acoustic backdrop crafted by producers Dessner and Antonoff. “I felt it, you held it, do you miss us, us? / Wonder if you regret the secret of us,” they sing, with Abrams taking the lead.

Swift’s collaboration feels like a definitive endorsement of Abrams. While the song’s references to annotated sonnets and Robert Bly might suggest a connection to Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” it unmistakably retains Abrams’ signature blend of youthful introspection and thoughtful yearning about unrequited love.

“The Secret of Us” paints a vivid portrait of an artist evolving and exploring her creative passions amidst the turbulence of young adulthood. By inviting listeners into her world—complete with its frustrations, vanities, and tumultuous infatuations—Abrams not only shares her journey but also sets a promising course for her future as a confident and dynamic performer.