Singer Sabrina Carpenter seems to have brought back “real pop music.” Beginning as a Disney child star, she released her first studio album in 2014. More recently, Carpenter gained popularity from her last album, “emails I can’t send,” consisting of the hit songs “Feather” and “Nonsense.” This year, Carpenter released two massive hits featured on her sixth studio album “Short n’ Sweet,” an ode to the short relationships she felt have affected her greatly, she told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. 

Taste: 10/10

“Taste” is truly the best opening track of a pop album I have heard thus far. It perfectly entices listeners and gives them a strong first impression of the album due to the incredible build-up to the chorus, which is not only well-written but memorable. Prior to listening to this track, I assumed it would be a typical one of Carpenter’s hilarious and suggestive tracks—but the song is actually about a woman who got back together with an ex-boyfriend of Carpenter, who the woman has had an off-and-on relationship with. I enjoyed this angle more, especially because of how the music video turned out and the references to a variety of horror films, making actress Jenna Ortega an impeccable choice for the star. My favorite parts of the track have to be the bass throughout the song, as well as the bridge. Her voice begins very delicate but gets stronger and stronger as the bridge finishes, where she also includes a laugh which is a perfect element to add. Overall, this song is a masterpiece and has been on repeat constantly. It was made for teenage girls to scream in the car and sing with a hairbrush as a microphone. 

Please Please Please: 7/10

“Please Please Please” is one of the two singles Carpenter released for “Short n’ Sweet,” but I must say I did not enjoy it at first. Centering around a relationship disapproved by many, Carpenter begs her significant other to not mess up the relationship and prove her worst nightmare: she actually should not be with him. The intro reminds me of 1980s music, which added to the vibes of her music video starring her boyfriend Barry Keoghan. The music video was iconic and the lyrics are relatable to many women, which is great marketing-wise, as multiple parts of the song are trending on TikTok. This track is very fun to sing along to because of the creative lyricism in all the verses and the bridge. The lyrics “All I’m asking baby,” display the innocence in the relationship, but my favorite lyrics, “Heartbreak is one thing/ my ego’s another/ I beg you don’t embarrass me mother f**ker,” show a distinct contrast of assertiveness Carpenter displayed. Carpenter closes out the track by singing “Please please please” multiple times displaying her desperation. Overall, this song deserves to be trending and was a good choice for a single, but the other songs on the album outshine this track. 

Good Graces: 10/10

“Good Graces” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, strongly reminiscent of Carpenter’s song “Feather” on her album “emails I can’t send.” The track instantly reminds me of older music by singer Ariana Grande, mostly because of the chorus which is very catchy and perfect to sing along and dance to. Additionally, Carpenter impressively switches up the way she sings throughout the song while still managing to keep the same vibe. I absolutely love when she talks during the song instead of singing, more specifically the ad-libs “I won’t give a f**k about you.” This track somehow felt nostalgic and recognizable, despite being a new track. I think this could have also been a great single to release other than “Please Please Please,” as this track has trending and “song of the summer” potential. 

Sharpest Tool: 8/10

The track “Sharpest Tool” is a play off the saying “not the sharpest tool in the shed.” While listening to this track, I was reminded of one of Carpenter’s songs in “emails I can’t send,” called “skinny dipping.” In this track, the storytelling is apparent and clear, which I find difficult in some songs because the music overbears the lyrics. The track begins with a guitar, giving the song an acoustic and delicate feel, but as it progresses, the chorus shifts the gears into synths. I was unsure about how I felt about this shift at first, but as I continued listening I appreciated how it affected the overall impact of the song. The lyrics, “We were going right, then you took a left/ Left me with a lot of sh*t to second guess/ Guess I’ll waste another year, I’m wondering if/ If that was causal, then I’m an idiot,” are structured beautifully as the last lyric of each line is reused in the first lyric of the following line, making them feel more rushed and panicky. Lyrically, I think this song is beautiful and heart-wrenching, but I found myself bored about two minutes into the song as it felt repetitive. 

Coincidence: 8/10

“Coincidence” is very strong in storytelling. The track begins with a countdown and consists of banjos, guitars and chants. Describing an unexpected love triangle in a new relationship, Carpenter showcases a country feel and impressive vocals, especially with the lyrics, “And you’ve lost all your common sense,” where she hits a higher note while elongating the words “lost all.” She then leads into the chorus by singing, “What a coincidence,” perfectly structuring the track. The bridge is my personal favorite part, as Carpenter uses clever lyrics to display how her boyfriend was lying to her. Her vocals are incredibly strong as well as the ad-libs throughout the song. Overall, I appreciated the difference in style of this track compared to her other music, but I would not choose to listen to it constantly. However, I can envision it growing on me over time and becoming a favorite. 

Bed Chem 10/10: 

“Bed Chem” truly exceeded my expectations. Reminiscent of “Nonsense” on “emails I can’t send,” the song is both comical and the epitome of pop music. As the track began, I was instantly reminded of summer. The chorus was incredibly catchy, I had the song stuck in my head all day. Carpenter is known for her “out of pocket” and hilariously suggestive music, and she has once again hit the standard and did not disappoint. Every aspect of this song is perfect, it was difficult for me to pick a favorite part but the pre-chorus and second verse stood out to me the most. The lyrics “Where art thou?/ Why not uponeth me?” are extremely creative and memorable—I would not be surprised if this part begins to trend on TikTok. 

Espresso: 8/10

“Espresso” was a single released in April, which was instantly on the charts. It was known as the “song of the summer,” and I must agree. Multiple parts of this song were trending on TikTok because of Carpenter’s clever and catchy lyricism. The track is the epitome of confidence, which makes it incredibly fun to sing along to and blast in the car. The way she compares addiction to espresso to men’s addiction to her energy is flawless. Despite it being an immaculate track, I would have hoped for it to be separate from the album and simply be a single.  

Dumb & Poetic: 8.5/10

“Dumb & Poetic” is one of Carpenter’s more emotional songs on the album, which I appreciate. This song is much slower, showcasing a sense of vulnerability throughout the track. For most of the track, the lyricism was beautiful and poetic, although there were a couple of instances where I felt a lyric did not flow very well. My favorite part of the song has to be the chorus, although it is short. The lyrics, “Don’t think you understand/ Just ‘cause you talk like one doesn’t make you a man,” say a great deal and make a huge impact with just a few words. This track can be relatable for many people, but I don’t think I would listen to this song much compared to the rest of the album, even as one who loves emotional and vulnerable music. 

Slim Pickins: 9/10

“Slim Pickins” once again brings the country feel back to the album. Based on settling for men even though they aren’t worth it, Carpenter was successfully able to coexist her personal style with the young, high school, country vibes present in the song. This is mainly done with the guitar, the motif of the lord and the way she enunciates her words. This song is extremely relatable to many women who feel as if they can never find “the one” and have to settle for someone who is rude or stupid. My favorite part has to be the second verse, especially because of the lyrics, “This boy doesn’t even know/ The difference between ‘there,’ ‘there’ and ‘they’re/ Yet he’s naked in my room.” Although the lyrics are silly, they perfectly encapsulate the high school feeling of simply being surrounded by immature people. This style of music fits with Carpenter’s voice and I think she should continue to create music similar to this. 

Juno: 10/10

As soon as the tracklist for this album came out I was sure “Juno” would be my favorite—and I was correct. Perfectly creating the summer feel, Carpenter describes the intimate side of a relationship with someone through hilarious references. The lyrics in the chorus, “If you love me right, then who knows?/ I might let you make me Juno/ You know,” seem to be a reference to the film “Juno,” a beloved comedy centered around an unplanned pregnancy. She takes this a step further with the lyrics, “One of me is cute, but two though/ Give it to me baby.” Along with this, the bridge is hilarious as she sings extremely suggestive things in an innocent and delicate voice. Although all portions of this song are perfect, I particularly enjoyed the instrumental break because I was able to appreciate the music, especially the bass. 

Lie To Girls: 8/10

“Lie To Girls” is another one of Carpenter’s more vulnerable songs on the album. With a slower and more emotional feel, the track is fairly similar to “Please Please Please,” as it centers around Carpenter convincing herself his actions are not “red flags.” It was also reminiscent of “decode” on “emails I can’t send.” Throughout this song Carpenter’s voice is extremely delicate and beautiful, showing her fragility in the situation. I thoroughly enjoyed the backing vocals and the incorporation of synths as the song progressed as these simply added to the beauty of it. This track may be my favorite lyrically, especially with the chorus and the lyrics, “I’m stupid but I’m clever.” Many women can relate to this track, whether it is for a significant other or friend. I particularly appreciate the outro as it gets stronger and stronger as it progresses, then suddenly stops—it is an amazing artistic choice. 

Don’t Smile: 10/10.

“Don’t Smile” is the closing track of the album. Opening with piano, it suddenly shifts to a synth-based backtrack and then leads to Carpenter singing with an echoey voice. The echoey voice makes the track feel reminiscent, which is flawless because of the lyrics, “Don’t smile because it happened baby/ Cry because it’s over.” Carpenter alters the original Dr. Seuss quote, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened,” to showcase how much she misses the relationship. I found this track extremely creative and enjoyable especially because of the music throughout the song and the instrumental in the outro. I also loved how Carpenter incorporated the lyrics, “I want you to miss me,” to display her desperation in between lyrics in the chorus. Her delicate and impressive vocals throughout the track bring the song together, and strongly reminds me of music by singer Kali Uchis, in the best way possible. 

In conclusion, “Short n’ Sweet” is one of the best albums I have heard thus far. As someone who grew up listening to Sabrina Carpenter, I have witnessed her music style mature in the best way possible and the hype for the album is well deserved. Carpenter told Variety in an interview she considers the album her second “big girl album,” and I whole-heartedly agree. Ever since “emails I can’t send,” Carpenter has been creating huge hits, and has the entire world, including me, craving more music. The tracks in this album work well together without being too similar to each other and seeming repetitive, making “Short n’ Sweet” worth the listen.