BRAT
It’s no surprise that “PARTYGIRL” is the name Charli xcx adopted for the DJ nights she put on in support of *BRAT*. It’s kind of her brand anyway, but on her sixth studio album, the British pop star is reveling in the trashy, sugary glitz of the club. *BRAT* is a record that brings to life the pleasure of colorful, sticky dance floors and too-sweet alcopops lingering in the back of your mouth, fizzing with volatility, possibility, and strutting vanity (“I’ll always be the one,” she sneers deliciously on the A. G. Cook- and Cirkut-produced opening track “360”). Of course, Charli xcx—real name Charlotte Aitchison—has frequently taken pleasure in delivering both self-adoring bangers and poignant self-reflection. Take her 2022 pop-girl yet often personal concept album *CRASH*, which was preceded by the diaristic approach of her excellent lockdown album *how i’m feeling now*. But here, there’s something especially tantalizing in her directness over the intoxicating fumes of hedonism. Yes, she’s having a raucous time with her cool internet It-girl friends, but a night out also means the introspection that might come to you in the midst of a party, or the insurmountable dread of the morning after. On “So I,” for example, she misses her friend and fellow musician, the brilliant SOPHIE, and lyrically nods to the late artist’s 2017 track “It’s Okay to Cry.” Charli xcx has always been shaped and inspired by SOPHIE, and you can hear the influence of her pioneering sounds in many of the vocals and textures throughout *BRAT*. Elsewhere, she’s trying to figure out if she’s connecting with a new female friend through love or jealousy on the sharp, almost Uffie-esque “Girl, so confusing,” on which Aitchison boldly skewers the inanity of “girl’s girl” feminism. She worries she’s embarrassed herself at a party on “I might say something stupid,” wishes she wasn’t so concerned about image and fame on “Rewind,” and even wonders quite candidly about whether she wants kids on the sweet sparseness of “I think about it all the time.” In short, this is big, swaggering party music, but always with an undercurrent of honesty and heart. For too long, Charli xcx has been framed as some kind of fringe underground artist, in spite of being signed to a major label and delivering a consistent run of albums and singles in the years leading up to this record. In her *BRAT* era, whether she’s exuberant and self-obsessed or sad and introspective, Charli xcx reminds us that she’s in her own lane, thriving. Or, as she puts it on “Von dutch,” “Cult classic, but I still pop.”
With her sixth album, Charli XCX transcends all narratives and delivers a hit. Brat is imperious and cool, nuanced and vulnerable, and one of the best pop albums of the year.
With her sixth album, Charli XCX transcends all narratives and delivers a hit. Brat is imperious and cool, nuanced and vulnerable, and one of the best pop albums of the year.
Charli XCX returns with brat, her best album in years and an immediate standout in her discography
Charli XCX returns with brat, her best album in years and an immediate standout in her discography
Driven by her desire to fully embrace club music, the British artist's sixth record fuses well-earned confidence and vulnerability in thrilling fashion
Driven by her desire to fully embrace club music, the British artist's sixth record fuses well-earned confidence and vulnerability in thrilling fashion
Charli XCX's latest album, 'BRAT,' is a messy, revelatory insight into what life exists at the precipice of fame.
Charli XCX's latest album, 'BRAT,' is a messy, revelatory insight into what life exists at the precipice of fame.
Poised at the precipice of mainstream, the Essex artist gets busy untangling the contradictions of her ‘cult classic’ status
Poised at the precipice of mainstream, the Essex artist gets busy untangling the contradictions of her ‘cult classic’ status
Charli XCX's sixth studio album BRAT is literary, musically complex, and somehow effortless.
Charli XCX's sixth studio album BRAT is literary, musically complex, and somehow effortless.
Your daily dose of the best music, film and comedy news, reviews, streams, concert listings, interviews and other exclusives on Exclaim!
Your daily dose of the best music, film and comedy news, reviews, streams, concert listings, interviews and other exclusives on Exclaim!
On her sixth studio album, Charli XCX succeeds 2022’s phenomenal, if misinterpreted, Crash with a triumphant return to her boldly experimental roots.
On her sixth studio album, Charli XCX succeeds 2022’s phenomenal, if misinterpreted, Crash with a triumphant return to her boldly experimental roots.
When Charli XCX landed her first gig, it was a warehouse rave in Hackney Wick. Marking her introduction to a new corner of nightlife, the avant-pop figure
When Charli XCX landed her first gig, it was a warehouse rave in Hackney Wick. Marking her introduction to a new corner of nightlife, the avant-pop figure
While Charli XCX‘s sixth studio album, ‘Brat,’ is undeniably bratty and brash, it’s also frequently vulnerable.
While Charli XCX‘s sixth studio album, ‘Brat,’ is undeniably bratty and brash, it’s also frequently vulnerable.
'Brat' is next-level Charli XCX, a miracle and an instant classic. It’s the kind of album that makes you feel lucky to be alive at the same time as it.
'Brat' is next-level Charli XCX, a miracle and an instant classic. It’s the kind of album that makes you feel lucky to be alive at the same time as it.
Brat by Charli XCX album review by Sam Frazini for Northern Transmissions. The artist's full-length is out today via Atlantic Records
Brat by Charli XCX album review by Sam Frazini for Northern Transmissions. The artist's full-length is out today via Atlantic Records
Beyond the sleaze, grinding bass and it-girl in-jokes, the British visionary’s sixth album is a masterpiece that understands how a hard persona can offer protection
Beyond the sleaze, grinding bass and it-girl in-jokes, the British visionary’s sixth album is a masterpiece that understands how a hard persona can offer protection
Bon Jovi are full of feeling. Charli XCX assesses her outsider status, Aurora has a message for global leaders, Peggy Gou is on the up
Bon Jovi are full of feeling. Charli XCX assesses her outsider status, Aurora has a message for global leaders, Peggy Gou is on the up
Amid so much sanitised pop, Charlotte Aitchison’s innovation has never been so essential
Amid so much sanitised pop, Charlotte Aitchison’s innovation has never been so essential
One of Britain's most compelling pop stars fires out an intriguingly personal curveball. Review by Thomas H Green.
One of Britain's most compelling pop stars fires out an intriguingly personal curveball. Review by Thomas H Green.