It's hard to believe Kelsea Ballerini has been around for 10 years. Ballerini first signed a record deal in 2014 and hasn't looked back since.
Since the release of The First Time, she's undergone a lot. If you've been following her since then, you'll know that she's dealt with a very public relationship and eventually, divorce. She's also written a book and had a controversy due to a tweet.
Honestly, there's been so many ups and downs in Kelsea's career yet she's channeled a lot of it back into her art. Most of us remember how popular and great her last EP was which was Rolling up the Welcome Mat, focusing on her divorce and the aftermath of that.
Knowing that Patterns was coming, most of us were excited to see what Ballerini would focus on next and if it would be something new or more of the same from her.
Is Patterns something new for Kelsea Ballerini?
I'm going to be totally honest and say I've been listening to Kelsea Ballerini for almost 10 years. I also saw her when she opened up for the Jonas Brothers. She puts on a great show and is one of the most fun performers I've seen. Since then though, Ballerini has dealt with so much so I was excited to listen to Patterns.
In a way, Patterns feels like something new for Ballerini. She's taking on her divorce with grace, talking about new love, and yet still reflecting on her choices. It's amazing to see how much she's grown in 10 years. She laments on great friendships in "I Would, Would You," which is a theme in her previous albums and something I love. Another departure from her previous works is "Wait!" which puts her flaws out there while also talking about her new love.
However, Patterns isn't completely separate from what Ballerini has done in the past. She still gives us the bubbly songs we've come to know and love including "Baggage" and "Nothing Really Matters." If anything, it proves that Ballerini knows what fans are looking for while also giving us more depth with her music.
That's not to say that this album is perfect but it's more in line with her last EP than her last full album which is what fans liked so much. Plus she's happy, dating Chase Stokes which makes the album all the more enjoyable for fans. Kelsea Ballerini also shared that she's going to be on tour in 2025 so if you haven't listened to the album just yet, you have plenty of time before purchasing tickets.
Ultimately, I love Kelsea Ballerini and her music so I do like this album but it's not going to be my new favorite for her. Overall though, my favorite tracks are "I Would, Would You," "Wait!" and "Baggage." If you've listened to the album, I'd love to know your favorite tracks!