REVIEW: Sigrid – There’s Always More That I Could Say

2 out of 5 stars

A disappointing third album filled with negativity

In all honesty, I was late to Sigrid’s party. 

I started following the Norwegian pop star in 2023 when she had already released two albums and completed a slew of EPs and international tours. 

In no time at all, I was captivated by her rasping tones, funky rhythms, and cool electronic synths. 

When news broke that her third album would be releasing on 24 October, it was no surprise to find myself listening and assessing it… 

Jellyfish is the first single and the most lighthearted.  I like it. 

It’s a nice story about two people meeting at a dance and kindling a relationship. 

Sigrid sings in a syncopated rhythm, giving a jazzy tone to the tune. 

For the first time in her career, she includes a flute. 

Cold, gritty, grim

It plays a flourish at the beginning but I can’t hear it throughout the rest of the track.  It would be good to hear more of the flute in future. 

Fort Knox is single number two.  As the name suggests, this is a cold, gritty, grim song about a woman betrayed by her man. 

This betrayal cuts so deep that she has retreated into her shell to “lock my love up in… Fort Knox”. 

I enjoyed the dramatic, dark nature here, especially the war cry chorus throughout the song.

Towards the end, you would think the song has finished before it plays one more crescendo of strings to cap things off.  I thought that was unnecessary.   

The third single, Two Years, is written from the perspective of the woman’s boyfriend, another new departure for Sigrid. 

He has been chasing for that exact period of time.  It’s a cheery song with a strong beat, despite the desperate lyrics like: “What are you running from? / Why did you let me go?”   

I’ll Always Be Your Girl is another sad song of frustration and heartache caused by a rowdy, hot-headed partner. 

It is sung very well, especially the pleading chorus line, and the drum-guitar combination gives me something to nod along to.   

Unconventional energy

Do It Again is the most unremarkable song on the album. 

There is a good guitar and drum track, however the story again is quite predictable for Sigrid (being tempted to rekindle on old flame relationship).   

Kiss The Sky returns to more unconventional energy which is great. 

A lovely fade into the track leads into the main verses. 

This time, Sigrid is speaking her verses with a distorted effect rather than singing them.  It sounds good and complements her natural raspiness. 

A strong guitar riff carries us through the bridge.  The electronic synths make this seem like a 1980s dance track. 

It’s only the lyrics that make this song a story of disappointment between lovers.   

There is sexual innuendo in Hush, Baby, Hurry Slowly.

You could interpret it as a man and woman deciding whether to move forward with their relationship. 

You could see it as partners deciding whether to have sex or not. 

As a result, it’s an interesting song and makes you listen to try and work it out. 

The structure shakes things up by starting with the chorus fading in. 

The song ends with the melody slowing down and lowering in pitch, reflecting the title in musical terms.  

The title track is the obligatory solo piano song.  

Sigrid has had at least one piano focused song in all albums.  

This is the most beautiful song in the album, featuring solo piano and a nice resonance on the voice.  

The lyrics still contain tensions between people, like “giving…my worst” as a girlfriend.

Nevertheless, this is my favourite song from this year’s collection.   

The penultimate track is also the longest in the album.  

Have You Heard This Song Before picks up the energy from the previous song with a predictable but welcome mix of drums and synths.  

The lyrics are pretty hopeful in tone about wanting to spend time with your partner.  This is the most positive track on the album.   

The last song, Eternal Sunshine, is a conventional finale song.  

It has a regular beat and instrumentation.  

It is another song built out of frustration with a partner – she wants to “drink” him out of her mind.  

It would have been nice to have something different to end on – maybe a different topic.   

This is the shortest album Sigrid has released.  That is disappointing. 

There are 10 songs in only 31 minutes.  

I would have expected the usual 12 tracks or more. 

The previous albums managed it fine.  

Sucker Punch (2019) and How To Let Go (2022) contained 12 songs.  The Special Edition of How To Let Go added 15 songs on top of the originals.  

This album differs from the last two in that every song but one is constantly loud, energetic, and pumping.  

I would have preferred more balance between softer and pounding songs.   

How To Let Go had more positivity in it, such as singing in a taxi, body-confidence in the mirror and making the most of life. 

This album has replaced that with disappointment and frustration.  

It is the album with the most “explicit” songs – never before have we had an album with so much swearing.  

I hope that is toned down in future.   

Here’s hoping that the next album is more positive, unconventional and creative.  

Perhaps that will come out in three years, like the others.  

There’s always more that Sigrid could say (sorry, that was a terrible joke).