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Album Review of "Guts" (Spilled) by Olivia Rodrigo
By: Brooklynne Ginn
As a huge Olivia Rodrigo fan, I have been (not-so) patiently awaiting "Guts (Spilled)", the extended album of "Guts", for months, ever since the original "Guts" was released. Although it didn't have my favorite unreleased song, Prison for Life, on there, I am most likely obsessed (see what I did there?) with the album.
Olivia Rodrigo is a tri-winning Grammy winner. She released her debut album "Sour" on May 21st, 2021. She became popular in 2016 by playing Paige on the Disney Channel show "Bizzaardvark". She rose to fame with the role of Nini on "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" and wrote songs for the show that became pretty popular.
"Guts" was my favorite album released last year. "Get Him Back!" was number three on my Spotify Wrapped, and "Ballad of a Homeschool Girl" at number 5, Even though they were released in September.
Some people don't think that she makes very original music, assuming that Rodrigo either copies others or makes the same song again and again, and @arma_s88 on Instagram thinks so too
"She's recording the same song over and over again," @arma_s88 stated.
I disagree with this statement, as all the songs on "Guts" vibe differently. The different styles that all still fit within the pop-punk feel of the album go together, plus one of the songs on the extended version is literally country.
"Guts" has been out since September, so I won't be doing an in-depth review, but I will say that the songs were amazing. My favorite was easily Get Him Back!, as the lyrics and the instrumental are fun.
"Guts (Spilled)" is a popular album here in Jackson as well, that is well-loved. Sophomore Aubrie Erlbacher is one of those people who love it.
"To be honest, I love it. But I also love Olivia already." Erlbacher said.
So American is Rodrigo's first released love song. It's a sweet one, that is supposedly about her boyfriend, Louis Partridge, who is British. The song's lyrics talk about how he calls her "So American" and makes her feel loved. In my opinion, it's an amazing first love song.
"Obsessed" is about how she feels obsessed with her boyfriend's ex, and how she feels jealous of her. The chorus has many drums, and Rodrigo sings out a yell. I think it's a fun song, and it was the perfect choice to be the leading single out of the new deluxe songs. Stranger is about getting over an ex and personal growth. She beautifully captures the story of realizing she's moved on with soft vocals and a pretty instrumental. I think it's a gorgeous song, and that it is moving.
Girl I've Always Been is surprisingly a country song. It's about her not changing her behavior about people who have been a backstabber toward her, and she tells different stories about different instances where that has been the case. I believe it's the best deluxe track out of all of them. The country style suits her, even though I don't like country music at all. The last song is Scared of My Guitar. It's about how she hates being around her guitar sometimes, as it makes her acknowledge her feelings, and she can't lie to herself about her feelings whenever she has it. The way she sings about how things are overwhelming sometimes is very relatable to me, and the way she sings about it is very good too. "Guts" (Spilled) is an amazing album. The initial songs off of "Guts" are amazing, and the deluxe tracks make the already awesome album even better. I would give it an 11/10.
Spider-Man 2
The Spider Society’s Game of the Decade
By: Cade Gregory
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 is 2023’s newest obsession for many students here at JHS. Students such as Talor Sweat (‘24), River Statler (‘26), and Nathaniel Williams (‘25). To these students, this game has been one of the best games ever created.
“Chef's kiss,” stated Sweat.
Spider-Man 2 was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of 2023 for all Spider-Man fans worldwide.
“I played it the second it came out,” stated Williams.
With the game's amazing characters that we’ve all come to know and love and a spectacular story that almost everyone would agree is probably one of the best stories ever made, it was a hard game not to love.
“Spider-Man has always been my thing, I’ve loved Spider-Man ever since I was a kid,” stated Sweat
Not only did the game have an incredible brand-new story with surprising plot twists, exciting character development, and a breathtakingly stunning opening scene featuring a boss battle between the web-slingers and Sandman, but the game developers also showed off some new gadgets for both Spider-Men to use in combat, like the ricochet web and the concussion/sonic burst, which would aid in battles against symbiotic enemies.
“I loved the boss fights and how cinematic they were,” Statler stated
Insomniac Games also gave us a map twice the size of the previous two games and all new game mechanics, such as the web wings and robot spider-arms.
“Even after I finished the game, I still play it just to swing around. Like I just want to be Spider-Man,” said Williams.
Along with all the new game mechanics, missions, and stories, Insomniac Games finally introduced one of Spider-Man’s most popular villains, Venom to the universe of the Insomniac Spider-Man game franchise.
“One of the greatest games to release this year,” Statler said
Overall, Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 was a game that was highly looked forward to and a game that Spider-Man fans will surely never forget.
“It's the game of the century,” Williams