Olivia Rodrigo Unveils 3rd Album, Reviewer Backs 'Expectations' and 'Maggots for Brains'
Updated
Updated · Vogue · Jun 12
Olivia Rodrigo Unveils 3rd Album, Reviewer Backs 'Expectations' and 'Maggots for Brains'
3 articles · Updated · Vogue · Jun 12
Summary
Olivia Rodrigo’s third studio album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” drew an initially positive reaction, with the reviewer calling it not a complete triumph but saying they still loved it.
Two tracks stood out most on the first listen: “Expectations,” praised as an ’80s-soundtrack-style dating-expectations anthem, and “Maggots for Brains,” which the reviewer said they wanted to blast at full volume.
The album was also described as leaning into a synth-pop phase, with songs like “Drop Dead,” “U+Me=<3” and “Begged” earning favorable notes, while “Honeybee,” “Purple,” “Less” and “Cigarette Smoke” got cooler responses.
The reaction places the new record against Rodrigo’s first 2 albums — 2021’s “Sour” and 2023’s “Guts” — which the reviewer said had already built a strong personal attachment.