Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” provides a breath of fresh air for listeners
Sabrina Carpenter teased us with her hit single, “Espresso,” then hard launched her relationship with actor Barry Keoghan with her music video for “Please, Please, Please” and now, she has graced us with her sixth studio album “Short n’ Sweet,” which was released on Aug. 23.
Starting off strong, “Taste” is the perfect opening track for this album. Although petty, it is one of my favorites on “Short and Sweet.” The stark electric guitar at the beginning sets the lighthearted and playful tone of the album. I find that this song is very catchy but it is not yet overplayed.
My favorite part of this song is: “You can have him if you like/I’ve been there, done that once or twice/And singin’ ’bout it don’t mean I care/Yeah, I know I’ve been known to share,” I find that the flow from these lines to the chorus blend together perfectly.
“Please, Please, Please” is one of the more popular tracks on the album. It emphasizes the key theme of a messy relationship that she wants to keep under wraps, which is written in bold throughout the album. As synthesized piano plays in the background, Carpenter sings about how the public eye is questioning her taste in men. This song is not my favorite. The main part of the chorus being the same three words began to get a bit repetitive. I have noticed that her voice sounds slightly more autotuned in this track in particular.
“Sharpest Tool” is one of my other favorite songs on this album. It felt like a breath of fresh air from the upbeat rhythm in the background of “Please, Please, Please” to the now quiet guitar. I like that this song displayed the aptitude of her vocals by having lots of high notes. One of my favorite lines is “If that was casual, then I’m an idiot/I’m lookin’ for an answer in-between the lines/Lyin’ to yourself if you think we’re fine,” I like how she sped up this line when singing it. This song encapsulates what Carpenter has been trying to say under all of the upbeat lyrics. They keep running back to each other without acknowledging the hurt she has been put through.
As a whole, “Short n’ Sweet” is a great album. Its lyricism is sharp and witty and its choruses are catchy and memorable. Although this new aesthetic is different from her previous albums, I think that it fits her more and allows her to show off her vocals.
