Sabrina Carpenter released her highly-anticipated album titled “Short n’ Sweet” on Aug. 23. Having taken the internet by storm with her two pre-release singles, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” Carpenter’s sixth studio album became one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Similar to Carpenter’s previous album, “Emails I Can’t Send,” Carpenter’s most well-known album, “Short n’ Sweet,” is a collection of glances into a complicated, romantic relationship with catchy beats and playful lyrics.
The album begins with “Taste,” an upbeat, trendy song that has caught the attention of many fans with its music video featuring actress Jenna Ortega. Carpenter puts her spin on the feelings of déjà vu after ending a relationship by lightheartedly discussing her impact on her past significant other during their time together. While it grabs the listeners’ attention with its cheerful rhythm, a much deeper message underlies Carpenter’s unique storytelling and how she uses the lyrics as an asset to her overall narrative. By placing “Taste” in the beginning, Carpenter demonstrates the main strengths of the album – its catchy melody mixed with playful yet emotional lyrics – and foreshadows the ending of the story she will narrate in the rest of the album. In “Please Please Please,” the second song on the tracklist, Carpenter begins the narrative by stating her hopes for a stable, healthy relationship despite her lover’s infamous reputation. Her solemn, desperate tone and effective musical production collectively gather the listener’s attention and successfully deliver its intended raw feelings.
Listeners experience the different stages of Carpenter’s relationship throughout the album, which concludes with bittersweet tracks, “Lie to Girls” and “Don’t Smile,” both of which focus on heartbreaking lyricism rather than melodic beats. “Lie to Girls” is a vulnerable ballad where Carpenter somberly reflects on her relationship. The song is a touching acknowledgment of the story told throughout the entire album, acting as closure to her relationship. While the rest of the album also has a unique take on emotions typically demonstrated through music, Carpenter’s vocals add another layer of intensity to this song, pulling listeners deeper into the story. The album transitions to “Don’t Smile,” which ends the album with a sentimental conclusion to her heartbreaking narrative.
One aspect of this album that is lacking is its generic production. Other than the three singles, the rest of the songs fail to leave a lasting impact on the listener due to their flat, indistinguishable melodies. Instead of enhancing the lyrics and her vocals with layered instruments, the songs fall into the curse of blending into each other. However, Carpenter’s distinct lyricism, trendy beats and angelic vocals create an exciting listening experience that lives up to the hype of her previous success, “Emails I Can’t Send,” continuing her iconic era with similar aesthetics and themes. Overall, the album marks a significant milestone for Carpenter’s career and is short and sweet.
