Man's Best Friend - Sabrina Carpenter: Review
Sabrina Carpenter rapidly ascended to superstar status last year. After bubbling up as the bad guy in Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, she scored a few mid-level hits and then absolutely erupted on the back of "Espresso." But for me, her breakout was a pleasant surprise. Once her debut album arrived, it was easy to see on songs like "Juno" and "Taste" that she was a different caliber of talent than some of her contemporaries. But for a few reasons, I was a little bit suspicious going into this new record. Firstly, because it arrived so quickly after its predecessor. Secondly, because its lead single "Manchild" is good, but not great. And finally, because Jack Antonoff had a hand in production on almost the entire album. The result is exactly the drop in quality I expected, though how far is a matter of debate.
That's a negative way to start, so let me assure you, there are some GREAT fucking songs on this album. The second single, "Tears," is an absolute fucking jam that probably should have been the lead single all along. From the infectious bassline to the irresistible girlish chorus, I love everything about it. "When Did You Get So Hot?" is an absolutely picture perfect piece of Ariana Grande-adjacent late 90s bliss. The hook might be the sexiest I've ever heard Sabrina as she piles on the swagger to superhuman amounts and drilled the refrains into the deepest part of my brain.
I also like the way the album ends off. "Don't Worry I'll Make You Worry" is pretty funny as a subversion of its inescapably sweet sound played for pure hostility. "House Tour" slips even further back into pop history with its clapping drums and cheeky sensuality. When it erupts onto a great hook its an infectious and charming moment. And though "Goodbye" is hardly an explosive finale, it does encapsulate the album's push-and-pull relationship with both its themes and sounds.
Sabrina's personality is a HUGE part of this record, and when it vanishes, the music suffers. "My Man On Willpower" and "Nobody's Son" both have the conceptual bones of a good Sabrina Carpenter song. But they both fall short when it comes to actually selling the humor and personality. Meanwhile "Go Go Juice" sees Sabrina trying her hand at the sound of the other breakthrough pop sensation of last year, Chappell Roan. The whole concept of the "Go Go Juice" is just impossibly stupid, and hearing Chappell's bit played straight instead of lesbian makes it wear down 10x faster.
The record's slower and quieter songs are probably its low point. Though I do want to point out that "We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night" bucks that trend. I love the runny relationship dynamics and their core and the dramatic fashion their presented in. Sabrina's humor contrasts with the more serious-sounding demeanor of the song in a way I find pretty adorable. Tracks like "Sugar Talking" and "Never Getting Laid" don't have anything near as compelling to grab onto.
It's impossible to point out one specific reason that Man's Best Friend is a step back from Short n' Sweet. Its predecessor was hardly a perfect record, but the issues were far less obvious. So despite the fact that the highs are as high as ever and that Sabrina is a near shoe-in to make my best hits of the year list in December, Man's Best Friend isn't the follow-up I was hoping for. It's more muted production, less memorable hooks, and hit or miss tracklist just add up to a less enjoyable final product. 5.5/10
For more pop, check out my review of the new Lorde album Virgin
