Charli XCX’s latest musical adventure, Brat, is a wild ride propelling her to heights in the pop music playground. With a mixtape of pop, punk, and hyperpop that’s as unique as her wardrobe, Charli serves up songs that are as catchy as they are confessional.
Charli XCX, the UK sensation, has been the life of pop’s party since her debut, penning high-energy hits for others like Icona Pop‘s “I Love It” and Iggy Azalea‘s “Fancy,” while channeling her most audacious and cutting-edge ideas into her acclaimed albums, including the recent 2022 release, Crash. With her sixth album, Brat, she pushes boundaries further, partying harder and staying out later. As she whirls across the dance floor, she confronts a whirlwind of insecurities and fears looming in the quiet aftermath of the night’s revelry.
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Brat is like a musical mood swing, zipping from one extreme to another, all aboard the party pop Express. Full of diva swagger, it kicks off with “360″ and “Club Classics,” a set of bangers that drops names like they’re hot potatoes—Gabbriette, Julia Fox, Hudson Mohawke, beau George Daniel, and wingman A. G. Cook. These tracks are nostalgic nods to those old-school club bangers that just want you to let loose and bust a move.
“Sympathy Is a Knife” slices through the noise, laying bare her emotional chaos. The track conveys her inner fears, whispering doubts of self-worth. Receiving sympathy somehow twists the knife deeper, making the comfort sting. Then, in “Rewind,” she airs her insecurities, from her appearance to her fame and even her chart-topping hits. “So I” finds her grappling with the loss of her friend and collaborator, Sophie, expressing regret for not embracing Sophie’s formidable talent and candid feedback more closely during their time together.
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“Girl, So Confusing” dives into the quirky world of pop star frenemies. Charli spills the tea on a complex bond with another songstress, singing, “You’re all about writing poems/But I’m about throwing parties.” While she tips her hat to “Mean Girls” elsewhere on the album, this tune extends a peace offering despite sharing zilch with her enigmatic counterpart.
The album wraps up with a bang, featuring two standout tracks. “I Think About It All the Time” is a stunning ballad that delves into the uncertainties of future motherhood, leaving us pondering the perfect timing for such a life-changing endeavor. Then, as if having an epiphany that she doesn’t hold all the answers, we’re whisked away to “365,” a track that turns the album into a non-stop dance party. It’s as if she’s inviting us to join her in a cheeky, spirited banter, “Shall we do a little key?/Shall we have a little line?”
Charli XCX’s latest musical adventure, Brat, is a wild ride propelling her to new heights in the pop music playground. With a mixtape of pop, punk, and hyperpop that’s as unique as her wardrobe, Charli serves up songs that are as catchy as they are confessional. Diving into lyrics that shout out to self-love, rebel yells, and heart-on-sleeve moments, all set to tunes that’ll stick like bubblegum, this album is a sonic experiment that’s paid off. Teaming up with fellow trailblazers, Brat is a patchwork of genius that flexes Charli’s musical muscles and plants her flag firmly as a leader of the cool kids’ table in music town.
