Album review: “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”

While everyone was buzzing about Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album and Taylor Swift’s new romance with NFL player Travis Kelce, an up-and-coming pop superstar was in the midst of releasing her debut album. On Sept. 22, Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” completely captivated listeners. 

Roan’s style incorporates all the best aspects of the pop legends that came before her. She possesses Lady Gaga’s boldness and vocal range, Elton John’s ‘70s flair, Taylor Swift’s lyricism and Olivia Rodrigo’s youthful spark. In fact, Rodrigo and Roan share a producer and co-writer, Dan Nigro. Nigro has developed a bit of a style himself, with “Sour,” “Guts” and “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” all containing satirical, showy and unabashedly juvenile moments. Nigro has attached himself to female artists who do not hold back in their exploration into the nuances of womanhood. 

Roan’s album is undoubtedly a masterclass in one specific, niche genre: queer-coded club bangers. This album pumps out hit after hit, with hooks that will ruminate in your head for days after you first listen. “Red Wine Supernova” is a particular standout among the album’s many upbeat tunes. The bridge, specifically, uses Roan’s trademark sing/speaking technique that appears throughout the record. In a tongue-and-cheek moment, Roan chants, “Back at my house I got a California king/Okay, maybe it’s a twin bed and some roommates.” 

Throughout the 14-track album, Roan takes the listener on her journey of sexual realization. In “Femininomenon” and “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” she describes being disappointed by men time and time again and longing for something more than society’s stereotypical ideas of a woman’s duties. She sings wistfully, “You pretend to love his mother/Lying to your friends about how he’s such a goddamn good lover/Stuck in the suburbs, you’re folding his laundry.” When Roan sings about being with a female lover in these songs, brightness and exuberance returns to her voice. Listeners can’t help but become overwhelmed by Roan’s free spiritedness as she belts “Telling secrets, there on the mattress/Wearing nothing but glitter and lashes/At every party, we’re the party.” 

Described as the album’s “high point” by critics, “Casual” is a gut-wrenching piece that highlights Roan’s talent as a vocalist. In the song, Roan bitterly questions how her romantic partner is blind to the fact that their relationship is more than just a laid-back fling. She sings, “Knee deep in the passenger seat and you’re eating me out/Is it casual now?/Two weeks and your mom invites me to her house on Long Beach/Is it casual now?” Roan’s uncanny ability to write an earworm of a chorus is evident in this song. 

“HOT TO GO!” is Roan’s ode to the world of cheerleading. It is a true “dance song,” which is rare in 2023. Choreographed moves accompany another stellar chorus. Roan doesn’t just create fun, danceable songs, she also ensures that they are lyrically clever. “I could be the one or your new addiction/It’s all in my head but I want non-fiction,” sings Roan. 

“The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” is the debut album of the year. Roan personifies all things campy, sparkly and downright fun. She doesn’t shy away from her over-the-top style but instead leans into it; Roan possesses a fearlessness that few other artists have. Don’t get it twisted, Roan is not a one-trick pony. Her somber ballads ring as true as her vibrant, upbeat songs. So, do yourself a favor and give this album a listen. The only thing you’ll regret is not having known about it sooner.