One of my most anticipated albums of the year is Rina Sawayama’s sophomore album, Hold The Girl. Released on September 16, 2022, its two years since Sawayama’s self-titled debut. Since then, there have been a number of features, notably a duet with Elton John (Chosen Family) and Charli XCX’s Beg For You (Crash; 2022). However, I was more than ready to see what she would bring to the table with another solo studio album.
Hold The Girl is Pop, but it has a wide diversity of sound. Leading with the single, This Hell (one of my top favorites from the album), each track offered a different listening experience. There was a little bit of country, a little bit of R&B and rock with an early 2000s feel (It’s something she’s done before—for example STFU! from her debut album.) The songs here were bridged together by Sawayama’s vocals, lyric themes, and a smart arrangement.
Hold The Girl achieved an easy flow from one track to the next, and I was quickly immersed by the album. It was a lot of fun. And as far as sophomore albums go, this is a good one.
