The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

by Chappell Roan

Overview

Chappell Roan's first studio full-length, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, is an absolute breath of fresh air in a crowded pop landscape. Playful, a little naughty, and full of heart, this debut brims with spirited pop gems that stick in the brain long after the album is finished. Blending the youthful Gen Z delivery of Olivia Rodrigo, the best-friend-approachability of Taylor Swift, and the songcraft of Maggie Rogers, Roan is the main draw here, taking whatever producer Dan Nigro (Kylie, Rodrigo, Caroline Polachek) throws at her and making it irresistible. Opener "Femininomenon" perfectly captures the album's ethos as it transforms from a sweet, string-laden ballad into a pulse-pounding empowerment anthem punctuated by a mid-song pep talk and hilariously escalating adlibs demanding a "fucking beat." From there, it's a nonstop flood of catchy, synth-backed anthems that could lay waste to mainstream radio if given the chance. The playfully horny "Red Wine Supernova" rides a bubbly beat, Roan's pure voice and the girl gang background vocals boost the energy, and the funky strut of the confident, boyfriend-stealing "After Midnight" turns the lights down low as Roan purrs that "everything good happens after midnight." Taking Taylor's Midnights hit one step further, Roan takes aim at an ex on the sardonic, synth-laden "My Kink Is Karma," where she finds pleasure in the little things like watching them "ruin [their] life... losing [their] mind... [and] crashing [their] car." There's a handful of delicate ballads ("Coffee," "Casual," "Picture You," "Kaleidoscope") peppered amongst the pogo-bounce singalongs ("HOT TO GO!" and early hit "Pink Pony Club") that offer a few moments of rest while the party continues. On an album packed with highlights, standouts include the '80s-synth throwback "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl" -- a cowbell-laden, late-night party saga that explodes with one of the most rousing choruses on Midwest Princess -- and the closer, "Guilty Pleasure," which mirrors the opening track's quiet-to-loud approach, morphing from warm dream pop into pulsing electro-pop. Bold and fearless, Chappell Roan's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is the best kind of pop album: it captures a generational zeitgeist and introduces the world to a refreshing new voice that can hopefully stand the test of time and a fickle industry. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	09/22/2023
Label:	Island
UPC:	0602455750181

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chappell Roan   Primary Artist
Ryan Linvill   Bass,Flute,Saxophone
Jared Solomon   Bass
Giana Shabestari   Vocals (Background)
Julian Dessler   Trumpet
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Arianna Powell   Guitar (Acoustic)
Danny Ward   French Horn
Austin Drake   Trumpet
Paul Cartwright   Viola,Violin,Strings
Sam Stewart   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Emily Williams   Vocals (Background)
Daniel Nigro   Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Keyboards,Mellotron,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Erick Serna   Guitar
Cara Salimando   Vocals (Background)
Mike Wise   Keyboards
Benjamin Romans   Piano
Kate Brady   Vocals (Background)
Drake Austin   Trumpet
Ido Meshulam   Trombone
Sterling Laws   Drums

Technical Credits

Bryce Bordone   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Ryan Linvill   Producer,Recording,Drum Programming,Horn Arrangements
Annika Bennett   Composer
Nathan Phillips   Mixing
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz   Composer
Lisa Hickox   Composer
Lixa   Producer
Jonah Shy   Producer,Recording,Composer
Austen Healey   Assistant Engineer
Justin Tranter   Composer
Michael Coleman   Mixing
Maya Kurchner   Composer
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Marcus Andersson   Composer
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Chris Kasych   Recording
Nate Campany   Composer
Randy Merrill   Mastering Engineer
Daniel Nigro   Composer,Producer,Recording,Drum Programming
Amy Kuney   Composer
Mike Wise   Producer,Recording
Eric Leva   Composer,Recording Arranger
Morgan St. Jean   Composer
Noah Conrad   Producer,Recording
Mitch McCarthy   Mixing
Geoff Swan   Mixing
Skyler Stonestreet   Composer
Casey Smith   Composer
Annie Schindel   Composer