Think Later

Think Later is the second studio album by Canadian singer Tate McRae, released on December 8, 2023, through RCA Records.^[2] It was co-executive produced by Ryan Tedder and promoted by the release of two singles and one promotional single. The lead single "Greedy" was released on September 15, 2023, followed by "Exes" on November 17, 2023, and promotional single "Run for the Hills" on December 8, 2023.^[3][4] McRae has embarked on a tour of Europe, North America, and Oceania throughout 2024 in support of the album.^[5] The album peaked within the top ten in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and the United States. Critics have described it as a trap-pop,^[6] alternative R&B,^[6] and dance-pop record.^[7]

Think Later
Studio album by Tate McRae
Released	December 8, 2023 (2023-12-08)
Recorded	Late 2022 – November 1, 2023[1]
Genre	Trap-pop alternative R&B dance-pop
Length	38:16
Label	RCA
Producer	Ryan Tedder Grant Boutin Jasper Harris Thomas LaRosa Tyler Spry Ilya Greg Kurstin
Tate McRae chronology
I Used to Think I Could Fly (2022) Think Later (2023) So Close to What (2025)
Singles from Think Later
"Greedy" Released: September 15, 2023 "Exes" Released: November 17, 2023

Background

McRae called the experience of writing the album "one of the most stressful, exciting, nerve racking, and fun things [she has] ever gone through", saying that she has lived the past year "a little less with [her] head and a little more with [her] intuition" and hoped that listeners can "feel that through the music".^[8] A press release expressed that it explores "the all-too-relatable feelings of falling in love and embracing the raw emotions that you experience as a result of leading with your intuition and heart".^[8]

Promotion

The first single "Greedy" was issued on September 15, 2023, later becoming McRae's first top-ten song on the Billboard Hot 100. With the announcement of the album on November 6, 2023, McRae detailed the 53-date Think Later World Tour in support of the album, which will visit Europe, North America and Oceania from April to November 2024.^[9] On October 26, McRae performed "Greedy" for the first time on television on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.^[10] The second single "Exes" was released on November 17.^[11] On November 18, she performed "Greedy" and the track "Grave" on Saturday Night Live.^[12] On November 19, she performed "Greedy" at the Billboard Music Awards.^[13] She performed "Greedy" and "Exes" on December 9 at the O2 Arena for Jingle Bell Ball.^[14] On December 8, McRae released "Run for the Hills" as a promotional single, alongside an official music video. On December 12, McRae performed "Greedy" and "Exes" on Today^[15] and performed "Exes" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.^[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	70/100[17]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[18]
Clash	7/10[19]
DIY	[20]
Financial Times	[21]
The Guardian	[22]
Irish Examiner	[23]
NME	[24]
The Observer	[25]
Pitchfork	5.9/10[6]
The Telegraph	[26]

Think Later received a score of 70 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 10 critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.^[17] The Telegraph's Neil McCormick found that its "mix of trap grooves and synth balladry is perfectly of the moment, lacking the boldness of a truly original talent. Yet there is something appealing in the sweet melodies and sour attitude of a singer who sounds like she might actually be starting to enjoy herself".^[26] NME's Sophie Williams opined that the album is "somewhat remarkable for its evolutions in McRae's delivery and attitude" as it "continues to position [her] as a much more versatile prospect".^[24]

Michael Cragg of The Observer wrote that the album "feels like the perfect vehicle for mainstream ubiquity" as "songs such as 'Exes' and the rib-rattling title track continue down 'Greedy''s pop-R&B route, a melodic pocket that suits McRae's rapid-fire delivery".^[25] Otis Robinson of DIY felt that the album "doesn't come close to reinventing the wheel (or pop), but it does drench itself within a pop maximalism full of fuel, energy and modernity".^[20] Robin Murray of Clash judged that it is as if "by utilising collaboration she's learned to discover her own voice, through listening to other people's. A succinct 14-track demonstration of her palpable skills, Think Later presents Tate McRae in full 360".^[19]

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote that the "lyrics stick with the [...] bad boyfriends, bedroom-door-slamming angst and friendship group drama" and highlighted "Greedy", "Stay Done" and "Hurt My Feelings", but commented that they are "surrounded by a surfeit of songs that, while well made, feature melodies that always head where you'd expect – or try too hard". Petridis concluded that McRae is "fitting a lot of currently popular boxes without escaping them".^[22] Ed Power of the Irish Examiner called Think Later "a solid album. Yet it's easy to imagine edgier production bringing out the darkness roiling under tracks such as 'Cut My Hair' and 'Greedy'".^[23] Arwa Haider of the Financial Times felt that "at points, it does seem like she's trying on different parts for size (temptress; wounded lover; frenemy), but there's no doubting McRae's versatility, and she is always an engaging performer".^[21]

Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Jaeden Pinder described it as "full of homogeneous trap-pop ballads devoted to one-dimensional introspection" and remarked that it "feels anonymous: stuck romanticizing the negative in an attempt to prove her seriousness as a singer. Her music is strongest when she tosses the ballads in the bin."^[6]

Commercial performance

Think Later debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200, earning 66,000 album-equivalent units in its first week (consisting of 75.99 million on-demand streams and 8,000 pure album sales). This marked Tate's first top-ten album in the United States.^[27] In McRae's home country Canada, the album debuted at number three, making it McRae's second top-three album in the country.^[28]

The album also reached the top five in various countries such as Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart.^[29] Think Later also reached the top ten in the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland. The album reached its highest peak in Australia, where it peaked at number two.^[30]

Track listing

Think Later track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Cut My Hair"	Tate McRae Ryan Tedder Amy Allen Jasper Harris	Tedder Harris Grant Boutin[c]	2:55
2.	"Greedy"	McRae Tedder Allen Harris	Tedder Harris Boutin	2:12
3.	"Run for the Hills"	McRae Tedder Allen Harris Boutin	Tedder Harris Boutin[c]	2:23
4.	"Hurt My Feelings"	McRae Tedder Allen Harris Boutin	Tedder Harris Boutin	2:02
5.	"Grave"	McRae Brittany Amaradio Ido Zmishlany	Myles Avery[p] Luka Kloser[p] Zmishlany[v]	3:14
6.	"Stay Done"	McRae Tedder Allen	Tedder Andrew DeRoberts	2:51
7.	"Exes"	McRae Tedder Tyler Spry	Tedder Spry[p]	2:39
8.	"We're Not Alike"	McRae Amaradio Rob Bisel	Bisel	3:00
9.	"Calgary"	McRae Zmishlany	Thomas LaRosa Zmishlany	2:20
10.	"Messier"	McRae LaRosa Skyler Stonestreet	LaRosa	3:57
11.	"Think Later"	McRae Tedder Allen Harris	Tedder Harris Boutin Spry[a]	2:13
12.	"Guilty Conscience"	McRae Tedder Ilya Savan Kotecha Allen	Tedder Ilya Avery[a][v] Kloser[a][v]	2:32
13.	"Want That Too"	McRae Tedder Allen Harris Spry	Tedder Harris Harry Charles[a] Spry[v]	3:10
14.	"Plastic Palm Trees"	McRae Greg Kurstin Sarah Aarons	Kurstin Spry[a]	2:52
Total length:				38:16

Notes

• ^{^[p]} signifies a primary and vocal producer
• ^{^[c]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer
• ^{^[v]} signifies a vocal producer
• Physical editions of Think Later swap the positions of "Grave" and "Stay Done".

Personnel

Musicians

• Tate McRae – vocals
• Luka Kloser – programming, synthesizer (tracks 5, 12); guitar, keyboards, strings (5)
• Myles Avery – programming, synthesizer (tracks 5, 12); guitar, keyboards, strings (5)
• Tyler Spry – percussion, programming (tracks 7, 11); guitar, keyboards (7, 13, 14); synthesizer (7, 13), bass (7), strings (11), drums (14)
• Rob Bisel – bass, drums, guitar, synthesizer (track 8)
• Harry Charles – programming (tracks 13, 14); keyboards, strings (13); guitar (14)
• Ryan Tedder – programming (track 13)
• Greg Kurstin – bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, piano, synthesizer (track 14)

Technical

• Dave Kutch – mastering
• Manny Marroquin – mixing (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8)
• Josh Gudwin – mixing (tracks 4, 7, 9–11, 13, 14)
• Serban Ghenea – mixing (track 12)
• Rich Rich – engineering (tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 11–13)
• Davide Cinci – engineering (track 5)
• Tyler Spry – engineering (tracks 7, 13, 14)
• Rob Bisel – engineering (track 8)
• Thomas LaRosa – engineering (track 10)
• Bryce Bordone – engineering (track 12)
• Greg Kurstin – engineering (track 14)
• Julian Burg – engineering (track 14)
• Joe Henderson – editing (track 13)
• Chris Galland – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8
• Jeremie Inhaber – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8)
• Robin Florent – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8)
• Felix Byrne – engineering assistance (tracks 4, 7, 9–11, 13, 14)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Think Later Chart (2023–2024) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[30] 2 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[31] 13 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[32] 5 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[33] 44 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] 3 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[34] 10 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[35] 6 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[36] 12 French Albums (SNEP)[37] 41 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38] 33 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[39] 20 Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)[40] 33 Irish Albums (OCC)[41] 6 Italian Albums (FIMI)[42] 51 Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[43] 11 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[44] 4 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[45] 2 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[46] 22 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[47] 39 Scottish Albums (OCC)[48] 23 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[49] 21 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 4 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 8 UK Albums (OCC)[29] 5 US Billboard 200[52] 4

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Think Later Chart (2024) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[53] 49 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[54] 51 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[55] 22 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[56] 84 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[57] 56 French Albums (SNEP)[58] 140 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[59] 31 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[60] 95 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[61] 67 US Billboard 200[62] 52

Certifications

Certifications for Think Later

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[63]	Gold	10,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[64]	Platinum	40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[65]	Platinum	80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[66]	Gold	10,000‡
Hungary (MAHASZ)[67]	Gold	2,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[68]	Gold	18,600‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69]	Platinum	15,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[70]	Platinum	20,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[71]	Platinum	20,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[72]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[73]	Gold	100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[74]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for Think Later

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	December 8, 2023	CD digital download streaming	RCA	[2]
	February 16, 2024	LP