Credit: Mischa Lee

Join WSPN A&E editor Mischa Lee as she reviews Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, “Short n’ Sweet.”

“Oh, I leave quite an impression,” yes, Sabrina Carpenter, you do. The album name “Short n’ Sweet” perfectly encapsulates what this album is. With 12 fun songs and being 36 minutes and 15 seconds long, Carpenter did not disappoint.

Fans have been anticipating this album since Carpenter released the song “Espresso” on April 11, 2024. “Espresso” was a huge hit, setting the tone for “Short n’ Sweet.” This song added vintage and good vibes to Carpenter’s music, a contrast from her heartbreak “emails i can’t send” album that was released on July 15, 2022. The second single of “Short n’ Sweet,” “Please Please Please,” was released a couple months later and left fans wanting more. “Please Please Please” took a fun approach to getting “embarrassed” by your significant other –- or in other words, warning Carpenter’s significant other to not mess up. With the bold choice of including Barry Keoghan, Carpenter’s current boyfriend, in the music video, fans loved it. After seeing this, they were practically on their toes waiting for Carpenter’s new album.

When I first listened to the opening of this album, I was hooked. “Taste” is the first track on the album, and it tells the tale of when your ex replaces you with someone new. This “new person” will have to deal with the fact that you were already there before them. Like a lot of the album, this song has an upbeat vibe, and it’s fun to sing along to. To top this, Carpenter released a music video on Youtube with an unexpected but iconic duo: Sabrina Carpenter and movie star Jenna Ortega violently battling each other over a guy.

Going along with the “ex” topic, situationships have taken over our society this past year. Situationships is another word for a “relationship” that’s not actually “official.” Carpenter experienced one herself this past year when she was dating Shawn Mendes, but he was seen to go back to Camila Cabello. Many songs on this album were speculated to be about Mendes and really described the way Mendes was during their situationship. “Coincidence” speaks sarcastically and passive aggressively about how Mendes was going back and forth between the two women. Lyrics like “Last week, you didn’t have any doubts; this week, you’re holdin’ space for her tongue in your mouth” and “Damn it, she looks kinda like the girl you outgrew, least that’s what you said” spotlight the situationship.

“Sharpest Tool” is another perfect song for those who got “augusted,” a term inspired by Taylor Swift’s “August,” this past summer. Lyrics from this song were highlighted on many TikToks because of how relatable it was. “We were goin’ right, then you took a left, left me with a lot of s*** to second-guess” and “seems like overnight, I’m just the b**** you hate now” are lyrics that are very addictive to listen to. The beginning of the song is slow, and Carpenter has a soft voice. Later on in the song, Carpenter uses a unique beat and includes a glitch-like voice during the bridge.

Although Carpenter’s experience with Mendes was the inspiration behind many songs on this album, Carpenter made sure to include Keoghan in songs like “Bed Chem” and “Juno.” These songs have a faster and happier tune. They’re about Sabrina crushing on Keoghan, singing lines like “Who’s the cute boy with the white jacket and the thick accent?” and “How you’re lookin’ at me, yeah, I know what that means, and I’m obsessed.”

Even though Carpenter is in a loving relationship, “Slim Pickins” is a reflection of modern dating. Carpenter complains that the “good ones” are all taken and she’ll just have to “end this life alone.” The mix of Carpenter’s voice and the guitar playing in the back creates an intimate melody. Additionally, Carpenter’s strong vocals are very easy to notice because of the high riffs and background humming.

The second-to-last track on the album, “Lie to Girls,” is the most different from the rest of her album. While the rest of the album focuses on her experiences, “Lie to Girls” is a song about a part of girlhood: losing your mind over a guy. Carpenter uses “we” a lot, signaling that all us girls are the same in certain situations. This song has a lot of emotion, and the end of it repeats the same lyrics: “Girls will cry and girls will lie and girls will do it till they die for you.” I think this was an excellent addition to Carpenter’s album because it takes you through the mind of a girl pretty well.

All in all, this album was ranked highly for a good reason. The music is addicting to listen to and has been on constant repeat for many and myself. Carpenter’s music career is growing more and more famous by the day, and I’m already excited for her next song.