Sabrina Carpenter’s news album short n’ sweet finally dropped on August 23, after a summer of bubbling anticipation. Filled with some incredibly high highs, it’s easy to see why this album has exploded into the cultural phenomenon it has.
Carpenter has had massive success with the album but I do feel it’s more of an album you need to let digest as opposed to being an instant no skip album. While it is an incredible album, I wouldn’t say it’s no skip.
The Pros
The album contains some career highlights for Carpenter, embracing the fun, flirty persona she’s become known for. After all, blondes do have more fun. Bed Chem, Coincidence and Taste all highlight the high points this album is more than capable of achieving.
The album is definitely the highlight of Carpenter’s career so far and truly highlights just how talented she is. After she blew up at the beginning of the year, she has developed into one of the biggest names in the current pop sphere. All summer was spent with Espresso on repeat, followed closely by a similar blow up from please please please.
The album leads us over a wide scope of genres, from upbeat pop in the opening track, right to the slow 80s feeling of her final song on the album. Carpenter’s voice fits flawlessly in every genre and she seems to have taken inspiration from the style of many other female artists before her.
Good Graces remind me of Ariana Grande’s Positions, Taste echoes of Doja Cat and Slim Pickings and Sharpest Tool are similar to early Taylor Swift, singing sad songs with nothing but vocals and a guitar.
All of this is due to Carpenter’s other talent. Her ability to market. She has what every single artist wants- a funny, relatable social media presence which frankly makes people like her, not just the music.
Her fun personality then carries on into the lyrics with things like Come right on me / I mean camaraderie and pop culture references only understood by listeners sealing the deal.
And The (Minimal) Cons
The album however isn’t perfect. I find myself skipping songs such as Lie To Girls, Don’t Smile and Dumb and Poetic, all of which are the rare slower, sadder songs on the album. While Carpenter can do sadder songs- Slim Pickings and Sharpest Tool are prime examples of how good they can be- Her strong suit definitely does lie with the more upbeat songs.
Carpenter, after the whirlwind of the past year with opening for Taylor Swift in November 2023, an EP, Fruitcake releasing in December 2023, constant features in news articles, new relationship, international success with Espresso, all leading up to the climax of the album release. This was then followed by winning a VMA and a documentary with netflix. Sabrina Carpenter’s career is far from over- in fact, she’s only just beginning.
Listen to the full album here
Feature image creidts @SabrinaAnnLynn/ X
A second year student studying Journalism and film, with a love for all things music and horror
