Tate McRae So Close To What
Released Feb 21, 2025 RCA Records Label
Established consensus 11 professional reviews Updated Oct 15, 2026
Mostly positive consensus
Tate McRae's So Close To What makes its strongest case through sleek, sultry pop built for the dance floor, even if its polished approach does not often surprise.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Sports car
2 critic mentions
“Sports Car” is the riskiest moment and greatest triumph” — PopMatters
Like I do
1 critic mention
2 hands
1 critic mention
“2 Hands’ manages to be horny and thrifty at the same time” — New Musical Express (NME)
Full critic consensus
Tate McRae's So Close To What makes its strongest case through sleek, sultry pop built for the dance floor, even if its polished approach does not often surprise. Across 11 professional reviews, the album earns a 69.36/100 consensus score: a respectable, mixed-to-positive reception that reflects critics’ appreciation for McRae’s confident delivery and knack for a memorable hook, alongside reservations about occasional clunky lyrics and familiar moves.
Critics consistently single out the record’s club-ready production and self-assured, diva-inflected performance. “Sports car” stands out as a risk that pays off, while “Miss possessive” pairs a slinky beat with seductive hooks. “Purple lace bra” also highlights McRae’s ability to give polished pop a palpable emotional charge. Elsewhere, “Revolving Door” brings swirling rave-ballad drama, and “Like I Do” builds to a spoken-word climax. For listeners asking about the best songs on So Close To What, those tracks offer a clear entry point into its blend of glossy production and heightened feeling.
The album’s emotional side surfaces in songs about moving on, with “Greenlight” praised for its wistful take on that process. Still, reviewers suggest that the strongest moments outpace the collection as a whole: its streamlined craftsmanship makes the hooks land, but can leave the album feeling predictable, and some lyrics stumble. The critical consensus points to a compelling showcase for McRae’s pop instincts, rather than a wholesale reinvention. Read the reviews below for a closer look at where So Close To What connects and where its gloss holds it back.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Miss possessive
Revolving door
bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Milli)
Dear god
Purple lace bra
Sports car
Signs
I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI)
Like I do
It's ok I'm ok
No I'm not in love
Means I care
Greenlight
2 hands
Siren sounds (bonus)
Nostalgia
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 11 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Tate McRae has killer dance moves and a flair for sultry, self-confident club pop, and the best songs on So Close To What make that sound her own. The slinky “Miss Possessive” and swirling rave ballad “Revolving Door” bring glossy, club-ready beats, while “Like I Do” reaches a melodramatic climax with a fabulous spoken word part. The skittering, wistful “Greenlight” captures the emotional complexities of moving on, and “2 Hands” manages to be horny and thrifty at the same time. A few clunky lyrics hit road bumps, but the best tracks on So Close To What give McRae space to grow in the future.
Key Points
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‘Like I Do’ stands out for its tale of female jealousy and a fabulous spoken-word climax.
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The album's core strengths are sleek, club-ready production, sultry confidence, and sharper lyrics.
Themes
Critic's Take
Tate McRae leans into polished pop on So Close to What, and the best tracks crystallize that aim: “Sports Car” is framed as the riskiest moment and greatest triumph, while “Miss possessive” and “Purple lace bra” showcase her knack for seductive hooks and palpable emotion. McRae rarely surprises, yet those songs prove why listeners ask about the best tracks on So Close to What - they balance memorable choruses with a personable, diva-inflected delivery. The record’s strengths are its streamlined production and McRae’s confident intonations, which make these standout moments feel inevitable rather than accidental.
Key Points
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“Sports Car” is praised as the album’s boldest and most successful moment, showcasing McRae’s crafted persona.
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The album’s core strength is streamlined, 2000s-influenced pop songwriting and confident vocal intonation that favor entertainment over risk-taking.
Themes
