Only a few tracks have a better case for 2025’s ‘Song of the Summer’ than Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi.” The early breakout track from the TikToker-turned-popstar set the tone for a record that knows how to act sexy and sly without bogging itself down in any way.
Released on June 6, 2025, through Columbia Records, Addison Rae’s debut album, Addison, taps into dreamy nostalgia mixed with a Pop ‘it-girl’ flair in a way that is better than many have given it credit for. She has leaned into a clear vision here, guided by friends already established in the Pop landscape (Charli XCX, cough cough), along with Producers and Co-writers Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser. Together, Addison showcases a tight tracklist of songs that wear their references on their sleeve without trying to conceal them.
Rae has found her way to contribute to Modern Pop by blending Dance Pop and contemporary R&B textures into concise, focused tracks that total just over thirty-three minutes altogether. It is glossy, sure, but also deliciously rich where it needs to be.
Rae’s revitalized social credibility shines through this record on hit singles like “Aquamarine.” The track showcases Addison’s transformation from TikTok superstar to a true artist, and focuses on the “new” story she’s trying to tell through her music. The ending lyric of the track echoes: “I’m not hiding, I won’t hide,” a reminder, albeit a bit on the nose, that Addison Rae is not running from who she was, just rebranding.
Tracks like “High Fashion” and “Fame Is A Gun” play with that same idea of celebrity and consumption in a way that is cheeky but not unserious. Both stand out as hits from the record, the former sounding like being stuck in a trance, while the latter is a genuine, full-fledged earworm. Leading us to the album closer, “Headphones On,” a longer, more vulnerable cut that is a more R&B-inspired, Trip Hop track.
Overall, Addison lightly explores different genres and effectively conveys human moments to create a cohesive tracklist. Lyrically, the record is not the densest in many places, and that is intentional. Rae consistently chooses image and mood over narrative, which fits the world she is crafting.
Still, some of the second half of the album slows the tempo and gives space for some moments to cut through the glam. “In the Rain” and “Times Like These” stand out as tracks that loosen up on the ‘new’ Addison persona; they make the whole project feel less like a highlight reel and more like a short film. Critical consensus agrees, landing comfortably on the positive side.
If you had to be picky, Addison sometimes plays it a little too safe aesthetically. There are moments where some might want Rae to push harder into the carefree attitude that showed up in her earlier collaborations, most notably her feature on the deluxe edition of Charli XCX’s hit “Von Dutch.” But, to be fair, playing it safe is also kind of the point of a debut, and Addison has introduced a clear identity. It does not try to be everything at once.
Bottom line, Addison is a well-made debut in good taste. It is not trying to trick anyone into thinking it is more than a pop debut. It is just Pop music, but with taste, and that’s acceptable because it is somewhat rare in today’s music landscape. Addison Rae accomplished what a lot of viral stars can only dream of doing: making a record that belongs in your playlists and on the radio. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Addison 4 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment