Is It That Sweet?: Reviewing Sabrina Carpenter’s New Album ‘Short n’ Sweet’ by ISABELLA CARLOW

Sabrina Carpenter has arguably become a worldwide sensation with her summer hit Espresso and the 70’s nostalgia of Please, Please, Please. Continuing her streak of fame, she released her 6th studio album, Short n’ Sweet on August 23, which of course became an instant success. It seems like she’s everywhere now, with her songs topping the billboard charts and her memorable stage presence at the VMA’s and the Tonight Show. She also just began the Short N’ Sweet tour on September 23, performing to sold out arenas across the country- and her popularity is only growing.

In terms of her music itself, it seems she’s found her signature sound, first with Emails I Can’t Send and now this new album. Watching her style evolve, and put her whole heart into making these songs is really interesting. The catchy melodies and infectious, clever lyrics she writes have become her staple, and sound much more true to herself. When comparing her older albums to this new chapter of her life, Sabrina herself claimed she “feels a sense of separation from them”, and doesn’t believe they showcase who she is as a singer. While she’s pretty much an expert at creating pop perfection- and her past albums were almost 100% pop- she’s also extremely talented at making deep, emotional songs that allow you to experience the extent of her anger, disappointment, or really any feeling she sings about.

A Little Background on this album:

‘Short n’ Sweet’ at face value sounds like she’s poking fun at her height, with her being only 5 feet tall, or the short runtime of the album, but it mainly references short and sweet relationships she’s had that have profoundly impacted her. It’s believed many of the songs on this album are about the drama between Sabrina, Shawn Mendes, and Camila Cabello. Shawn and Camilla were together for many years, then broke up- Shawn was then seen together with Sabrina shortly after, although they never confirmed the relationship. Then, at Coachella this year, Shawn and Camilla were seen together again. Carpenter also reported that some songs, like ‘Good Graces’, are about a friend, and the more happy songs seem to comment on her current relationship with actor Barry Keohogan.

Taste:

Right off the bat, she starts the album off strong with very tongue-in-cheek lyrics and solid bass and drums as the backbone of the song, making it have more of a pop-rock sound. The rock element makes it the most different from the other songs on the album, as it delves into another genre of its own. Being the first track I listened to from the album, I can confidently say I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. The chorus is very playful, expressing how Sabrina is over the whole situation, but wants to have the last word; considering Taste has been in the top ten on the Billboard 100 since its release, you could say she’s achieved her goal! The music video for the song- based off the classic movie Death Becomes Her – actually shocked me, and although very gory, it was well produced and fit the meaning of the song pretty perfectly.

Please Please Please: –

First rock, and now country; when I said her voice was very versatile, I wasn’t kidding! This might not conventionally be thought of as a country song, but with the acoustic guitar it sounds heavily inspired. The synth, especially at the beginning, reminds me of disco songs from the 70’s, which checks out considering she sampled Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees for this track. As for the meaning, Sabrina’s straightforwardly warning her boyfriend not to embarrass her, including her cheeky sense of humor she’s so well known for. I especially love the acoustic version of Please, Please, Please and how the synth takes a backseat to make room for violin and flute, making it pleasantly different from the original.

Good Graces:

From the moment you hit play you can already hear the Y2K and R&B influences in this track, which pairs really well with her voice. In meaning this song is super similar to Please, Please, Please except for the fact that it’s about her friends’ relationship. She’s warning her friend’s new boyfriend to, as the title suggests, stay in her good graces or else he’s out of her life, confidently setting boundaries. She creates so much of a contradiction between meaning and the sound of the song, it’s ironic. Carpenter sings as sweet as an angel with all the harmonies she adds in, and the beat of the song just makes you want to sing along and dance, and all the while she’s like, respect me or you’re gone from my life (iconic honestly). I didn’t really connect with this track when I first listened to the album, but I quickly changed my mind. I do still believe Good Graces is really repetitive, but i think that works in its favor because it gets stuck in your head. That guitar riff that’s carried throughout the song is super nostalgic and is the glue of the whole song in my opinion. It’s not my favorite song on the album, but it has some unique elements that tie it together.

Sharpest Tool:

Albeit kind of repetitive, it’s one of my favorites not only because of the relatability, but also just the back and forth transition between her slower and faster singing, and corresponding beat, making it sonically interesting and just satisfying to listen to. The plucky guitar at the beginning builds anticipation right before she sings the chorus, where she returns back to more of a pop sound. She purposely wrote the chorus so that the ends of each line match up with the first word of the next to make it easy for her subject to follow, which is funny too. As the pace quickens she sings faster, almost as if she’s just getting her feelings out all at once, because like she mentions in the song, ‘we don’t talk about it’. Sharpest Tool is all about everything that’s been left unsaid; all the things that bother her about a past relationship are being let out in the open, and they can’t be ignored anymore. Sabrina usually uses music and her albums as a way to vent out her problems and close a chapter in her life, and you can really see that with this song.

Coincidence:

Again, with that vibrant acoustic guitar! I cannot possibly rant enough about how wonderfully surprised I was with this song; the gang vocals, strong chords, ad libbing, and just the nice vibes that make it seem like a group of friends making a fun song together. It apparently took inspiration from 70’s country songs, specifically Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell, in which the guitar sounds super similar in both songs. There’s so many different elements paired together that create one cohesive, unique track that melodically stands out from the rest of the album. Sabrina blatantly calling out her ex for going back to his old girlfriend is already funny in itself, and her sarcastic lyricism takes it to the next level. It also accurately expresses her aggravation with the situation, and maybe even herself, because the whole scenario was ‘such a coincidence’ and she should’ve known better. Without a doubt I would name this my absolute favorite song of the album; it immediately brightens my mood and literally makes me want to start singing on the spot!

Bed Chem:

It’s a Sabrina Carpenter album; you’d be silly not to expect at least some freaky songs- it’s part of her whole brand at this point. The amount of innuendos she’s able to include in a single track never ceases to amaze me, and the fact that she can even get her voice up so high is a wonder all on its own! I really like the production on this song and the way Sabrina sings it sounds like she’s gossiping with her friends. Reminiscent of Nonsense in the way that it’s super unserious and flirty, Bed Chem is one of those songs that you would sing along to in the car with your friends, with a lot of laughs and smiles in between. As if I haven’t raved enough about the witty lines she writes, I just have to say this; “Where art thou? Why not uponeth me?”, and honestly the whole verse, is maybe one the catchiest bunch of lyrics I’ve heard in a long time. The whole song in general invites you in, grabs your attention with some wild one liners, and runs on repeat in your head long after it ends.

Espresso:

I think we all know this one- the song that’s been on repeat the entire summer, almost contagious with how catchy its lyrics are. It’s the kind of song that grows on you the more you listen, and somehow even when hearing it for the 100th time, you’re still not bored. You hear a new version from one of her live performances, and you’re singing it in your head for days afterward (if you couldn’t tell this has happened to me a thousand times). Carpenter reported that she wrote the song at a small creperie in France, in an interview with Apple Music. It was more of a manifestation rather than reality at the time- she wasn’t in a relationship, but felt confident in the moment and wanted to genuinely capture that emotion in a song. Espresso perfectly encapsulates the epitome of this feeling, and like the drink, is deliciously addictive too.

Dumb and Poetic:

This is one of the slower and sadder songs on Short n’ Sweet, and also one of the realest displays of emotion. Her voice is on full display save for some soft guitar and subtle harmonizing, kind of symbolizing her vulnerability and how deeply she was affected by a relationship, despite how short it was. Dumb and Poetic embodies sadness, disappointment, and even a bit of annoyance, as if she expected more from her ex, yet he just ended up being like every other guy. It’s not my favorite on the album, but I still enjoy listening to how it truly captures the extent of her vocals by going without multiple instruments, synth, drums, and more. Sabrina had plenty of allegations against her about not actually being able to sing, so this is one of those songs that when sung in concert, you can just hear her plain voice, which is refreshing.

Slim Pickins:

Compared to this track, Please, Please, Please barely passes as a country song. Slim Pickins 100% leans into that genre, complete with hints of violin and double bass (kind of like a cello) snuck in between some more twangy acoustic guitar. As the title suggests, the song is about not feeling like you have many options when it comes to dating, yet choose to be with someone rather than being single. Lines like “This boy doesn’t even know / The difference between ‘there’ ‘their’ and ‘they are’” throw a funny twist into the mix and her sense of humor never fails to make me giggle. Sabrina’s soft voice, plus vocal range pairs perfectly with the sincere nature of the song, and the harmonies make it just that much better.

Juno:

The title of this track references the movie of the same name, where a teenage girl has to face an unplanned pregnancy, so you can already tell where this’ll go. Only Sabrina could sing about wanting to be impregnated while somehow still sounding cute and innocent- the juxtaposition is crazy. As freaky as some of the lyrics are, it’s a really fun song to just dance to, with the beat being so, so catchy. The little guitar solo after the bridge runs on replay in my head all the time, and while the guitar provides that classic pop beat, the drums and bass add a slight edge to the overall sound. The keyboard during the verses adds an ethereal, airy touch to the overall bouncy vibe of the song too. If you couldn’t already tell, I really adore this song.

Lie to Girls:

Hearing this beautifully sad track for the very first time genuinely changed my brain chemistry, I swear! Sabrina’s vocals in this one are kind of haunting with the harmonies she included, and there’s always a melancholic undertone to them. Sometimes I feel like these types of songs truly reveal the extent to which an artist can write and be creative, because yes, it’s sad, but there’s so many more layers to the feelings she incorporates. The tension she builds through the swelling of the guitar, and her honesty about herself and girls in general that ring true to many of us make you feel an emotional connection to the music. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions throughout, and even when she picks up pace or changes her tone, everything weaves together seamlessly. I love how the instruments start out quieter- shifting your focus to her bare voice and the lyrics- then intensify as she chants the last few lines, reiterating just how far girls will go to avoid seeing the hard truth about someone they love.

Don’t Smile:

Okay, at first I was a bit skeptical about this song. I remember the first time I listened I was thinking, ‘this is repetitive, has a typical indie sound, isn’t really my vibe’. Even still, after listening to it a few more times, it’s started to grow on me. While I still believe the chorus is slightly repetitive, the verses of the song implants itself in your mind and doesn’t let go. She also somehow manages to make the second verse even better than the first, getting you hooked on the lyrics. The main melody doesn’t sound like anything new, and the song is slow enough that it takes some patience to sit through the first listen, but it’s still a solid song that showcases her vocal and creative versatility. She’s able to have many different sounds- she’s proven she can experiment with different genres, like indie, country, pop, and even a bit of rock, yet still maintain her distinct style.

This album was everything I expected it to be; playful, creative, kind of magical, and inspired by a bunch of different genres and artists. I admire the honesty she brings to each track, whether it be her raw aggravation, sadness, or sexual desires; it takes a good amount of courage for someone to be so truthful knowing their art will be out in the world for everyone to see and judge. Sabrina really understands how to pair her voice together with the perfect mix of guitar, drums, or synth that creates beautiful results that resonate not only with your heart, but with your sense of humor too.

Resources:

https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/billboard-explains-sabrina-carpenter-sweet-success-charts-1235772486

https://people.com/everything-sabrina-carpenter-appears-to-reveal-about-shawn-mendes-on-new-album-short-n-sweet-8700519

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_n%27_Sweet

https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sabrina-carpenter-all-songs-short-n-sweet-hot-100-1235766041/#:~:text=Sabrina%20Carpenter’s%20new%20studio,hit%20the%20Billboard%20Hot%20100.

https://genius.com/Sabrina-carpenter-please-please-please-lyrics

https://people.com/sabrina-carpenter-wrote-espresso-as-manifestation-tactic-8700887

https://genius.com/Sabrina-carpenter-coincidence-lyrics

https://genius.com/Sabrina-carpenter-bed-chem-lyrics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_(song)

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/sabrina-carpenter/slim-pickins

https://www.stayfreeradioip.com/post/sabrina-carpenter-lie-to-girls-meaning-and-review