Gracie Abrams ‘I know It Won't Work’ review: fascinating lyrics wonderfully carried

by Phil Arnold
in Reviews

Sometimes, being creative can run in the family and for Gracie Abrams, that is most certainly the case. As the daughter of one of America’s most respected film-makers, J J Abrams, it is fair to say that she has a good pedigree in creating new and wonderful things! 

So you're at the end of the relationship, in fact you’re past the end, it’s over, but that doesn’t mean the issues stop. You both find it hard to really cut ties, you think you might want your partner back, you miss them, but do you really? All of these confusing emotions that people have after a relationship has ended are explored in Gracie Abrams’ latest release. 

When a song is written that has a conversational lyric line it is vitally important that the rest of the arrangement is subtle enough to help the listener hear the power in the lyrics. In ‘I know it won’t work’, the simplicity of a straightforward guitar pattern, and quiet drums when they come in, means we are never distracted from the clarity of the vocal line. With some build up around the key points in the song, there are layers of texture that create a lovely contrast. But for me, I was fascinated by the lyrics, which are wonderfully carried throughout the song. 

Phil Arnold
Author: Phil Arnold
Phil Arnold is a musician, producer and music reviewer from Devon, in the South West of England. Whilst not writing music reviews, Phil also writes and records under the name of Ugbrooke.