Meghan Trainor, “Takin’ It Back.”

It’s been a couple of busy years for Meghan Trainor. She hosted a reality TV cooking show, launched a podcast and had her first child since 2020. On her fifth album, Takin’ It Back, Trainor largely sticks to what she knows. Through this 15-track offering, she dishes out self-love themes and harmony-laden pop tunes.

Trainor has solidified herself as a pop staple since 2014, blending 1950s Brill Building and modern-day pop on each of her previous albums, the most recent of which is 2020’s Treat Myself. This one’s no different.

Early in the album, “Made You Look” is full of prominent bass and brass that sounds straight out of her 2015 debut, Title. Layered harmonies fill in the rest of the track, displaying the strength of her often-underrated voice.

“Don’t I Make It Look Easy” is catchy despite relying heavily on percussion and an over-produced sound. There are some R&B elements here recalling her second and third albums, but for the most part, she’s returned to her roots in this piece. More focus on familiar melodies and composition leaves me enjoying the album with the understanding that I’ve heard this before from Meghan Trainor.

Loving yourself is a central theme of many of Trainor’s songs and that trend continues here. Luckily, the authenticity keeps it fresh. “While We’re Young” is a direct call-out to listeners who don’t feel good enough, advising them to embrace the opportunity to learn. Her advice on this breezy track is simple, “Make mistakes, give your heart a break.”

“Shook” is about how Trainor’s looks are enough to break necks and ruin composers. Hear rear end, one of her favorite assets to sing about, gets a callout. While some criticize her themes, songs like this are an instant mood lifter.

“Rainbow” is about coming out—of whatever closet you’re in—and accepting yourself for whoever you are. Starting as a slow piano ballad, it quickly transitions into a doo-wop tune. Another song that will put a smile on your face is “Lucky,” which as the title suggests, is all about how lucky someone else is to have you in their life. Another song in this vein is album opener “Sensitive,” which takes the presence of Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying literally—this is completely a cappella.

Both moments where Meghan Trainor deviates from expectation are refreshing. Perhaps the strongest track is the heartfelt “Bad For Me,” about close relationships that do more harm than good. “I know we’re blood/ But this love is bad for me,” she sings. The familial feel is different from the traditional toxic romantic relationship angle.

Swinging entirely in the opposite direction, Latin-flavored “Mama Wanna Mambo” is just about wanting to dance. Natti Natasha and Arturo Sandoval give it more of an authentic feel.

Takin’ It Back won’t surprise Meghan Trainor fans, but it checks all the boxes for listeners and makes for a solid pop album.

Follow writer Piper Westrom at Twitter.com/plwestrom.