a day ago
Is Addison Rae's Debut Album Actually "Skipless"?
If you haven't heard, Addison Rae's rebranded from doing TikTok dances to making pop hits.
The transition from social star, to actress, to singer has been met with a mix of public opinion, but Addison has taken it in stride, explaining how she's handled the criticism in a number of recent interviews. In a YouTube video with internet personality, Quenlin Blackwell, Addison responded to comments she was "trying too hard" saying, "How about you try at all? We can tell you're not".
Following the launch of her new career via EP in 2023, she released her first album, self-titled Addison, on June 6, 2025. The 12-track collection is already being praised for its production by an all-female team and labelled by fans as a "skipless" debut.
Is the "no skips" sentiment a universal experience, or are the fans just stitching us up? I'm going to find out for the both of us by listening to Addison from start to finish. One listen per song.
"New York"
My First Impression: If the Secret Life Of Pets wasn't a children's movie they would DEFINITELY add this to the soundtrack. This is a strong start and felt like it needed a strobe light attached to it. If you could bottle the feeling of whipping your hair around to a song on dance floor where you can't hear yourself think, "New York" is pretty close. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: Definitely a club scene montage where a group of friends is rediscovering their youth — having fun, running amuck and giggling a lot. Think Gossip I want to skip the song at any point in time: No.
"Diet Pepsi"
My First Impression: Technically, I've heard this one already — not in its entirety — but it's different hearing it in this context. The chorus has always been really catchy and so is the backbeat. Each hit on the closed hi-hats scratch an itch in my brain that I can't explain. I know the song is meant have quite a sexy vibe, but it also gives off the air of sadness and a feeling of growing up too fast, knowing you can't go back. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: I'm imagining Hannah Montana standing up in the back of a ute/pickup truck driving through Tennessee, saying, "This is what life's all about". Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: Yes (but only because I didn't know there was a key change).
"Money Is Everything"
My First Impression: The intro instrumental feels very Disney princess, but after the starting monologue you can feel a punk touch. I really like the choral element on the repeated "money is everything" lyric — it has the same energy as "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: A group of powerful woman are power strutting, about to take over the world and wreck someone's day. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No (but also, why are the songs so short?).
"Aquamarine"
My First Impression: I burst out laughing thinking I was listening to "Fireflies" by Owl City because of the opening electronic notes. The song feels super hypnotic, like someone is sitting in front of you with a crystal ball and reading your fortune while chaotic things are flying around. At this point in the album, you can feel it's very consistent in its sound and storytelling. Although, this does feel like it has an '80s disco atmosphere. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: A witch is casting a spell into the sky and making a storm. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: Yes (I thought it was "Fireflies" sorry).
"Lost & Found"
My First Impression: This is a 48 second interlude that feels very airy and dreamy. It feels like a higher power trying to wake someone up from a crash out. You can feel the album start to shift from high energy to more melancholy. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: A royal walking through a castle, contemplating whether to keep a life of riches or pursue a life of freedom amongst the grain. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No.
"High Fashion"
My First Impression: Addison sounds sad here. This feels like the most literal description of wanting clothes and to go shopping that I've heard in a song. No drugs!!!! Give her shoes!!!! It almost feels a bit satirical, but I know it probably isn't. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: Andrea in The Devil Wears Prada is staring out the window of a black town car in Paris. There's rain pouring outside and she's noticing shoes and purses outside, something she wouldn't have done before. She realises she's changed. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No (but it does confuse me a little bit, I think I need to listen to it again).
"Summer Forever"
My First Impression: This song is like missing a moment while you're still in it. To me, it almost feels like a Lana Del Rey/Taylor Swift love child with airy-ness of the instrumental and the lyrical pattern. While I understand the vibe she's trying to achieve, I kind of wish the beat on this one was more like Addison's earlier tracks because why does it make me want to cry while the sun's out? What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: A summer break up before moving away, but both of them know that they don't want to let it go. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No.
"In The Rain"
My First Impression: Okay, the speed is back, we're moving into hair-whipping, strut-your-stuff territory. Just kidding, it's STILL SAD!!!!! It feels like it teeters on the edge of a hip-hop/R&B song and I really enjoy it. Of course, Addison's voice brings it back to pop and I think lyrically this is one of strongest of the album so kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: A solo hip-hop contemporary dance in the rain (duh). Think Step Up 2: The Streets. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No.
"Fame Is A Gun"
My First Impression: I think this song embodies her story perfectly and I absolutely love the energy of it. It feels like old-school pop with her distinct flavour and I can see this being really timeless, especially with the catchy hook. It really gets your shoulders moving at your desk, I won't lie. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: After an artist plays a stage show they launch into a fever dream where this is playing, there's a lot of sparkly tinsel. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No.
"Times Like These"
My First Impression: Does anyone remember that scene in Camp Rock, where Tess was surrounded by a bunch of mirrors? This would've been the perfect song for that moment. Breathy vocals are making their return here. It almost feels like this is the end of the album, even though theres two more songs. What kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: The main character is driving in an old school red convertible, moving from one place to another across a long stretch of highway. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: Yes (I think, I just wanted to get back to more of "Fame Is A Gun").
"Life's No Fun Through Clear Waters"
My First Impression: The last interlude of the album and you can't hear Addison through it, it feels like a break setting up for the grand finale. Not too much to kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: Think Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes' Romeo + Juliet when they're staring at each other through the aquarium. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No, this is a nice palate cleanser.
And finally, "Headphones On"
My First Impression: This is "Diet Pepsi"'s chiller sibling that still has that sensual vibe, but instead of feel sad, it feels quite hopeful. It cleanly rounds off the entire album, further emphasising the consistency element. While it is the last song, it feels like it leaves the future open for where her sound could go kind of movie scene would this song be the soundtrack to: This is for the montage in a coming-of-age movie when the protagonist finds out they were just "a bet" or everything wasn't real with the person they fell in love with. It's for the part where they fix their life. Did I want to skip the song at any point in time: No.
Listen to Addison by Addison Rae, wherever you get your music.
