Album Review: BRAT by Charli xcx
Initial thoughts, before listening:
When I heard the news of the new Charli album, I was curious if it was any good. I was only familiar with her hits like “Boom Clap”. I heard a little snippet of “Club classics” through an edit on TikTok, so I assumed the album would have this same dance club sound that would make me want to go to the nearest gay club and jam out all night. It came as a surprise to me when Anthony Fantano gave the album a ten, which is a rare occurrence. After hearing that, I knew I had to listen to the album. I was anxious to hear this new phenomenon that made everyone want to have a “BRAT summer”.
Favorite things about the album:
Like I mentioned previously, these songs make me want to hit the dance floor at a gay club. “Club classics”, “Sympathy is a knife”, and “Von dutch” are prime examples of this feeling. The production on the album is so crisp, vibrant, and energizing. It's what I imagine a monster energy drink would sound like. Another thing I enjoy is that Charli can say outright crazy things, and then switch to a serious topic regarding her deepest emotions. I love how vulnerable she gets, and it provides the audience more of an understanding of her as a person. I can feel the passion put into this album, which plays a factor into why I love it.
“360” is a fantastic opener for the album. It's simple and tells us what the album will feel like, something the first song in any album should do. One of the most memorable parts of the song is when Charli sings, “I’m so Julia”. That single line is very addicting to hear and say.
“Club classics” was the very first song I heard from this album. This is such a fun song, likely my favorite off of the album. The energy is top-notch here and every second of the song grabs my attention. This is the kind of song I want to dance to at the club.
“Sympathy is a knife” is another addicting song. The way Charli sings, “‘Cause I couldn’t even be her if I tried/I’m opposite/I’m on the other side” is so powerful. Another thing to note is that this song has an upbeat energy, but the lyrics provide a gloomy feeling. This is Charli sharing her conflicting emotions.
The beat in “Talk talk” is addicting, which is my favorite aspect. It’s one of those songs that you can casually dance to. In short, it's the simplicity of the song that I love.
“Von dutch” is another song that makes me want to dance. The energy is continuously high, and the beat drop is phenomenal. I always want to scream, “I’m your number one”, and start jumping up and down at the beat drop.
“Everything is romantic” is, yet again, an amazing track. The violin is one of my favorite aspects of the song. The way Charli also seamlessly switches from the violin to a vibrant, sharp beat is incredible. At first, I wasn’t a fan of the repetition of “Fall in love again and again,” but once I understood the metaphor behind it, I loved it.
“Mean girls” is one of my favorites, simply because of the beat. Lyrically, it’s fine, but the beat stands out to me more. It contains a bumpy beat, alternating to a sharp one. The piano integrated into the instrumentation is phenomenal.
“365” is the perfect conclusion to this album. Starting with a perfect track and ending with another makes the replay of the album even more enticing. The beat as the song approaches its conclusion reminds me of a club closing for the night, and the last lyric is the door closing. It feels like the last song playing at the club, making you crave your next trip.
Final thoughts:
I did, in fact, thoroughly enjoy this album, and it is now ranked highly in my favorite electronic pop albums. This album has not left my rotation since my first listen, and I don't see it leaving anytime soon. Now, when I picture electronic pop, I can confidently say Charli xcx is the first person that pops into my mind, solely because of how phenomenal this album was. From the energy and the emotion to the quality of the production, everything about this album is fantastically executed. This has to be one of Charli’s best works—maybe her best, period. It is clear that Charli put so much love into this album and all of its promotion. When you put your heart and soul into something, it shows. People are going to love it, and I certainly do.
Album Rating: 9/10
Favorite Tracks: 360, Club classics, Sympathy is a knife, Talk talk, Von dutch, Everything is romantic, Mean girls, 365
Least Favorite Tracks: none :)
Favorite Lyrics/Lines:
“Who the fuck are you?”-365
“I’m a brat when I’m bumpin’ that”-365
“I’m so Julia”-360