Singer-songwriter succumbs to a crush on 害羞草研究所淩isk,害羞草研究所� the lead single of her frantic and melancholic sophomore album, 害羞草研究所淭he Secret of Us.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淗eard the risk is drowning / But I害羞草研究所檓 gonna take it,害羞草研究所� she sings atop fast acoustic guitar, her vocals growing more frenetic as the production thickens. 害羞草研究所淲atch this be the wrong thing,害羞草研究所� she exclaims in the chorus.

The track reveals an evolved, but familiar, Abrams. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter has but 害羞草研究所淭he Secret of Us害羞草研究所� is more intimate and less reserved than her previous work. This time, her songs aren害羞草研究所檛 recollections of waning heartbreak, long held insecurity or lingering guilt. They害羞草研究所檙e happening in real time, developing and dissipating on record.

That immersion is achieved through the album害羞草研究所檚 production, a collaboration between Abrams, her longtime collaborator Aaron Dessner and co-writer Audrey Hobert, with cameos from and producer Jack Antonoff.

The great 害羞草研究所淏lowing Smoke害羞草研究所� sets a biting critique of a lost flame to acoustic guitar and hums that are traded for electric instruments and shouts, as Abrams害羞草研究所� quips lean into frustration.

She belts on 害羞草研究所淟et it Happen,害羞草研究所� where 害羞草研究所淭ough Love害羞草研究所� starts with whispers on a train to Boston and ends with a euphoric drum beat and declaration of self-love: 害羞草研究所淚 know now what I害羞草研究所檓 leaving for.害羞草研究所�

Bonus track 害羞草研究所淐lose to You,害羞草研究所� produced by Sam de Jong and reworked after a clip of it went viral, lives more in the magnetic world of Lorde and Ellie Goulding害羞草研究所檚 2010s hits than it does in Abrams害羞草研究所� own 害羞草研究所� but showcases a pop persona that peeks through on 害羞草研究所淭he Secret of Us.害羞草研究所�

The urgent melodies and breathless bridges on this confident album are progressed from Abrams害羞草研究所� past work 害羞草研究所� when her writerly, soft-sung, 害羞草研究所渟ad girl害羞草研究所� pop music was much more wistful and anxious.

The tracks that exemplify her new personality most clearly 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淩isk,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淏lowing Smoke,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渦s. (feat. Taylor Swift)害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� are the album害羞草研究所檚 most interesting. It害羞草研究所檚 a shift that Abrams to the period of growth between her last project and this one. That year and a half included and extensive touring on her own and opening for Swift.

The album害羞草研究所檚 sparkling centerpiece is 害羞草研究所渦s. (feat. Taylor Swift).害羞草研究所� Their voices weave together, harmonizing the album害羞草研究所檚 title atop a dreamy acoustic track produced by the duo, Dessner and Antonoff: 害羞草研究所淚 felt it, you held it, do you miss us, us? / Wonder if you regret the secret of us,害羞草研究所� they sing, with Abrams leading.

The feature from Swift feels like a stamp of approval for Abrams. And while references to annotated sonnets and Robert Bly could place this track within Swift害羞草研究所檚 it is recognizably Abrams in its youthful and thoughtful angst 害羞草研究所� as well as those private reflections on unrequited love.

害羞草研究所淭he Secret of Us,害羞草研究所� paints a picture of an artist in motion, one who is discovering what excites her creatively as she navigates young adulthood. And by taking listeners along for that ride 害羞草研究所� the frustrations, vanities, chaotic crushes and all 害羞草研究所� she opens an exciting door for her future as an assured and energetic performer.

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AP music reviews:

Elise Ryan, The Associated Press