On Jan. 10, 2020, pop sensation Selena Gomez kicked off the new decade with the release of her first album since 2015 entitled “Rare.”

Gomez has been a rising force in the entertainment industry since her starring role on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” in 2007. Since then she has captivated audiences with her acting as well as her increasingly prominent music career as seen by her numerous accolades such as Billboard’s 2015 Chart Topper award and 2017 Woman of the Year. 

Until “Rare,” Gomez’s most recent album was “Revival,” released in 2015 and titled for her comeback into the music scene. Since “Revival,” Gomez has produced a multitude of successful singles such as “Bad Liar,” “Fetish” and “Back to You.” 

Throughout her career, Gomez has rarely veered from her well-known pop sound. Her style is characterized by light and flowing vocals accompanied by a simple electronic and percussive beat. 

Gomez has been admired for her candid and emotionally driven lyrics in her previous works; however, she reaches a new magnitude of honesty in “Rare,” unveiling aspects of her love life and her journey with her mental health. 

The album commences with the title track “Rare,” an anthem for self-appreciation. The song is simple with relaxed and, in moments, airy vocals. Gomez expresses her message of self-value through lyrics such as “I don’t have it all / I’m not claiming to / But I know that I’m special.” She reveals that she desires to be appreciated and valued because she knows that she’s “rare.”

Following “Rare” is the second track “Dance Again.” This song features more up-beat and bouncy rhythms that correlate with her positive lyrics. However, the song becomes overly repetitive quickly and contains clumsy lyrics such as “Confidence is throwing your heart through every brick wall.”   

The next two songs “Look at Her Now” and “Lose You to Love Me” utterly encompass Gomez’s intentions in creating “Rare”. The lyrics to both tracks candidly tell a story as well as empower. In “Look at Her Now,” Gomez combines a catchy beat and honest lyrics to tell an intriguing story. The song is tastefully written with positive lyrics about her growth after a tough breakup such as “Took a few years to soak up the tears/ But look at her now, watch her go.” In “Lose You to Love Me,” Gomez is more vocally expressive than in her other songs, which, in addition to her heart-wrenching lyrics and the calming piano accompaniment, clearly aided in the song’s rise to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in Nov. 2019.

The fifth track “Ring” stands out stylistically for Gomez as it has less of a pop sound. “Ring” introduces electronic effects into the song creating a sort of lilt to the pulse. Along with this, Gomez sings with a darker, more sensual tone inconsistent with the rest of the album. 

“Vulnerable” and “People You Know” further Gomez’s sincere honesty through lyrics such as “If I give you all my trust, then would you fumble it and break it?” Throughout these tracks, Gomez reflects on her struggles with stability in her relationships with those she opens up to. Both of these songs, however, fall to the excessive repetitiveness found throughout “Rare.”

The following tracks “Let Me Get Me,” “Crowded Room” and “Kind of Crazy” do not quite achieve Gomez’s usual emotional connection. The songs are relatively catchy, yet none stand out lyrically or rhythmically. However, while “Crowded Room” featuring 6LACK is neither stylistically nor vocally unique, it far surpasses the other collaboration on the album, “A Sweeter Place” featuring Kid Cudi. The simplicity of “Crowded Room” adds a charm to the song while “Sweeter Place” feels overwhelming with the excessive layering of Gomez’s voice. “A Sweeter Place” is monotonous and impersonal, not following the precedent set by the rest of the album. 

“Fun” and “Cut You Off” display Gomez’s trademark style very similar to her previous works. Both songs feature soft and relaxed vocals along with an easy beat and repeated key phrases. 

Overall, “Rare” is a great next step in Gomez’s career. With candid lyrics and catchy beats, she maintains her well-known style. However, the album falls flat in its repetitive nature. In the majority of the album, Gomez sings key phrases into the ground. As a whole, it not revolutionary to Gomez’s career, but it contains multiple stand out songs that defy expectations.  

Rating: 7 out of 10