After a long two years, Sabrina Carpenter finally released her sixth album, “Short ‘n Sweet,” on August 23. Everyone has probably heard her recent singles, “Please Please Please” and “Espresso” a million times already, but they are not the star of the show on the album. Carpenter does a fantastic job creating loaded lyrics, catchy choruses, and beautiful bridges. Her voice only continues to evolve with every release, and its showcase in this album is another type of ear candy. The pop album has received loads of positive feedback, even from those at the school. “Honestly, one of the best pop albums, and it deserved to hit number one!” said Nema Chappelle, a junior at Quartz Hill High School. Carpenter’s twelve-song tracklist varies from light-hearted and peppy to moody and calm.
“Please Please Please” and “Espresso,” although both excellent and catchy, have become overplayed by many listeners and are not the main event of the album. From showing up on almost everyone’s Spotify shuffles to TikToks and Instagram posts, ears have grown tired of hearing it. The music videos of the two songs caught people’s attention with the feature of the pop star’s new boyfriend, Barry Keoghan.
“Taste,” the first off of the roster, is a major fan favorite, accompanied by a music video featuring Jenna Ortega. The song sounds fun and light, but the lyrics tell a different story. The strong instrumentals paired with her airy voice make a lovely song that, like many pop songs, insults her ex-boyfriend. Jenna Ortega’s feature in the music video blew up, alongside the references to popular drama and horror movies, including Death Becomes Her and Kill Bill. The other fan favorite so far has been “Bed Chem,” a song about the star’s current boyfriend that glorifies him and their acquaintance. The music is sweet and uses wordplay pointed out by tons of fans already.
My favorites from the album are “Slim Pickins and “Juno,” two amazing tracks from the singer that showcase her vocal range and lyrical ability. The bridge of “Juno,” especially, is a standout that works beautifully with her voice. The acoustic guitar and electronic beats blend well, creating a playful song overall. The references to movies and mythology ring true throughout her album, with Juno referencing the Roman god of fertility and childbirth for obvious reasons. “Slim Pickins,” on the other hand, is a more straightforward song in production with Carpenter’s sweet vocals. The ballad puts more value on her voice, focusing on the lyrics and the song’s meaning rather than how it sounds. Her southern twang in the song is also unique, which mainly stands out.
The pop album will likely be one of her best releases yet. Carpenter’s range in the album with both themes and production has made her stand out from other competitors in the industry. Fans of other artists have found love for her music due to shared producers, such as Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift, or shared themes from music in songs like “Good Graces,” thought to be made for Ariana Grande fans due to the close relationship between the two singers. Her music keeps improving and everyone is excited to see her next releases.
