Play It Louder: My Rose Gray Review

Rose Gray is an up-and-coming artist who started releasing music in 2020, but is now finally getting the recognition she deserves with her debut album, Louder, Please. A Little Louder, Please (Deluxe), will be released on October 24. Rose comes from England like many of my favorite singers do, including Amy Winehouse, Dua Lipa, Adele, and an inspired sound of Charli XCX. 

Rose gives the sound and the vibes of Chappell Roan; a mix of those two (Chappell and Charli) nowadays is very iconic. She has her very own stage vibe which I really respect especially seemingly being inspired by such popular artists. Honestly, I like Rose better between her and Charli.

I actually had the chance to see her on Kesha’s summer tour on July 29 at TD Pavilion at the Mann in Fairmount Park in PA. Before the show, I heard Rose on the loudspeakers doing a soundcheck and that was a really awesome experience. It gave me massive chills. I honestly did not care much for her music or even think about it after seeing her, but now I am OBSESSED. It also reminds me of that day so it’s fun, but the tunes are super fun. I am going to be rating all the songs on this album with a grading technique and explaining the songs. One interesting thing I learned when watching Rose interviews, is that she associates and hears a color with every song, which is called synesthesia. In Vogue magazine when Rose was asked if she had synesthesia, her answer was “I think I might!” For this cool fact, I will be expressing what colors I associate each tune with.  

For some extra fun, here is a video of Rose analyzing her album, which is different from what I have to say.

Damn- Now this song is such a good one. This song is basically about a relationship. She is currently dating the actor, Harris Dickinson. They have been in a long-term relationship since they were young. Which is the theme of this song. This is not my actual favorite song off this album but it is a great one. I give this C+. I associate “Damn” with the color dark blue. 

Free- Free is about how good things in life are free; and the first song released for the album which sort of represents her freedom releasing music on a label.  It is also a lyric in the song. This song is so upbeat and I have the cache in my head of that song being the first she sang on the tour so that was very memorable. This has been in the bank of my favorites since I saw her live. I give this one an A+.  I hear Free as a song that would be a mix of bright pink and bright green. 

Wet and Wild- I have only heard this one a few times but it is starting to grow on me. I am not going to lie, I feel like I have heard this out on the radio. It very much sounds like a Dua Lipa.  Basically about being wild and not caring what people think. I miss when songs were about that; so it’s refreshing that some artists still write about being yourself no matter what. I sort of remember hearing this live, but not a core memory. I give this a B+ for the beat and the subject matter. Wet and Wild gives a red and blue kinda feel. 

Just Two- Now if I am ranking songs on this album, this has to be my second favorite. This was actually the song I heard being soundchecked live before the show. It is just about two people being in love with a really upbeat sound. It was the one song I really remember enjoying her music the first time. A+.

Every time I hear this song I think of a red mixed with yellow, those two colors but not an orange with a hint of purple. 

Tectonic- I love Rose Gray and this album, but this has to be my least favorite. I am not saying it is not a catchy tune, but it’s not my style. Her other songs are more my vibe. This starts as a slow song but then it catches you with the beat. That has to be the best part about it. It is about how she would do anything for her lover. Normal love song, but the title is a massive difference. C-. Tectonic gives me purple, blue, and green vibes. Earthy colors. 

Party People- This song honestly gives me chills. This beat is a party, yet an eerie beat. Hearing it connected me more with the vibes and song, which I really love. The opening hook “Party people live, party people love”, is so catchy I probably wake up with the song in my head everyday. I wish more people knew more about this song, it definitely deserves more recognition and I hope it gets more that she is on tour.  A+.

Red, pink, and gray flashing lights vibes. 

Angel Of Satisfaction- This is definitely the song that made me want to listen to Rose more. I do not remember it too much from the concert, but after watching other people’s videos of it being performed on stage this summer makes me remember it better. It is not clear what the song is about, at least after hearing it so many times. But if there is one Rose Gray song to start your listening journey of her music, it would be this one. A+ 

Gives pink and red vibes. 

Switch- Personally, this song isn't in my top five. I have nothing against it, it is just not for me like Tectonic. This song is about Rose switches who she is in a relationship or wherever life takes her. It is a bit too slow for me, not very Rose Gray type in music. Her music has a whole dance vibe, and you can tell she writes all her own music with her personal experiences, but this is just not it. I give this a D for the slow beat. 

Black and blue vibes with some dark green. 

Hackney Wick-  Hackney Wick is a place Rose used to go (or still goes to) for partying and a fun time with friends. The basis of the song. The coolest part of this song is that it’s narrated by Rose and it is her talking for most of the song. Might be the coolest song on the album in that way. B- for the concept. 

Yellow vibes for me. 

First- This tune is about competition in a relationship and how you always want to be better than the other; it seems this song is more about it being silly and fun rather than toxic. The beat isn’t for me like I said about some of the other songs. Once I hear a song once I can tell if I like it or not it doesn’t take me a few listens to. I honestly love the concept but the background tune isn’t my favorite. C- 

I see “First” as all the colors on the album cover, so pink, orange, white, and blue. 

Everything Changes (But I Won’t)- Everything Changes is a clear love song about her and Harris. I honestly adore this song and the beat. Not much to review here but to say that I really love it. A 

Mostly purple vibes. 

Louder, Please- This is the last, and title track of this album. It starts out with an odd eerie beat and someone saying “Can you make it louder please?”. Ironically this song is actually quiet, but gets louder throughout, which I really enjoy. There are also no lyrics in this song, it is mostly instrumental. It is also the longest song on the album. Like Kesha’s Rainbow album, there is a song called “Spaceship” that has a really cool outro with speaking “Nothing is real, love is everything, and I know nothing,” which it reminded me of. Spaceship is actually the last song on Rainbow with the same amount of time as Louder, Please. I do wonder if she got the inspiration from that or did it herself. Cool otherwise! B+. The whole rainbow for this song because so many different elements were put into this one, and plus it reminds me of the Rainbow album.  

Obviously I love it, but there’s some songs I don’t. 

My Rating:

Closing up, I really enjoyed this album and being able to listen to an album after you have seen the artist is pretty cool because you have a memory of some of the songs already. 

This is definitely one of my favorite albums this year and in general. Whenever I hear Rose Gray I am going to say “Play it LOUDER PLEASE!”.