Sabrina Carpenter has released yet another remarkable album, Short n’ Sweet. This album is her sixth studio album and was teased with two singles, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” The singles have been out for just a couple of weeks and have already accumulated four nominations from award shows, creating high expectations for Carpenter’s album. Deemed as ‘songs of the summer’ by Carpenter’s fans worldwide, many were excited to see what this album was all about.
Short n’ Sweet has 12 new songs, each unique but still consistent with an overall pop vibe. The album differs greatly from her previous release, Emails I Can’t Send, and shows terrific lyrical and musical growth. However, composers Amy Allen and Jack Antonoff’s production style makes some songs reminiscent of other artists they have worked with, such as Harry Styles and Gracie Abrams. This issue was also present in Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, with fans being disappointed by Antonoff’s overuse of synth—an electronic instrument used to create audio. In Short n’ Sweet, songs are heavily backed by synthesizers. Luckily, frequent riffs on an electric guitar and catchy drumbeats offset the potential overuse of synth effects. Moreover, the music allowed Carpenter to truly show off her vocal capabilities such as in tracks “Taste,” “Juno,” and “Sharpest Tool.”
Additionally, Carpenter continued the southern twang of “Please Please Please” in tracks “Coincidence” and “Slim Pickins.” Fans seemed to enjoy the country-sounding songs, which fit exceptionally well with Carpenter’s vocals. The songs stand out in the album and also hint at more country songs in the future.
Some songs, however, fall flat in my book, especially “Dumb and Poetic” and “Lie to Girls.” The tracks are slightly hidden behind other tracks that are objectively better musically as well as lyrically. Even then, the overall effort that was put into the album makes it difficult to critique certain tracks. Since the album’s release, some songs have grown on me, and many people online have also noted that the album has grown on them as well.
Overall, Short n’ Sweet exceeds my expectations. I was truthfully wary of the Jack Antonoff effect, and while it was evident in many tracks, the sheer talent that Carpenter possesses in her voice makes the album a standout in her discography. After listening to Short n’ Sweet and adding many songs to playlists, I am already looking forward to what Sabrina Carpenter will do next.
