Hi all! 

Today I am breaking down/ranking the tracks from Hilary Duff’s new album: Luck…Or Something. I am thrilled to announce, I have tickets to see her in October! I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager and her comeback so far has been wildly successful. After an almost 11 year hiatus, Hilary has returned with plenty to say. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

LUCK…OR SOMETHING

I understand the significance of the title ‘Luck…Or Something’, however, I feel like the album should’ve been titled ‘Mature.’ This entire record is so honest, raw and vulnerable. To put it plainly, it’s for the adults. Hilary addresses her estranged relationship with her sister and father, her insecurities surrounding her marriage, reflections of the past but also fears of the future and more. It’s deeply relatable. Some songs, like The Optimist, hit a little too close to home for me. On an even more personal level, Hilary co-wrote and produced the album with her husband, Matthew Koma. I commend her bravery for sharing her deepest, innermost thoughts with the world. Some of her admissions relate to her partner, and yet, it’s all part of the creative process. She waited almost a decade before stepping back into music and I’m glad she did. This project only works when you have wisdom, maturity and years of experience to reflect upon. I have no doubt it will remain one of my favourite album releases of 2026. 

TRACK RANKING/BREAKDOWN

1.) Weather For Tennis 

My favourite song from the album is Weather For Tennis – her third lead single. I love the lyrics, upbeat production and meaning. It has a very clever track title. Essentially, Hilary is preparing herself for yet another argument with her partner. The metaphor of a tennis match works perfectly here. They keep going back and forth, but to no end. From what I’ve gathered, her husband is quite stubborn; unwilling to give up the fight, even when he’s in the wrong. Hilary, on the other hand, is a peacekeeper. She doesn’t enjoy engaging in petty quarrels. It’s relatable. All couples bicker at times. I can’t wait to sing along to this one at the concert!

Favourite lyric: “Keep the peace. ‘Cause I’m a kid of divorce. And you’re the starter of wars.”

2.) Roommates

Next is her second lead single: Roommates. It sounds similar to Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift. Once you hear it, you won’t be able to unhear it. Like Weather For Tennis, this is another super relatable song about being in a long-term relationship. The lyrics are much more adult than anything Hilary has sung about before. In essence, she wants to be back at the beginning again, when she didn’t need to ask for intimacy from her husband. As a married couple, she feels more like roommates than lovers. She keeps trying to get his attention in a sexual manner, but he’s no longer looking. I think this track is more of a future fear of hers, rather than a reality. Having said that, it’s familar. I really appreciate the raw honesty. The way the chorus hits really scratches an itch. 

Favourite lyric: “I only want the beginning, I don’t want the end.”

3.) The Optimist

This song breaks me every single time I listen to it. As mentioned above, sadly, I can relate to having a terrible father. There is such a dreamy quality to the production but the lyrics are deeply vulnerable. Hilary croons about a fantasy world, where her dad returns, apologising for disappointing her. She admits the door is still open, should he ever decide to be part of her life. There’s a hopefulness to it that really pulls at the heartstrings. It’s wishful thinking for something that will likely never be. Even if you haven’t experienced the same pain, you’ll still be able to feel the emotion.

Favourite lyric: “I wish I could sleep on planes. And that my father would really love me.”

4.) Mature

In fourth place, I have her first lead single – Mature. In this song, she reflects on a significant age-gap fling from her past. Only now, as a woman and mother to a daughter herself, can she see just how problematic it was. Her former flame justified their situationship by saying she was very mature for her age. What seemed so flattering at the time, now feels wrong. It was predatory behaviour. There is a theory she is referring to Leonardo DiCaprio. Rumour has it, they had a secret relationship years ago. Leo is a Scorpio and she sings: “very Leo of you with your Scorpio touch.”  It would also be quite relevant to today, considering his penchant for 25-year- olds. Mature was the perfect way to kick off her album!

Favourite lyric: “Very Leo of you with your Scorpio touch.”

5.) Tell Me That Won’t Happen

In fifth place, we have Tell Me That Won’t Happen. Out of all the tracks related to her marriage, this one is the most vulnerable. Don’t let the upbeat pop production fool you. Hilary is genuinely concerned her marriage won’t go the distance. She worries he may want someone new someday. She frets that she may no longer feel any excitement toward him. When it’s the same person, day-in and day-out, things can become stagnant. All of the ‘firsts’ are gone and what’s left is the familiar. That may work for some but Hilary is scared it won’t for her husband. I sound like a broken record but all of these songs are so relatable, real and honest. She shares so many thoughts/feelings many of us are scared to say aloud. I’m really proud of her.

Favourite lyric: “Are we eighty years proof? Are we really immune?”

6.) Growing Up 

The generation of today won’t understand the interpolation in this song and that makes me sad. Milennial listeners, like myself, will clock the reference immediately. Hilary has taken the chorus from Blink 182’s ‘Dammit,’ yet changed the lyrics to suit her own reality. It’s a track about wanting to feel young again, chosen family, friendships and aging. As a woman in her late 30’s, Growing Up takes me back to a time and place. It reminds me that there are many more good moments to come, as long as I have the right people by my side to share them with.

Favourite lyric: “How do you stay on your family’s side. When no one shows and nobody cares?”

7.) …We Don’t Talk

Fans were hoping Hilary would open up about her estranged relationship with her sister, Haylie Duff and in this track, she does. Something I noticed immediately on first listen, was that it samples ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ by Gotye. That makes sense given the nature of the song. It has such a melancholy sound. It would appear Haylie decided to remove herself from her sister’s shadow, without an explanation as to why. Even Hilary doesn’t know why they don’t speak. Nevertheless, her sibling’s absence is felt super strongly. They used to be so close and now, they don’t talk about anything, anymore. I hope Haylie listens to this one and reconnects with Hilary someday.

Favourite lyric: “And if it’s ’cause your jealous. God knows I would sell it all. Then break you off the bigger half.”

8.) Future Tripping

Future Tripping is a huge fan-favourite song. It’s definitely growing on me! It has the most fun, lighthearted production of any track on the album. Hilary sings about her intrusive thoughts; standing in the way of her living in the present moment. She is worried about things that haven’t happened yet. Relatable! I feel very attacked by this number. My anxiety definitely gets the better of me at times. Watch this one climb to my top 5! 

Favourite lyric: “Frozen in tomorrow vision. Here today but kinda missing out.”

9.) Adult Size Medium 

Adult Size Medium is the closing track of the album. A perfect way to end such a phenonemal record. The reason it’s lower on my ranking, is the production. I don’t really like the synth sounds in the verses. What I do love is the message. It’s about time passing without knowing it. Suddenly, Hilary is an adult, with a different figure and emerging grey hairs. She’s trying to reclaim her youth, yet grateful for the life she has. She ends the song saying it must be ‘luck…or something’ – the title of the album. It’s a positive, heartwarming conclusion to such a vulnerable body of work. 

Favourite lyric: “There’s some greyish highlights. Reminding me that nobody runs faster than time. It’s heartbreaking and reassuring.”

10.) You, From The Honeymoon 

In second last place, I have You, From The Honeymoon. Like Future Tripping, this song is also growing on me. It’s super dreamy. Having said that, it doesn’t really tell us anything new. Similar to Roommates, she wants the beginning with her husband again. Not in a sexual sense – more in a romantic sense. The title could refer to their actual honeymoon or the ‘honeymoon’ phase. Either way, Hilary admits those were the better days. She preferred that version of her husband. I’m impressed he was comfortable with her sharing so many of their marital issues – normal as they are. 

Favourite lyric: “Where you’re emotionally gentle. Without the sleeping pills or benzos.”

11.) Holiday Party

My least favourite song on the album is Holiday Party and it’s mainly due to the opening production notes. They are so jarring. My autistic brain doesn’t like it. Even some of the lyrics are startling. She croons: “in my head, you live another life. Where you fuck all my friends and wish someone else could’ve been your wife.” As written many times in this post, I appreciate her honesty but I do feel that part could’ve been worded a little differently. Like Tell Me That Won’t Happen, she’s terrified her husband will want someone new. She envisions him chatting up a pretty, young thing at the holiday party. I doubt he could ever find someone as gorgeous as Hilary but that doesn’t help someone with this level of insecurity. She recognises her intrusive thoughts are getting better of her and apologises for allowing them in. It’s catchy but not a track I reach for. 

Favourite lyric: “I’m back at it again questioning my belief in a good guy.”

Thank you so much for reading! Do you like Luck…Or Something?

Peace & Love xoxo