The Secret of Us | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 21, 2024 | |||
Studio | Long Pond (Hudson Valley) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 47:33 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Producer |
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Gracie Abrams chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Secret of Us | ||||
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The Secret of Us (Deluxe) | ||||
Singles from The Secret of Us (Deluxe) | ||||
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The Secret of Us is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams,released on June 21,2024,by Interscope Records. It was mostly produced by Abrams and American musician Aaron Dessner,who she had first collaborated with on her debut studio album, Good Riddance (2023). Abrams wrote most of the songs with either Dessner or her frequent co-writer Audrey Hobert. Musically,The Secret of Us has been labeled as a country pop,indie pop,and folk album.
Two singles—"Risk" and "Close to You"—preceded the album's release. "I Love You,I'm Sorry" was released as the third single in October 2024. American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift,who is often cited by Abrams as an artistic influence,appears on the track "Us" as a featured guest.
The Secret of Us topped the charts in Australia,Canada,the Netherlands,Scotland,and the United Kingdom. In the United States,the album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200,becoming her first top 10 album. To support the album,Abrams embarked on her fourth concert tour,the Secret of Us Tour,in September 2024.
A deluxe edition of The Secret of Us was released on October 18,2024. The deluxe spawned the international hit single "That's So True",which topped the UK Singles Chart and several other charts in 2024-2025.
On February 24,2023,Gracie Abrams released her debut studio album Good Riddance . It received generally positive reviews from music critics,with praise towards its lyrical vulnerability and the artistic growth shown by Abrams from her previous works. [1] [2] Abrams received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2024 Grammy Awards. [3] From April to August 2023,she served as the opening act for select dates on the North American leg of the Eras Tour by Taylor Swift. [4] [5] Abrams said that opening on the Eras Tour "informed so much about how I went about writing this next album", [6] and expressed her admiration for the artist. [7] Abrams began working on The Secret of Us while touring with Swift. [8]
In an interview with Vogue published on March 7,2024,Abrams confirmed that she would be releasing new music later that year. [9] On April 27,2024,the singer began teasing new music on Instagram. Media publications interpreted that the images posted by Abrams would be part of an upcoming new music video. [10] The Secret of Us was announced on April 29 via her social media accounts. [11] Prior to the album's release,Abrams teased a possible deluxe edition to the American magazine Billboard . [12]
"Risk" was the first single to be released from The Secret of Us on May 1,2024. [13] It was co-written by Abrams and Audrey Hobert with production by frequent collaborator Aaron Dessner of the National who had also produced Good Riddance. [14] The music video for "Risk" was directed by Hobert and features Abrams getting drunk on wine and stalking a crush. [15] Abrams performed "Risk" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 8,2024. [16]
Following the album's announcement,Abrams revealed the track listing via social media on May 13,2024. The track listing revealed that the album would include a collaboration with the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift on "Us",the fifth track. [17] On June 3,2024,Abrams announced that she will embarking on her fourth headlining concert tour,the Secret of Us Tour. [18] The North American dates will contain 23 shows,beginning on September 5 and ending on October 10. [19] American singer-songwriter Role Model will serve as an opening act. [20]
On June 4,2024,Abrams announced the second single from the album would be "Close to You",released on June 7. [21] The song was originally released as a 20-second snippet 7 years prior. She revealed it was not initially supposed to be on the album,but revisited the song due to how much her fans cared about it. [22] Abrams performed the single alongside "Let It Happen" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on June 20. [23]
On June 23,2024,during the third night of Swift's The Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium in London,Abrams and Swift performed "Us" live for the first time as a surprise song. The performance,part of the show's acoustic set,featured Abrams on piano and Swift on guitar. [24] On July 15,Abrams announced that the Secret of Us Tour would be coming to Europe in 2025;it will contain 18 shows,beginning on February 9 and concluding on March 12. [25] A music video for the track "I Love You,I'm Sorry" was released on July 17. [26] A deluxe edition of The Secret of Us was released on October 18,2024,including four new tracks and three live recordings. [27] "That's So True" was released as a single and topped the UK Singles Chart,becoming Abrams' first number-one in the country. [28]
The album's production involves Abrams,Aaron Dessner,and Audrey Hobert,with contributions from Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff,reflecting a mature and multifaceted soundscape. [29] [30] [31] [32] According to Elise Ryan from the Associated Press,the album's lead single "Risk" is characterized by its "frenetic and melancholic" atmosphere,with Abrams' vocals growing more intense as the production thickens,setting the tone for the album's exploration of love and emotional risk. [29]
Musically,the album has been labeled as a country pop, [33] indie pop,and folk album. [34] It drew comparisons to Taylor Swift's 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore ,as well as Phoebe Bridgers' work,incorporating folk-pop elements with a modern twist. [30] [31] Mylrea also drew parallels to Lorde's Melodrama (2017),noting that tracks like "Normal Thing" and "Close to You" feature subdued synths and percolating beats,hinting at dancefloor euphoria without fully committing to it. [30] The album's production often mimics the visceral emotions of the lyrics,creating a cohesive sonic narrative. [32] [35]
Abrams' songwriting on The Secret of Us delves into real-time narratives of relationships and personal growth,contrasting with the retrospective nature of her previous work. Hannah Mylrea from NME described the album as bringing a "new intimacy",where Abrams is "crying on the dancefloor and sharing her inner thoughts with her closest pals in the smoking area". [30] Songs like "Blowing Smoke" and "Let It Happen" showcase her transition from introspective ballads to more dynamic and energetic compositions. Ryan noted that "Blowing Smoke" is particularly biting in its critiques,while "Let It Happen" evolves from whispered introspection to euphoric declarations of self-love. [29]
A standout feature of the album is the duet with Taylor Swift on "Us",where their voices weave together over dreamy acoustic production. This collaboration is seen as a pivotal moment on the album,enhancing its emotional depth and broad appeal. [29] [32]
Critics highlighted several other tracks on the album for their thematic depth and musicality. "Tough Love" encompasses a key point of the album in its immortalization of Abrams' female friendships and how they pull you through. [30] "Free Now" explores the relief that comes with the end of a waning relationship,marked by Abrams' lyrical introspection and sonic build-up. [30]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.2/10 [36] |
Metacritic | 80/100 [37] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [38] |
Clash | 7/10 [33] |
The Daily Telegraph | [39] |
Dork | [40] |
Hot Press | 9/10 [41] |
NME | [34] |
Rolling Stone | [42] |
Slant Magazine | [43] |
Upon release,The Secret of Us received positive reviews from music critics. According to the review aggregator Metacritic ,The Secret of Us received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 80 out of 100 from seven critic scores. [37] The review aggregator site AnyDecentMusic? compiled seven reviews and gave the album an average of 7.2 out of 10,based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [36]
Dana Poland of Slant Magazine described the album as a "truly great pop album" and stated that it "offers glimpses into the singer's interior world",although it "lacks dimension". [43] NME 's Hannah Mylrea said that Abrams "embraces her growing pains and celebrates enduring the difficult moments" and ended her review by saying that she "[has] never sounded better". [34] The staff of Clash found the album "a unique sound somewhere between Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift" and wrote that "the experience of touring,which she didn't have at the release of her debut,is clearly heard in her bolder and more open delivery". [33] The Daily Telegraph 's Neil McCormick said that the lyrics are "rooted in the confessional,as she takes on heartbreak,growing pains and online trolls",while comparing them to the works of Swift and American singers Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. [39] Neive McCarthy wrote for Dork that The Secret of Us showcases "a refreshingly new side" to Abrams,who is "at her strongest". [40]
In the United States,The Secret of Us debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 89,000 album-equivalent units,becoming her first top 10 and highest-charting album. [44] In the United Kingdom,The Secret of Us debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with 22,883 units, [45] becoming her first number-one album on the chart. [46] The album also debuted atop the music charts on various countries including Australia,Netherlands and Scotland.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Felt Good About You" |
| 2:44 | |
2. | "Risk" |
|
| 3:11 |
3. | "Blowing Smoke" |
|
| 3:52 |
4. | "I Love You, I'm Sorry" |
|
| 2:37 |
5. | "Us" (featuring Taylor Swift) |
|
| 4:02 |
6. | "Let It Happen" |
|
| 4:20 |
7. | "Tough Love" |
|
| 2:49 |
8. | "I Knew It, I Know You" |
|
| 4:12 |
9. | "Gave You I Gave You I" |
|
| 4:29 |
10. | "Normal Thing" |
|
| 4:02 |
11. | "Good Luck Charlie" |
|
| 3:56 |
12. | "Free Now" |
|
| 3:34 |
13. | "Close to You" (bonus track) |
|
| 3:45 |
Total length: | 47:33 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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14. | "Cool" |
|
| 3:49 |
15. | "That's So True" |
|
| 2:46 |
16. | "I Told You Things" |
|
| 3:41 |
17. | "Packing It Up" |
|
| 2:44 |
Total length: | 60:33 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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18. | "I Love You, I'm Sorry" (live from Vevo) |
|
| 3:24 |
19. | "I Knew It, I Know You" (live from Vevo) |
|
| 4:16 |
20. | "Free Now" (live from Vevo) |
|
| 4:00 |
Total length: | 72:13 |
Musicians
Technical
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Belgium (BEA) [91] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [92] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [93] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [94] | Platinum | 15,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [95] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Edition | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | June 21, 2024 | Standard | Interscope | [96] | |
October 18, 2024 | Deluxe | [97] | |||
Japan | March 14, 2025 | CD | Deluxe (Japan) | Universal Japan | [98] |
Aaron Brooking Dessner is an American musician. He is best known as a founding member of the rock band the National, with whom he has recorded nine studio albums; a co-founder of the indie rock duo Big Red Machine, teaming with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon; and a collaborator on Taylor Swift's critically acclaimed studio albums Folklore and Evermore, both of which contended for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively, with the former winning the accolade; as well as The Tortured Poets Department (2024).
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Gracie Madigan Abrams is an American singer-songwriter. After signing with Interscope Records in 2019, she gained recognition after releasing her debut extended play, Minor (2020), and its follow-up, This Is What It Feels Like (2021), alongside various singles including "I Miss You, I'm Sorry". Abrams released her debut album, Good Riddance (2023), and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. She also performed as an opening act on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour (2023–2024).
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"Risk" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams for her second studio album, The Secret of Us (2024). It was released on May 1, 2024, through Interscope Records, as the lead single from the album. Abrams wrote the song with Audrey Hobert and produced it with her frequent collaborator Aaron Dessner. An accompanying music video for "Risk", directed by Hobert, premiered alongside the song.
"I Love You, I'm Sorry" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams from her second studio album, The Secret of Us (2024). Interscope Records released it as the third single from The Secret of Us on October 11, 2024. The song was written by Abrams, Aaron Dessner, and Audrey Hobert, with production handled by Abrams and Dessner. It was recorded at Dessner's Long Pond Studio and at Smilo Sound; additional record took place in Los Angeles.
"Close to You" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams for her second studio album, The Secret of Us (2024). The song was released through Interscope Records on June 7, 2024, as the second single from the album, after it was issued as a B-side of the lead single "Risk" in its 7-inch format on May 31. Written and produced by Abrams and Sam de Jong, "Close to You" is an upbeat synth-pop track with lyrics about a declaration of love and lust.
"Us" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams from her second studio album, The Secret of Us (2024). The track features the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who wrote it with Abrams and Aaron Dessner and handled the production with the two and Jack Antonoff.
"That's So True" is a song by American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. It was released through Interscope Records on November 6, 2024, as a single from the deluxe edition of her second studio album, The Secret of Us (2024). Abrams wrote the song alongside frequent collaborator Audrey Hobert, with production handled by the former, Aaron Dessner and Julian Bunetta. The song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Elsewhere, "That's So True" topped charts in multiple countries such as Australia, Belgium (Flanders), Canada, Ireland, Lebanon, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. It is Abrams' biggest hit to date internationally.