Here we are. I'm not going to waste your time with a big intro. We've all waited long enough for this album. Just know that this is my ghost communicating with you from the afterlife.

         Apart from "Sign of the Times," "Sweet Creature," "Ever Since New York," and "Carolina," these reviews are all first-listen thoughts. Please keep in mind that my opinions tend to change the more I listen to certain songs, so it's very likely I'll wind up loving tracks that don't have super high ratings right away.

         As I'm writing this right now, there's a half hour yet before the album is officially released and I'm just...I'm sweating.

         Okay. Moving on.

01: MEET ME IN THE HALLWAY – 8.5/10

What a ghostly opening to an album. It's such an interesting cross between acoustic and layered vocally in a way that acoustic tracks generally aren't. The chorus is something that'll be fun to shout along with him during car rides, but I have to say I'm surprised this took the opening spot. It's not that it's a bad song (obviously), it just leaves listeners trying to figure out where the album will go from here. Which actually could be a good thing, I suppose. Still trying to decide if it's about drugs ruining a relationship or not. Favorite lyrics: 'Cause once you go without it, nothing else will do.

02: SIGN OF THE TIMES – 10/10

I was so surprised the first time I heard this, I won't even lie. But it was such a sweet surprise. Even listening to it now, after so many times, I'm still in love. My favorite thing about it is that it feels like I'm listening to the progression of a movie, from start to tragedy to finale. The drums leading up to the chorus, the powerful vocals at the end... The song just continues to build and I feel like it does everything it set out to do so well, you know? He should have kept the lyrics to "why are we always fucking running from the bullets." It packs a punch somehow even more than the current lyrics. Anyway, yeah, you've all heard it already and it's killer, so. Favorite lyrics: We could meet again somewhere, somewhere far away from here.

03: CAROLINA – 10/10

Okay listen. I was not prepared for this. His voice in the verses, the oh yeah's, the la-la-la's...how dare he. It's such a jam and it takes me back to my hometown circa 2000. Why? God knows honestly, but the music and the vibe puts me in the passenger seat of my dad's truck (which became my truck when I was older) with the windows down while we're cruising through the one street in town, waving occasionally to someone I know in a parking lot we pass or the sidewalk outside the post office. It's very retro and feel-good, and I hope Diana and Olivia love their new friend. Favorite lyric: There's not a drink that I think could sink her. How would I tell her that she's all I think about?

04: TWO GHOSTS – 10/10

I'm sorry, but did I ask for Harry to rip my Larrie heart out and step on it repeatedly? No. I didn't. God, no wonder they're trying to sell this as a Haylor song. This is more of a Larry song than "If I Could Fly" or "Home" was and if you've got ears and a brain then there's no way you can deny what either of those songs were about. I saw so much hype about this on Tumblr although I could never figure out why everyone was freaking about this song in particular, and now I get it. What a great song, especially for having written it three years ago. He was what, twenty? Props, Harold. This is a good one. Favorite lyrics: Tastes so sweet, looks so real. Sounds like something that I used to feel.

05: SWEET CREATURE – 10/10

I adore this song. It gives me the greatest vibes and his voice songs so good. And you all know me, I could make anything about Larry if I wanted to (although this song does it all on its own if you ask me...*cough* rope, *cough* home), but I can totally see the second interpretation fans have. This song very well could be about Gemma. The "two hearts in one home" lyric definitely could point to that as much as it points to Larry living together after the X Factor. No matter what it's about, it has me feeling some type'a way. I also have to say this here because it's been driving me insane – it does the same thing that Twenty One Pilots' "House of Gold" does. Every time the chorus is sung, the vocals get higher and higher. Like, not all of them, but certain parts of them do until the last time he sings it he's singing mostly high notes. I love that so much. Favorite lyrics: We're running through the garden, oh, where nothing bothered us.

06: ONLY ANGEL – 9/10

Are those the piano bits from "Sign of the Times" at the start? But also WHAT AN INTRO. Was not expecting that beat to drop at all. This is literally a song my dad would force me to listen to as a child. It's super rock-focused and scandalous to be honest. That second verse though. So far this is the most unexpected track for me. I thought "Caroline" would take that title, but nope. Like, he's actually screaming at one point? What even is this. It's a full on production. Sign me up for more. Favorite lyric: I must admit I thought I'd like to make you mine as I went about my business through the warning signs.

07: KIWI – 10/10

This was most anticipated for me because I've heard so much about it essentially everywhere, and also it's called "Kiwi." But I have to say...I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. Still...WHAT A WILD RIDE ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS ABOUT WHAT I THINK IT IS and if it's not nobody can blame me for thinking it; I think we're all thinking it. I'm going to pretend I'm right because listen...wild. I'm sorry, most of my thoughts about this one are still incoherent mountains of mush inside my head, and I'm not sure when I'll work through them, but just go into this one with an open mind because wow. Favorite lyric: In a black dress, she's such an actress.

08: EVER SINCE NEW YORK – 10/10

This song gets stuck in my head most often of the four that I heard prior to the album's release. I don't know what it is about it, but man. It gets me where I didn't know I needed to be gotten. I have exactly one complaint, and it's that he doesn't do the higher octave on the last two lines like he does when he performs it live. I feel like those notes really add to it, but the recorded version is much softer than the live version, which is fine. Like I said, it's my only complaint. I love the lyrics and I love New York and yeah this is a win. Favorite lyric: Brooklyn saw me, empty avenues. There's no water inside this swimming pool.

09: WOMAN – 8/10

Welp, found the duck noise. Okay so not only can I not take that noise seriously, I can't take the la-la-la's seriously either. I want to laugh for some reason whenever I hear them. Honestly I think I was expecting a little more from this song, but the verses are pleasantly poetic. I particularly enjoy the second verse a lot. It's very oldschool, very hip, very movie soundtrack-esque. The piano sounds awesome here. But yeah, I don't know. So far I think it's my least favorite track. Hopefully it'll grow on me. Favorite lyric: This thing upon me howls like a beast. You flower, you feast.

10: FROM THE DINING TABLE – 9.5/10

With all the other tracks, I start writing my thoughts down as I listen, but with this one I had to listen all the way through before I was able to pull back and say something. It's so...sad. And honest. I think I heard that this was supposed to be very self-reflective, and I think it achieves that as well as, you know, the ability to shatter my heart. I'm really looking forward to hearing this one live; I think without the layering of his vocals it'll be so pretty. It already is, but if there's one thing I'm noticing about all these tracks it's that they all have the potential to be absolute goldmines live. We already got to see this with three of the ten. I can't wait for the rest. September can't come soon enough. Favorite lyric: Even my phone misses your call, by the way.

         Hello, it's Carissa from the afterlife. Everyone wears millennial pink and eats kiwis here; when will you be joining me? Okay yeah, so this was everything and I'm already ready for HS2. Spend all your money on this masterpiece, guys. It's worth every penny.

         What's your favorite track? And did you manage to snag any tickets to see him when he tours? I'll be seeing him in Chicago!

         Thanks for reading and good luck carrying on with the rest of your lives. It's probably going to take me a good month at the very least. See you soon with that Elf Bites update I've been promising!