You might be familiar with singer/songwriter Alessia Cara when her single “Here” dropped back in November 2015. Her smooth and soulful voice sung what has been referred to as an “introvert’s anthem” by the way she described a party she would much better be off not attending.

The song caught my ear because it was ironically describing how boring parties are, yet sounded like something I could be hearing at a party. It was the antithesis that I desired for charts that are drowned in heavy bass head banging party music.

Cara’s newest album, “Know-it-all” features several tracks that range from love songs and tunes of dreamscapes to female empowerment. However, not all of her songs have the truthful and vulnerable appeal that “Here” had impressed me with back in November.

With a few exceptions, each track in this album has lyrics that are very straightforward. The metaphors and imagery in the songs are too easy to understand, and most of the songs reiterate themes in music that have been heard many times before, but not in a new and creative way.

The love songs in her album are “Outlaws,” “I’m Yours,” “Stone,” “Overdose” and “River of Tears.” Although, the album is not exclusively love-laden tunes the songs that do touch on this genre are reminiscent of other pop artists, such as Taylor Swift.

For example, “River of Tears” using imagery such as drowning in water to describe an overbearing force of sadness due to a breakup. “In a river of tears, lost beneath the stream...The river of tears has washed me clean” sounds very similar to “Clean” by Taylor swift which was released in 2014.

Besides the similar metaphors used in the love songs, Cara also sings about female empowerment in “Scars to Your Beautiful” and gentling in “My Song.” Both songs, although not not entirely imaginative still have positive messages for women, either about positive body image or being fearless and ambitious.

Although Cara was not as successful with some of the songs in this album, she might have possibly found another subject matter worth exploring more. The most effective songs in the album were those that captured the sadder, emptier moments in life. The way that she sings about unfulfilled desire and nostalgia for simpler times might be better paired for her sultry voice. Song like, “Stars,” “Seventeen,” “Wild Things” and, of course, “Here” accomplishes that quite well.

Alessia Cara is worth checking out if you need a confidant to express some deep rooted angst. I found her music most helpful after decompressing from a long day at work, where I was finding myself pining for simpler days, and just wanting to be alone.