If it’s anyone who’s here to help you navigate change, it’s Kelsea Ballerini. She has always been candid about her personal life in every piece of music she releases. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter just released her fourth studio album SUBJECT TO CHANGE, which sees her doing just that. The lead single “HEARTFIRST” set the tone for the new chapter. Spanning across 15 tracks, the record captures what Ballerini’s life has been like over the last couple of years.

The track “DOIN’ MY BEST” gives listeners insight into some of the things Kelsea has gone through lately. The opening line “2020 was a weird year, the album dropped at a weird time” refers to Kelsea’s previous self-titled album kelsea, which, as the lyrics hint, dropped the same week the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Another lyric in the song “And therapy for one, turned into therapy for two” refers to Kelsea’s recent divorce from fellow country singer Morgan Evans. The line “I was friends with a pop star, I put ‘em on track four but/Wish I could take it back, would’ve never asked/If I knew we wouldn’t talk anymore” refers to Kelsea’s falling out with Halsey, who was a featured artist on Kelsea’s last album. The pre-chorus refers to how Kelsea is owning all the messiness in between it all “If I said I had it all together, I’d be lyin’/Yeah, but I’ll die tryin’.”

The track “MARILYN”, written in May 2020, was the first song written for the project. Kelsea revealed on a recent Instagram livestream that it’s the only new song she won’t do live on tour because of how emotional it is. In the song, Kelsea paints the picture of someone who looks like they have it all together in a similar manner to kelsea’s “homecoming queen?”, but this time uses Marilyn Monroe as symbolism. Lyrics like “Got your name up in lights and in every home/But were you still alone at the party?” and the chorus’s “Was it worth it to be so perfect? /Blonde and curves didn’t keep you from your skeletons” help further paint the picture of what life can be like behind fame.

The only collaboration on the album is “YOU’RE DRUNK, GO HOME” and, in addition to Kelsea, also features Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce. The title track “SUBJECT TO CHANGE” is a breezy, warm nod to how hard growing up can be, but how change can be a good thing and is necessary for growth. “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOING DOWN TOO)” is a personal favorite of mine, and illustrates a partner in crime friendship anthem. And if you need a good breakup song, you can’t go wrong with “I GUESS THEY CALL IT FALLIN’.” SUBJECT TO CHANGE takes you through the seasons of growing up, helps you get to know Kelsea, and has a little bit of something for everyone.

Score: 10/10

Favorite Tracks: “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN DOWN TOO)”, “I GUESS THEY CALL IT FALLIN’, “DOIN’ MY BEST”, “MARILYN”

Article by Emily Fuge