She did it again! Our short pop bop queen Sabrina Carpenter just released one of the most anticipated pop albums of the year, and she did not disappoint. Has Ms.
Carpenter finally earned her spot in the pop hierarchy? In the first 72 hours within the albums release, I've lost count of how many times I've listened through it, so this is my fair warning that this album is about to be my personality for the next 4 weeks.
Taste - 9.5/10
I won't lie, I didn't even get 8 seconds in the song before I knew I was hooked. Electric guitars with a strong vocal front will never fail to make me fold, so out of all of these songs, this was an excellent track to have as the opener for your album. This California-y pop rock theme will be sprinkled throughout the record, a style that Carpenter is fitting as she as experimenting.
Oh, not to mention this music video – Jenna Ortega was the last person I would have guessed to be in it (I'm not complaining, though!). It's kind of a story MV, so I won't spoil much, but it's a must-watch!
Please Please Please - 8/10
If you haven't been hearing this song somewhere every day for the past 2 months, where have you been? This synth-y 80s beg has been an international favorite, doing the absolute MOST on the charts, as it was her 2nd-released single on the album. Sabrina dips her toe into the Southern twang trend that is taking the music industry by storm and this theme will be common throughout her record. “Heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another, I beg you don't embarrass me, [redacted]” was honestly so real and one of my favorite lyrics from the record. I give Carpenter her props for this one, it's great.
Good Graces - 10/10
I automatically knew this was gonna be my favorite one after my first listen, and I have yet to be proven wrong. The Latin guitar at the beginning and the infectious beat gives off a late 2010s vibe, a music era was one for the books.
The chorus is so catchy and fun, but my absolute favorite part of this song is the repeated “I won't give a [redacted] about you” immediately after the choruses. Going from a song begging a man to not embarrass her to essentially telling a man to not screw up and make her hate him, staying in her good graces, is such a power move and I'm so here for it.
Sharpest Tool - 4/10
This one was produced by none other than Jack Antonoff. He produces for Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey on the regular, so I was convinced I would like this one, but I really don't. This song doesn't really go anywhere in particular, and to my surprise, I wasn't the only who felt like this. After scrambling through many album reviews, not very many people could call this one their favorite, which made me feel 10 times better about my opinion.
Coincidence - 6/10
Bridge, bridge, BRIDGE! One thing that I love about Miss Carpenter is her fun and witty lyrics, this bridge being a textbook example. Other than the great bridge, this song is… okay.
It's giving summer camp firepit songs, which I don't think is negative, but it just threw me off a little. I definitely think this one had more potential, but that's just me.
Bed Chem - 9.5/10
I will not lie, I audibly screamed “AAATTTEEE!” in the first minute of the song, but I have no shame. This track reminds me a lot of Espresso, which is the very next track. You cannot tell me this song was not originally written for Ariana Grande, though.
I need that remix on the deluxe, immediately. Take notes, Miss Carpenter. This one was produced by Iain Kirkpatrick, who also produced “Taste”. This one is a keeper, Sabrina! The second verse has my favorite lyrics on the record. They're a little… interesting, so I won't be including them in this review to keep it PG, but they carry that same witty and corny lyric thing that I feel like Sabrina and ONLY Sabrina effortlessly accomplishes. Guys… I fear she devoured.
Espresso - 9/10
This song is that girl. Everyone's been working late cuz' they're a singer this summer, and I swear I've seen that picture of Sabrina in that dark denim dress with the white trim at the top more than I've seen my own mother. This song is literally all flirts and giggles, which I feel like everyone needs that every once in a while.
Whether you like it or not, this song is an instant classic and most likely our winner for SOTY. Is it that sweet? We guess so.
Dumb and Poetic - 7/10
I really didn't think I wouldn't like this one (guilty for judging books by their cover, whoopsie!), but this one is actually pretty good. I'm not one to enjoy slow songs a lot, but this one is just perfect. Short n' Sweet is literally an alto/mezzo-soprano's playground, this song in particular.
Dare I say it's the perfect slow song because it's not too long, and do NOT get me started on that riff at the very end. Such beautiful lyricism and emotion. Love it.
Slim Pickins - 7.5/10
Close enough, welcome back Kacey Musgraves. This song is very lyrically interesting, as Sabrina touches on how she thinks all men suck and how picky she is when it comes to dating, hence the the lyrics “Since the good ones are deceased or taken” and “And since the Lord forgot my gay awakenin'” (I literally did not think I heard that lyric right the first time, I re-winded it so fast). My favorite lyric, however, is “This boy doesn't even know the difference between ‘there’, ‘their’, and 'they're'".
Words of wisdom, Miss Carpenter. This track is really cute and I like it.
Juno - 6.5/10
This song went so many different directions within the the first 30 seconds. When I first hit play, I thought I was playing the intro of a Gilmore Girls episode. Then we switch to a coming-of-age movie type beat, very Netflix of her.
Then that Ariana Grande disco synth chorus. An interesting combination, Sabrina, but somehow it… works? And yes, this song is, in fact, referencing the 2000s teen pregnancy movie. This is an interesting (but not bad) track! Pop off.
Lie to Girls - 5.5/10
Another Jack Antonoff and… whoopsie! This may not be my favorite one either. One thing that made me raise my eyebrow, though, was the “We love to mistake butterflies for cardiac arrest!” spoken lyric.
As contradicting as it may sound (if you know about these two), it's very Olivia Rodrigo-esque. Just an observation, though. It will say, it is very serenading and easy to listen to.
Don't Smile - 8.5/10
This might be the most hated on track on the album, which completely baffled me. It's a beautiful song to close out the record, hence my favorite lyrics “Don't smile because it happened, baby, cry because it's over” with Sabrina's hypnotizing vocal stackings. OMG, if SZA is put on this track on the deluxe… just consider me deceased.
Also, this is a really nice beat? Y'know, I think people will appreciate this song more once she goes on tour and starts performing it. I can just see the that electric guitar being more pronounced and the emotion of the song being more present.
What's Next???
It's not long before our singer starts her North American and European tour. I did not manage to get a ticket because the prices were so… interesting! (thanks Ticketmaster, but I'd rather keep my arms and legs). She's making her way around, though!
I can't wait to see what the tour hold for her, whether that's super fun outfits, goofy outros, or those 8 inch platforms that she somehow can defies the laws of physics with. This album was one for the books and I can't wait to see the numbers it's going to do!
