"Thankfully, both Duff and Koma have moved on from the thumping theatrics of the mid-2010s. luck... is less Zedd and more Carly Rae Jepsen, another former Koma collaborator, whose bright, princess-y vocal tone resembles Duff's. The album's base notes are chirpy synths and strummy acoustic pop, embellished with gated drum fills and swoopy strings-softer, pliable sounds that offer a more natural foundation for Duff."
"This is the first of her albums on which Duff is a credited co-writer on every song, and she seems to still be finding her footing as a lyricist. She auditions different voices: At times she's a painstaking wordsmith (the album's opening lines rhyme "apologist" with "psychologist"); at others she's a gal pal tossing off a bitchy text about her husband ("Future Tripping") or fretting over an apparent rift with her sister ("We Don't Talk")."
Duff and Koma shift away from mid-2010s theatrical production toward lighter, Carly Rae Jepsen-style pop built on chirpy synths, strummy acoustic guitar, gated drum fills, and swoopy strings. Duff's bright, princess-y vocal tone suits the softer arrangements but exposes limited fluidity and range, often delivering isolated notes rather than flowing phrases. Duff co-writes every track and experiments with lyrical voices, alternating between careful wordplay, casual confidences, and biting asides. Several lyrics feel forced or clunky and some metaphors are opaque, yet moments of emotional clarity and relatable hooks remain.
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