Since 2012, Charli XCX has been writing songs about boys and girls putting on their dancing shoes and going to the discotheque. But this time around, she’s decided to bring the discotheque right to her audience. Charli XCX is a 31-year-old English singer-songwriter from Start Hill, Essex known for her bubblegum-synth-pop music such as “Boom Clap”, “Break the Rules” and “Boys”.
She released her sixth studio album “BRAT” on June 7. Her last album “CRASH” was released in 2022. "BRAT” takes her audience through an entire genre shift, from pop to EDM and techno. This album pulls from 90’s and early 2000’s influences, which contributes to the y2k vibe that is currently very trendy in fashion.
Along with “BRAT,” she released a deluxe version called “Brat and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not.” The “BRAT” album consists of 15 songs, and the deluxe has 18.
For ride-or-die fans, this shift was not a huge shock. However, for those who haven’t heard from her since 2018 when she released “1999” with fellow UK singer Troye Sivan, or even as far back as 2014 when “Boom Clap” hit the theaters as a featured song in the movie “The Fault in our Stars,” this album is a wild ride.
“BRAT” seems to be Charli’s way of taking her audience by surprise, which she certainly did. The 90s dance influences are clear from the start, as she takes you on a ride through her old neighborhood. The lyrics “I just wanna go back, back to 1999” from 2018 song “1999” perfectly embody the entirety of “BRAT.”
Charli opens the album with the song “360,” a song that highlights fame and what it's like being labeled an “icon.” With the song's funky beat and style, I think this album will shape what modern dance music sounds and feels like. I think we can expect to see other artists follow in these footsteps and create songs that have meaning, while still leaning into a gritty and edgy sound.
At first, I found the album a bit difficult to digest. The mixing is repetitive throughout and her vocals come off monotone and autotuned, making her sound robotic. “I might say something stupid” and “Everything is romantic” are two of these songs.
“I might say something stupid” begins with a gorgeous verse on the piano, and then jumps into a monotonous heavily mixed beat. “Everything is romantic” begins similarly, but instead of a piano, the song begins with a soft orchestra of strings and woodwinds.
However, not even a minute in, she jumps right into a techno rap that becomes less appealing when the last half of the song is the repetition of the phrase “Fall in love again and again.”
“So I” is by far my favorite song off the album. As soon as it started, I knew it was going on my playlist for this summer. It is arguably one of the only songs that is reminiscent of her 2014 pop music. The lyrics are relatable for anyone who has experienced a relationship where you continuously pushed the other person away, even though that person was a light in your life.
When I closed my eyes, I could see myself walking down the street after a long night, reminiscing about what could’ve been with that one situationship. It’s safe to say, “So I” has been on repeat.
There are three songs that I think will become staples in the club atmosphere: “Sympathy is a knife”, “Club classics” and “Von dutch.” These are the more heavily electronic songs on the album, but they had less production than “I might say something stupid” and “Everything is romantic.”
Just because the album is electronic doesn’t mean Charli didn’t add some vulnerable lyrics. “Rewind” is one of these songs. Even though the mixing and autotune drown the lyrics out, you can still gain an understanding of Charli’s experience in the limelight after a few listens. The lyrics highlight body image and body dysmorphia in the public eye. They are heartbreaking and truly captivating once you understand them.
All in all, I did like the album. EDM is a bit of a stretch for Charli and I give her credit for jumping into the deep end. It took a few listens to truly digest, but once I gave the album a chance, I found it to be a profound way of explaining the ups and downs that come with jealousy, partying and being in the limelight.
Most of the lyrics are truly heartbreaking and contrast entirely with the album’s edge. The more I listen, the more and more I fall in love with this album, and I am so excited to see how “BRAT” interrupts and influences current mainstream pop.
CLARIFICATION: The headline of this story has been updated to clarify it is a review.
