Colleen Green is one of the more prominent artists on the rise in the world of indie pop. Green masterfully blends elements of punk, electronica, and bubblegum pop in I Want To Grow Up, which was released in late February. Her third studio album shies away from her previous releases (Milo Goes To Compton and Sock It To Me, respectively), which feature a more folk-like sound with lyrics revolving heavily around love. I Want To Grow Up is an album of varied sounds and subjects, such as the mundane (watching television and grinding one’s teeth), to the dark (drug use and isolation). This is the first album by Colleen to feature a band, as her last two albums made use of a drum machine. Miss Green’s album can effectively be described as an ode to embracing adulthood and the good, bad, and ugly that accompany it.

Track One: I Want To Grow Up

The eponymous title track immediately opens up with the vocal refrain, “I want to grow up” repeated several times. Green goes on to list reasons for wanting to grow up: escaping insecurity, growing out of immaturity, and gaining knowledge about life. The distorted guitar, which is prominent on the album, delivers a short but powerful solo reminiscent of glam-era Lou Reed, on Rock ‘N Roll Animal.

Track Two: Wild One

Wild One opens up with a soft guitar riff and drifts into a crescendo of multi-leveled harmonies. Wild One has a very power pop-like feel to it, and is almost akin to the Beach Boys’ California sound. Green’s home of Los Angeles definitely influences the overall atmosphere of the track.

Track Three: TV

TV opens up with a grungy guitar riff and Colleen delivering her opinion on TV: “it’s her only company when alone.” Following the first chorus, Green plays a beautiful guitar solo, which is easily one of the more stellar parts of the album. The vocals on the bridge are powerful and equally beautiful. TV reminds me in particular of the latter half of Green Day’s American Idiot in its guitar and mood.

Track Four: Pay Attention

One of the more pop-inspired tracks on the album, Pay Attention, is a song about the difficulties of holding a conversation and paying attention to the mundane, one of the most important aspects of growing up. Pay Attention is fast and reminds me of an eccentric punk track, just speckled with the perfect amount of synth and distortion. It’s a track ideal for a spot in a movie like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Track Five: Deeper Than Love

The standout track of the album, bar none. Deeper Than Love is a very electronic song that, while incredibly rhythmic, is depressing lyrically. Deeper Than Love features great bass, as well as some of the best percussion on the entire album. Deeper Than Love is a song about the difficulty of finding love, and the morose attitudes that have accompanied Colleen’s past relationships. Its catchy tune makes it an instant hit, as well as its important theme: commitment is scary.

Track Six: Things That Are Bad for Me (Pt. I)

A warm, sunny riff opens up the track. Colleen lists some of the bad things that are bad for her: ignoring her gut feelings and disregarding her wellbeing. The guitar riff is a standard power chord punk riff, but it works well with the upbeat nature of the track. Things That Are Bad for Me (Pt. I) is a song that gives the listener an urge to both head-bang and dance softly to.

Track Seven: Things That Are Bad for Me (Pt. II)

Following the conclusion of the previous track, Things That Are Bad for Me (Pt. II) opens up with a heavy, distorted guitar in contrast to Colleen’s light voice. Things That Are Bad for Me (Pt. II) deals with the darker problems of my life, such as drug use, anxiety, and abandonment. Its guitar solo is hands down the best on the album. The raw, industrial sound coexists with the glam-inspired vibe. This track is a dark horse on the album; not powerful and catchy enough to be a single, but my personal favorite.

Track Eight: Some People

Some People is one of the weaker tracks on the album. While upbeat and peppy, I found the placement of the song between Things That Are Bad for Me (Pt. II) and Grind My Teeth questionable, as it slightly alters the mood of the latter half of the album. Colleen’s vocals are also a bit sub-par compared to other songs on the album. Regardless, it’s a nice pop song about love that will certainly brighten one’s own mood.

Track Nine: Grind My Teeth

Hey, we all do it! Colleen just makes it catchy! Grind My Teeth is an eccentric track. Fast paced bubbly punk. The chorus is one that’ll make you subconsciously feel the need to dance. Fifty seconds into the song, the song almost transforms into a neo-psychedelic track with angelic vocals. A solo follows, with very similar tones to On Avery Island-era Neutral Milk Hotel. The original flavor of the song returns, basked in all of its fast-paced glory.

Track Ten: Whatever I Want

Whatever I Want is the quintessential way to close I Want To Grow Up. The standout feature of the track, besides Green’s beautiful voice, is the percussion. The percussion truly holds this song together. Coupled with her voice and the bittersweet guitar, Whatever I Want is in all ways a perfect song. Lyrically, it’s a song about setting one’s path, making it an anthem of teens on the verge of adulthood everywhere. To me, Whatever I Want is similar to Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness. It has an element of baroque trip-hop, coupled with pop-punk and electronica.

In closing, I Want To Grow Up is an album filled with the struggles of early adulthood, as well as the joys that accompany it. I Want To Grow Up can be summed up as a journal of Colleen Green’s hopes, dreams, and fears in a musical fashion. Despite being an indie album that combines several genres, I Want To Grow Up is an incredibly accessible listen. Colleen’s voice, as well as her lyrics that resonate well with teenagers, makes this album amongst other indie albums of 2015. In closing, I give I Want To Grow Up an 8.5/10. Though her pop-inspired music might not standout in the crowd, her ability to fuse it with punk, grunge, and electronica make Colleen Green one of the more unique artists out there. I Want To Grow Up accurately displays the feelings of angst and uncertainty that all young adults feel. If you’re a fan of David Bowie, pop-punk, grunge, or indie, I Want To Grow Up might be the perfect album for you.