SO CLOSE TO WHAT??? (deluxe)

the take

I kind of went into this deluxe thinking it's a direct extension of Tate McRae's "So Close to What". I couldn't have been more incorrect. These five bonus tracks on the deluxe is a perfect example of the bridge between the current era Tate just wrapped up and what could be the sound for her next era, and if the latter sounds more like what I've heard, I'm actually excited for it. Though Tate still has some somewhat cheesy lyrics at times, there's no denying that she's musically evolving into a big pop star she deserves to be. If anything, it shows her growth and maturity. Aside from "TIT FOR TAT", "ANYTHING BUT LOVE" instantly got me in a chokehold, but every new track on here is great. Personally, I probably would've put these on a standalone EP or something, but I'm glad I've got something new from Tatiana. Also, I kind of somewhat dissed the standard album many moons ago, but many songs grew on me since then (mainly because I went to see Tate McRae for the third time in concert and she performed the majority of these). So glad I went back to revisit the original tracks with a now-mature perspective.