Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, Short n’ Sweet, released via Polydor Records, follows a historic year for the singer, which saw her tie a record with none other than The Beatles. With that in mind, it was always going to be a challenge to follow up the album’s standout singles, ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please’, which made Carpenter the first female artist to top the Billboard Global 200 and Global Ex-US charts simultaneously with two different songs. Meanwhile, here in the UK, these tracks dominated the charts, with ‘Espresso’ spending seven non-consecutive weeks at number one and ‘Please Please Please’ following close behind with five non-consecutive weeks.
Despite Carpenter only being 25 years old, this is her sixth album. She was just 10 years old when she began posting covers on YouTube, and while there is value to be found in the early portion of her discography, Short n’ Sweet feels like her second proper ‘adult’ album, following 2022’s emails i can’t send. Naturally, she was still discovering herself throughout her first few albums, which were written and performed when she was a teenager. However, flickers of the pop star she would grow up to be were present, and on Short n’ Sweet, she is more assured and self-aware than ever before, having fully embraced who she is as a person and mastered the art of letting this shine through her music and her performances.
Carpenter’s ability to consistently produce chart-topping hits is a testament to her talent and the resonance of her music with audiences around the world. But this left many people wondering if she could produce an entire album of this calibre, or if the rest would feel lacklustre in comparison to the two lead singles. And while Short n’ Sweet has its own strengths, which are well worth talking about, listeners will likely be disappointed if they go into this album for the first time hoping for 12 versions of ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please’. The closest replication comes right at the beginning, with ‘Taste’, which is accompanied by a visually striking music video directed by the renowned Dave Meyers and featuring none other than Jenna Ortega. Its glossy pop sound is driven by electric guitar chords, giving the track a radio-friendly rock sound, which is undeniably similar to Olivia Rodrigo, despite the prior division between their fanbases.
Elsewhere, Carpenter leans into an exploration of country sounds, having openly expressed her admiration of Dolly Parten, among other country stars, in the build up to the album’s release – particularly around the inspirations behind ‘Please Please Please’. These influences creep even further to the forefront on some of the albums deeper cuts, including ‘Slim Pickins’, which was previewed live before the album was released, is crafted simply around Carpenter’s vocals and acoustic guitar strums, as she laments the uninspiring dating pool available to her since the “Lord forgot [her] gay awakening”, with a country twang throughout.
While Short n’ Sweet doesn’t consist of 12 songs which are going to see the same success as ‘Espresso’ or ‘Please Please Please’, it’s undeniable that the album is a declaration that Carpenter is here to stay. As its title suggests, Short n’ Sweet is a concise yet impactful tour de force that firmly establishes her as one of pop music’s most luminous stars. The album is a masterclass in brevity without sacrificing depth, carefully curated to deliver a powerful punch without overstaying its welcome or attempting to cover too much ground at once. Each track is meticulously crafted, offering a sharp, fast-hitting burst of energy that’s reminiscent of a perfectly brewed shot of espresso – intense, invigorating, and just the right amount to leave you craving more. Which is great news, because it seems that Carpenter’s reign is only just beginning.
