Gracie Abrams has released her third studio album, ‘Daughter from Hell,’ and it’s her most ambitious work yet. The 16-track collection arrived on July 17 via Interscope Records, marking a bold evolution for the 26-year-old singer-songwriter. Abrams has called this her “favorite music” she’s made to date, and the album’s visceral imagery and confessional lyrics suggest she’s pushing herself into new creative territory.
The album finds Abrams reuniting with longtime collaborator Aaron Dessner of The National, who produced and co-wrote 14 of the 16 tracks. The sonic landscape is darker and more textured than her previous work, filled with violent imagery and dramatic tension. The album opens with “Hit The Wall,” featuring Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and immediately establishes its raw, confessional tone. “I’m a crack in the pavement / I’m a slipknot,” she sings, setting the stage for an exploration of pain, self-reflection, and emotional reckoning.
The title track serves as an apology to Abrams’ parents for her turbulent teenage years, reframing the “daughter from hell” moniker into a meditation on guilt and growth. Other standout tracks include “Look at My Life,” a fan-favorite single about the casual nihilism of young adulthood, and “Broke My Heart,” which delivers a swashbuckling sense of indignation. The album also features a rare collaboration with Marcus Mumford on “What If It’s Right?” and a co-write with Abrams’ partner Paul Mescal on “Imaginary Friend”.
Critics have been divided, with some praising the album’s ambition and others noting it still leans heavily on her influences, including Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Phoebe Bridgers. Abrams herself has expressed immense gratitude to her fans, writing on Instagram: “Daughter from Hell is out! I love every single person I made this album with. I cannot wait to see you on tour”.
That tour is already on the horizon. The ‘Look at My Life Tour’ kicks off in Denver on December 2, promising fans an intimate yet electrifying experience with the album’s deeply personal songs. With ‘Daughter from Hell,’ Abrams isn’t just releasing an album, she’s inviting listeners into the most honest, complicated corners of her world.
