Good Riddance (album)

Good Riddance is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. It was released on February 24, 2023, through Interscope Records. The album was written by Abrams, with Aaron Dessner also having writing and producing credits on all songs. A deluxe edition of the album with four bonus tracks was released on June 16, 2023.

Good Riddance
Studio album by Gracie Abrams
Released	February 24, 2023
Genre	Pop^[1] R&B^[1] indie pop^[2] alternative pop^[2] indie rock^[3]
Length	52:24
Label	Interscope
Producer	Aaron Dessner Matias Tellez
Gracie Abrams chronology
This Is What It Feels Like (2021) Good Riddance (2023)
Singles from Good Riddance
"Difficult" Released: October 7, 2022 "Where Do We Go Now?" Released: January 13, 2023 "Amelie" Released: February 10, 2023 "I Know It Won't Work" Released: February 24, 2023

Background and development

On January 9, 2023, Abrams announced her debut album, Good Riddance, to be released on February 24, 2023.^[4][5] The first single, "Difficult" was released a few months prior, on October 7, 2022. The second single, titled "Where Do We Go Now?", was released on January 13, 2023.^[6] The third single, titled "Amelie", was released on February 10. "I Know It Won't Work", the fourth and final single was released along with the album on February 24.

Of the album development and creative process, Gracie Abrams expressed her gratitude for prominent producer of the album, Aaron Dessner and described the creative process of the album on Instagram by posting:^[7]

It's difficult to imagine these songs living anywhere other than my most secret places, but [producer Aaron Dessner] reminded me that holding space for brutal honesty in songwriting is kind of the whole point. I feel an unbelievable amount of gratitude for the opportunity to have made this album. Writing this record allowed me to grow up in ways I needed to. It forced me to reflect and be accountable. It allowed me to walk away from versions of myself that I no longer recognized. It allowed me to let go.

The deluxe version of Good Riddance was announced on April 24, 2023, and released on June 16, 2023. It features four bonus tracks, including "Block Me Out", which was first released as a single on April 8, 2022.^[8]

Track listing

All songs are written by Gracie Abrams and Aaron Dessner, and produced by Dessner, except where noted. All songs stylized in sentence case.

Good Riddance track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Best"			3:53
2.	"I Know It Won't Work"		Dessner Matias Tellez	4:05
3.	"Full Machine"			4:15
4.	"Where Do We Go Now?"		Dessner Tellez	4:04
5.	"I Should Hate You"			4:18
6.	"Will You Cry?"			3:50
7.	"Amelie"			4:19
8.	"Difficult"			4:18
9.	"This Is What the Drugs Are For"			4:05
10.	"Fault Line"			4:27
11.	"The Blue"			5:00
12.	"Right Now"	Abrams Dessner Brian Eno		5:50
Total length:				52:24

Good Riddance – Deluxe Edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Block Me Out"		4:09
14.	"Unsteady"		4:11
15.	"405"		3:02
16.	"Two People"	Abrams Dessner Delacey	4:13
Total length:			67:59

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes and Tidal.^[9]

Musicians

• Gracie Abrams – lead vocals (all tracks), songwriting (all tracks), electric piano (10)
• Aaron Dessner – production (all tracks), songwriting (all tracks), acoustic guitar (1, 7–10, 13), baritone guitar (11), bass (3, 5–6, 8–10, 12–13, 15), cymbals (1), drum programming (2, 4–6, 11–16), electric bass (1), electric guitar (1–5, 8–9, 11, 13–16), guitar (1, 5, 9–10, 14–16), mellotron (1–2, 6, 11, 14), ophicleide (4), percussion (1, 4–6), piano (1–2, 4, 8–9, 11–12, 16), shaker (3, 10), synth bass (1–2, 4, 6, 11, 14, 16), synthesizer (1–6, 8–12, 14–16), tambourine (1), electric piano (2–3, 9–10, 12)
• Brian Eno – production (12)
• Matias Tellez – production (2, 4)
• Jonathan Low – mixing (all tracks), synth bass (8)
• James McAlister – drums (4–7, 9, 14–16), drum programming (8), electric guitar (2–3, 5), guitar (5), keyboard (1–5, 9, 14, 16), maracas (9, 14), moog bass (2, 5–7, 9–10, 14), percussion (8, 11–12), piano (7), shaker (6, 16), synth bass (15), synthesizer (2–14, 16), tambourine (3, 9), tom-toms (16), woodwinds (16)
• Rob Moose – orchestration (4), piano (4), strings (13), viola (4, 11, 14), violin (4, 11, 14)
• Thomas Bartlett – piano (1–12, 16), synthesizer (1–12, 16), mellotron (1–6, 8, 11), ophicleide (8, 14) electric piano (1–5, 7–8, 11)
• Ben Lanz – synthesizer (1, 4–6, 8, 11–12, 15–16), trombone (16)
• Matt Barrick – drums (1, 3, 9, 13–14) percussion (2–3, 9), tambourine (13)
• James Krivchenia – drums (2–3, 5, 14), percussion (5)
• Bryce Dessner – electric guitar (2–3)
• Bryan Devendorf – drums (8)
• Delacey – songwriting (16)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.3/10^[10]
Metacritic	73/100^[11]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[12]
Clash	8/10^[13]
The Dartmouth	^[14]
DIY	^[15]
Dork	^[16]
The Eastern Echo	9/10^[17]
i	^[18]
NME	^[3]
The Line of Best Fit	7/10^[19]
Pitchfork	6.2/10^[1]

Upon its release, Good Riddance received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 73 based on 6 reviews.^[11]

In a perfect review for Dork, Martyn Young called it "a masterclass in intimate and evocative songwriting." The review concluded, "It's a debut that perfectly illustrates the transcendent quality of a very special composition."^[16] Jane Bua of Pitchfork emphasizes Abrams' writing, calling her "honest and personal, offering moments of clear, quiet charm", but notes, "Writing with emotional transparency is only one part of the equation, especially given the ubiquity of 'sad girl' songs these days."^[1] The magazine DIY defined the album as "a heartbreaking but joyful journey into the depth of each of your feelings." In addition, he highlighted the songs "I Should Hate You", "Full Machine", "This Is What The Drugs Are For", and "Right Now" for their lyrics, production, and sounds.^[15] Some critics highlighted Aaron Dessner's distinctive touch on the tracks.^[3]

In a mixed review, Amaya Lin of The Line of Best Fit opined, "Disappointingly, the greatness verges but never crests. Abrams' writing is both hyperspecific and extremely vague, referring to situations and characters that lack essential context", and notes Dessner's production for illuminating "an especially delicate side of Abrams' confessional composition".^[19] For the newspaper i, Kate Solomon wrote, "As intimate and beautifully drawn as the songs almost universally are, it's so relentlessly downbeat that it becomes difficult to tune into for a whole album", deeming it "an album to wallow in and not move on from."^[18]

Year-end lists

Select year-end rankings of Good Riddance

Publication	List	Rank	Ref.
Billboard	The 50 Best Albums of 2023	24	^[20]
	The 100 Best Songs of 2023 "Where Do We Go Now?"	96	^[21]
Rolling Stone	The 100 Best Albums of 2023	62	^[22]
Variety	The Best Songs of 2023 "Amelie"	35	^[23]
Dork	Top 50 Albums of 2023	22	^[24]
The Spokesman-Review	Best albums of 2023	10	^[25]
Shondaland	The 10 Best Albums of 2023	—	^[26]
Esquire	The 20 Best Albums of 2023	15	^[27]
USC Annenberg Press	The best albums of 2023	—	^[28]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Good Riddance Chart (2023-2024) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)^[29] 30 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[30] 63 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[31] 41 Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[32] 55 Croatian International Albums (HDU)^[33] 29 French Albums (SNEP)^[34] 113 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[35] 19 Irish Albums (OCC)^[36] 4 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[37] 40 Scottish Albums (OCC)^[38] 3 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[39] 55 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[40] 92 UK Albums (OCC)^[41] 3 US BIllboard 200^[42] 52

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Good Riddance Chart (2023) Position UK Cassette Albums (OCC)^[43] 15

Release history

Release dates and formats for Good Riddance

Region	Date	Format(s)	Edition	Label	Ref.
Various	February 24, 2023	CD digital download streaming	Standard	Interscope	^[44]
	June 16, 2023		Deluxe		^[8]

Tour

Main article: Good Riddance Tour

Abrams completed a 44-date tour throughout 2023 and 2024 in North America, Europe, and Australia.^[45][46]

References

1. Bua, Jane (February 28, 2023). "Gracie Abrams: Good Riddance Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
2. "Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
3. Mylrea, Hannah (February 23, 2023). "Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance review: The 23-year-old addresses the trials of squaring love with life on the road on her moving and contemplative debut". NME. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
4. Chan, Anna; Bowenbank, Starr (January 9, 2023). "Gracie Abrams Announces Debut Album That 'Allowed Me to Let Go' & a Headlining Tour". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
5. Ingle, Alex (January 9, 2023). "Gracie Abrams has announced her debut album, 'Good Riddance'". Dork. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
6. McCarthy, Neive (January 13, 2023). "Gracie Abrams has shared a new single, 'Where do we go now?', from her just-announced debut album". Dork. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
7. Abrams, Gracie [@gracieabrams] (January 9, 2023). "MY DEBUT ALBUM 'Good Riddance' OUT FEBRUARY 24TH... 'Where do we go now?' out January 13th... It's difficult to imagine" – via Instagram.
8. Schube, Will (April 24, 2023). "Gracie Abrams Announces Deluxe Edition Of 'Good Riddance'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
9. "Credits / Good Riddance (Deluxe) / Gracie Abrams - TIDAL".
10. "Good Riddnce by Gracie Abrams reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
11. "Critic Reviews for Good Riddance". Metacritic. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
12. Donelson, Marcy (February 24, 2023). "Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
13. Miller, Isabella (February 23, 2023). "Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance". Clash.
14. Muller, Ellen (March 6, 2023). "Review: 'Good Riddance' is a vulnerable reflection of personal accountability". The Dartmouth.
15. Mccarthy, Neive (February 24, 2023). "Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance". DIY.
16. Young, Martyn (February 22, 2023). "Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance". Dork. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
17. Michael, Caitlin (March 16, 2023). "Review: Gracie Abrams debut album 'Good Riddance' is filled with soul crushing songs". The Eastern Echo.
18. Solomon, Kate (February 24, 2023). "Gracie Abrams, Good Riddance, review: So intimate it's like eavesdropping on a therapy session". i.
19. Lim, Amaya (February 22, 2023). "Good Riddance showcases the delicate side of Gracie Abrams' confessional songwriting". The Line of Best Fit.
20. Werthman, Rania Aniftos,Katie Bain,Eric Renner Brown,Leila Cobo,Hannah Dailey,Stephen Daw,Kyle Denis,James Dinh,Thom Duffy,Ingrid Fajardo,Griselda Flores,Josh Glicksman,Quincy Green,Paul Grein,Lyndsey Havens,Rylee Johnston,Carl Lamarre,Elias Leight,Jason Lipshutz,Joe Lynch,Meghan Mahar,Heran Mamo,Taylor Mims,Gail Mitchell,Melinda Newman,Jessica Nicholson,Danielle Pascual,Isabela Raygoza,Kristin Robinson,Dan Rys,Damien Scott,Andrew Unterberger,Christine; Aniftos, Rania; Bain, Katie; Brown, Eric Renner; Cobo, Leila; Dailey, Hannah; Daw, Stephen; Denis, Kyle; Dinh, James (December 6, 2023). "The 50 Best Albums of 2023: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
21. Werthman, Rania Aniftos,Katie Atkinson,Eric Renner Brown,Hannah Dailey,Stephen Daw,Kyle Denis,James Dinh,Thom Duffy,Ingrid Fajardo,Griselda Flores,Josh Glicksman,Paul Grein,Lyndsey Havens,Rylee Johnston,Carl Lamarre,Elias Leight,Jason Lipshutz,Joe Lynch,Heran Mamo,Taylor Mims,Gail Mitchell,Melinda Newman,Jessica Nicholson,Danielle Pascual,Isabela Raygoza,Jessica Roiz,Andrew Unterberger,Christine; Aniftos, Rania; Atkinson, Katie; Brown, Eric Renner; Dailey, Hannah; Daw, Stephen; Denis, Kyle; Dinh, James; Duffy, Thom (December 7, 2023). "The 100 Best Songs of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
22. "The 100 Best Albums of 2023". Rolling Stone. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
23. Horowitz, Chris Willman,Steven J.; Willman, Chris; Horowitz, Steven J. (December 28, 2023). "The Best Songs of 2023". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
24. "Top 50 Albums of 2023". Dork. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
25. McFarland, Jordan Tolley-Turner and Sophia; Tolley-Turner, Jordan; McFarland, Sophia (December 31, 2023). "Best albums of 2023". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
26. Lao, Samuel (December 22, 2023). "Best albums of 2023". Shondaland. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
27. McNeal, Bria (December 1, 2023). "The 20 Best Albums of 2023". Esquire. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
28. Su, Eda Katgi, Thuanh; Katgi, Eda; Su, Thuanh (December 4, 2023). "The best albums of 2023". USC Annenberg Press. Retrieved December 4, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
29. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
30. "Austriancharts.at – Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
31. "Ultratop.be – Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
32. "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of March 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
33. (in Croatian). HDU. March 4, 2024. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
34. "Top Albums (Week 9, 2023)". SNEP. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
35. "Offiziellecharts.de – Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
36. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
37. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
38. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
39. "Top 100 Albums Weekly". PROMUSICAE. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
40. "Swisscharts.com – Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
41. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
42. @billboardcharts (March 6, 2023). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/3)..." (Tweet). Retrieved March 7, 2023 – via Twitter.
43. Griffiths, George (January 3, 2024). "The Official Top 20 biggest cassettes of 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
44. Good Riddance release formats:
    • "Good Riddance CD". Gracie Abrams Official Store. from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
    • "Good Riddance Digital Album". Gracie Abrams Official Store. from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
    • "Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams". Apple Music (US). from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
45. Chan, Anna; Bowenbank, Starr (January 9, 2023). "Gracie Abrams Announces Debut Album That 'Allowed Me to Let Go' & a Headlining Tour". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
46. Gallagher, Alex (August 15, 2023). "Gracie Abrams announces 2024 Australian tour". NME. Retrieved August 18, 2023.