With her playful manner, dad jokes, and suggestive language, Sabrina Carpenter’s new album “Short n’ Sweet,” perfectly encapsulates her flirty, feminine and fun aesthetic.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, her first album to do so with popularity gained as an opening act for Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.” Though many people count this as Carpenter’s sophomore album, it is actually her sixth studio album, however other than Short n’ Sweet and Emails I Can’t Send, her other albums were through a contract with Disney and didn’t gain as much momentum as her latest two. Like a lot of people I have been listening to
Short n’ Sweet nonstop as it’s both entertaining and frisky, yet thought-provoking.
The album starts with a song called “Taste” which is purportedly about singer Camilla Cabello and the drama surrounding her, Carpenter and Shawn Mendes. The song is a great album opener and exhibits everything Carpenter is known for. It is upbeat, spunky, and feisty while hinting at themes of betrayal. “Taste” is anticipated to be the third single of the album as it is now accompanied by an amazing music video starring Jenna Ortega.
The second song on the track list is “Please Please Please,” which was released as the second single before the full album was released.The song is also rumored to be about actor Barry Keoghan. The song explores the idea of having aromatic interest in someone though the person might not make the best decisions.
“Good Graces” is the third song on the track list and similar to “Taste,” has the same flirtatious appeal that Carpenter is known for. “Good Graces” exhibits ideas of not taking any disrespect in a relationship and warning a significant other to stay on her good side.
“Sharpest Tools” is the fourth song and a personal favorite of mine. It tells a story about how she comes to a realization that her relationship was more casual than she first thought, yet it keeps tugging her along and proceeds to never talk about the consequences of this and how it leaves her upset and looking for answers. This song breaks up the album and adds variety as the song is more melancholy than the albums mostly upbeat tone.
“Coincidence” is next up on the track list and returns to the playful vibe in comparison to “Sharpest Tool” yet is a continuation of the same theme. “Coincidence” seemingly mocks her ex saying it was a “coincidence” he ended up with other girls. This song is interesting because it explores a depressing topic but in a sassy, fiery tone.
“Bed Chem” is another favorite of mine, leaning into the more flirtatious side of Carpenter’s music. This song is about new-found love and it is rumored to be another track written about Barry Keoghan. This song is written more in an R&B-esque style in comparison to some of her more pop-like songs.
“Espresso” was the hit of the summer and the first single off the Short n Sweet album. This pop single was Carpenter’s first big sensation and deservingly so. It is catchy and overall just a fun listen.
“Dumb and Poetic” is the eighth track of the album and it has a completely different vibe. This is one of the saddest songs on the album as it encapsulates Carpenter reminiscing on what her and her ex used to be and how he fooled her into staying with him.
“Slim Pickins” is another masterpiece from the album and has a completely different tune from the usual pop and sad songs she previously wrote. “Slim Pickins” has a folk-song-esque vibe and goes through the themes of how for women in today’s world there aren’t many options when it comes to “good guys” and she ponders the idea of being alone rather than with someone she doesn’t love.
“Juno”, the tenth track is based on the movie Juno that came out in 2007. The song also references the Roman goddess Juno, of marriage and childbirth, as well.. The song explores the idea of what her life would be like in the movie. Overall, it is another typical Sabrina Carpenter song which is spunky, flirty, and upbeat.
“Lie to Girls” is the eleventh track of the album and again is a rare find as it is one of the few sad songs and leads the album into its melancholy ending. The themes of this song include the limits a girl will go through to find and keep a man and how girls will lie, cry, and go crazy for a man.
The final song of Short n Sweet is “Don’t Smile.” This song describes the aftermath of a breakup, which makes it the perfect ending to an album as the rest of the album is back and forth through feelings of love to hatred to depression, and this song brings the album to a great closure. Overall, the album as a whole is a masterpiece.
