What a year for Sabrina Carpenter. On Aug. 23, 2024, the pop star released her sixth and newest album, “Short n’ Sweet,” which brought listeners fun, sassy and confident lyrics, topped with unforgettable tunes. Fans were especially excited since this followed her release of the singles, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” which landed Carpenter’s first time as No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. All 12 songs from “Short n’ Sweet” made it on the Billboard Hot 100 and the entire album on the Billboard 200. Was this album worth all the hype?
Starting with an electric guitar intro leading into a chill drum chorus, “Taste” portrays the experience of seeing your ex with a new girl and knowing she won’t ever compare to you. Carpenter captured a jealous yet confident feeling in this track that many girls will be able to enjoy as they blast it in their cars. I absolutely loved this sound and felt it was an overall fantastic opening song to her album.
Rating: 9/10
Beginning with an incredibly spunky, fun and overall electric feel, “Please Please Please” portrays the classic, sassy Carpenter who loves her boyfriend, but knows others don’t think highly of him. Many fans loved hearing an enjoyable new sound from her with very amusing but relatable lyrics. I thought this was overall the best song in her album, and I’ve been streaming it since the day it was released. Carpenter also released an incredible music video for this song which captivated watchers.
Rating: 10/10
This empowering track opens with a more chill intro, giving us that traditional pop melody. “Good Graces” is Carpenter telling a boy why simple communication is important in a relationship. She shows this feeling through a fun melody, causing many people to love this as a background song to get them through the day. All I would say is she could have had more variation in the melody, as the song lacked a little excitement. That being said, I was really fond of the lyrics and enjoyed the tune of the song.
Rating: 8.5/10
This slower song breaks up the faster-paced tracks, showing us the sorrowful truth about one-sided relationships. “Sharpest Tool” touches on how Carpenter’s boyfriend never communicates with her and she feels undervalued in their relationship. This track has more heavy lyrics, showing her vulnerability and honesty about her relationship struggles. I really appreciated this melody as well as her more vulnerable side.
Rating: 8/10
This upbeat guitar intro takes listeners to a totally new sound in the album. The track talks about being in a relationship with a boy while his ex is still in the picture, creating an unwanted love triangle. This fun, steady beat paired with sarcastic lyrics is perfect to play in your headphones and sing your heart out to. I absolutely loved this new style that we haven’t seen from Carpenter yet, and the incredibly catchy bridge was my favorite part.
Rating: 10/10
“Bed Chem” has a more relaxed vibe, talking about chemistry and attraction to someone. It has a super chill melody that will help you unwind and listen, which is perfect to use as background music while doing work. I felt the chords weren’t for me, however I really enjoyed this simple tune that breaks up the more complicated melodies of the other tracks.
Rating: 7.5/10
This song has become such a Carpenter classic, blasting in headphones across the world. “Espresso” is such an enjoyable song with witty lyrics, and it has become a well-known and popular tune. I personally really love the steady background beat and harmonization which blend so well together. Overall, such a phenomenal song.
Rating: 9.5/10
Starting with a simple guitar and beautiful vocals, this slow song captures the feeling of falling for a man, but realizing his outward personality is quite deceitful. “Dumb & Poetic” has a very emotional feel and helps listeners deal with a confusing heartbreak. I felt this song was very beautifully written and sung, moving me with the melody.
Rating: 9/10
Combining pop and country, “Slim Pickins” has an effortlessly beautiful blend of wonderful chords on the acoustic guitar and soft drums. This song’s backtrack was so relaxing, but the lyrics talked about how Carpenter can’t find many good men in the world. This vibe left me feeling very comforted and showcased her musical talent in a wide variety of genres.
Rating: 10/10
Expressing the feeling of wanting to start a family with your partner, Carpenter takes us through an almost 1980s-sounding intro with a fun and spunky melody. I felt that “Juno” was a bit repetitive, following a similar tune through the entire track. That being said, it was a very unique and flirty song which I, like many others, enjoyed.
Rating: 7/10
Carpenter shows her vocals through this slow and mellow track that touches on manipulation in relationships and how girls twist facts just to be with a guy. I thought this sentimental song was so elegantly sung with guitar chords that perfectly meshed with Carpenter’s voice. I would say “Lie to Girls” is such a lovely song when you’re in your feels.
Rating: 9/10
Through a steady Lofi-inspired intro, listeners are led into a song that completely flips the well-known phrase “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” “Don’t Smile” is a perfect song for those struggling to handle a breakup and I, for one, really enjoyed the beat, feeling it’s a perfect chill song to vibe to. Although the melody was too simple for me, many fans appreciate the track because it is straightforward and easy to listen to.
Rating: 8.5/10
Overall, Carpenter showcased her many talents through her magnificent vocals and musical genre mashups, while still delivering that classic Carpenter pop style. This sensational music artist has produced so many impressive tracks, and I look forward to what she will create in the future.
