The Second Act (album)
| The Second Act | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 6 September 2024 | |||
| Length | 47:26 | |||
| Label | Eleven | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Missy Higgins chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Second Act | ||||
The Second Act is the sixth studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins. The album was released on 6 September 2024 through Eleven: A Music Company.
Upon announcement of the album in April 2024, Higgins called the album as "a kind of sequel" to her debut The Sound of White, released twenty years ago to the day.[2] About the two albums, Higgins said "They're both looking forward nervously and wondering what comes next. They're both asking questions like 'who am I?' and 'who do I want to be?'".[5] In September 2025 Higgins added "There aren't that many albums written from the perspective of parents, particularly single parents. [it captures] the kind of grief that comes with that, and the sense of responsibility and guilt."[6]
The album was shorted listed for Best LP/EP at the 2025 Rolling Stone Australia Awards.[7]
Singles
"You Should Run" was released on 23 February 2024 as the album's lead single. Higgins described the song as "an intensely personal song". Mary Varvaris from The Music called the song "emotional" and "powerful"[1] while Ali Hill from 91.7 called it "heart-breaking".[8]
"The Second Act" was released on 5 April 2024 as the album's second single. The single reflects on life after a painful divorce.[9] Higgins said the song is about "picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and heading out into the world."[2]
"A Complicated Truth" was released on 19 July 2024 as the album's third single. The song sees Higgins explaining to her daughter the reasons she and her dad don't live together anymore.[3]
"Craters" was released on 6 September 2024 alongside the full album as its fourth single. The song explores grief, its visibility to others and the lasting effects on life.[4]
Reception
Bryget Chrisfield from Beat Magazine descried the album as "raw, emotional and soothing".[10] The Australian called it Higgins' "rawest album to date – both with regards to its extremely personal subject matter, and its pared-back and primarily solo piano-based songs."[11] Al Newstead from Double J called it "One of the most quietly profound, nuanced break-up albums you'll ever hear."[12]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Missy Higgins.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Should Run" | 3:54 |
| 2. | "A Complicated Truth" | 5:05 |
| 3. | "When 4 Became 3" | 4:18 |
| 4. | "Craters" | 3:15 |
| 5. | "The In-Between" | 4:26 |
| 6. | "The Second Act" | 3:39 |
| 7. | "Don't Make Me Love You" | 3:54 |
| 8. | "The Broken Ones" | 4:16 |
| 9. | "Story for the Ages" | 4:56 |
| 10. | "Hush Now" | 4:53 |
| 11. | "Blue Velvet Dress" | 4:50 |
| Total length: | 47:26 | |
Personnel
- Missy Higgins – vocals, production, engineering
- Brendon Love – production (tracks 1, 4–7, 9–11)
- Anna Laverty – production (tracks 2, 3, 8)
- Nao Anzai – mastering, mixing
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2024) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Artist Albums (ARIA)[14] | 14 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Catalogue | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 6 September 2024 | CD, digital download | Eleven | 6525128 | [5] |
| Vinyl | 6525129 | [15] |
References
- ^ a b "Missy Higgins Adds New Shows To 'The Second Act' Australian Tour". The Music. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Missy Higgins Is Ready for Her Second Act, Announces New Album". Rolling Stone Australia. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Missy Higgins Reveals 'A Complicated Truth'". Rolling Stone Australia. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Missy Higgins Releases New Album 'The Second Act' 20 Years After Groundbreaking Debut". Rolling Stone Australia. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ a b "The Second Act". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Missy Higgins Talks America, 'The Second Act' and the Healing Powers of Music". Billboard. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "2025 Rolling Stone Australia Awards: Longlist Revealed". Rolling Stone Australia. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Listen to Missy Higgins' heart-breaking new single 'You Should Run'". 917 The Wave. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Missy Higgins drops new single 'Second Act' ahead of album release". Kix Country. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Raw, emotional and soothing: The Second Act sees Missy Higgins mourn a marriage gone cold". Beat Magazine. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Missy Higgins exorcises divorce demons on The Second Act". The Australian. September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Missy Higgins The Second Act". Double J (radio station). 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Australian Artist Albums for 2024" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "The Second Act (Orange Vinyl)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 5 May 2024.