I Think We ALL Love Sabrina Carpenter
It’s time I put that Reviews category to use, and what better way to do so than by reviewing, Short n’ Sweet, one of my favorite album releases of the year? It’s also one of the best releases of 2024 (yes, I’m biased), and it’s changed my life.
I’ll be giving a proper review of Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter’s 6th studio album. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’ve noticed that Miss Carpenter has been shooting to stardom. And in my opinion, it’s about 10 years overdue, but nevertheless, I’m glad she’s finally getting her flowers. Not to be an annoying fan, but I’ve been listening to her for over a decade now, so calling myself an OG fan is an understatement. Hearing Eyes Wide Open (album, 2015) at 9 years old was a defining moment for me. But that’s beside the point–let’s talk about Short n’ Sweet.
About Short n’ Sweet
Released on August 23rd of this year through Island Records, Short n’ Sweet is nothing short of sweet. Genre-wise, this album is all over the godd*mn place. One minute it’s pop, then it’s full-blown country, and then she makes her way to the land of R&B. I’ve always admired artists who can genre-hop and do so successfully–take for example, Beyoncé, Timbaland, or Childish Gambino. It’s a sure way of indicating just how talented an artist is, and as you’ll come to know, I have a knack for listening to the best of the best.
The album has 12 tracks, taking the title way too seriously. Part of that tracklist are hits like Espresso, Please Please Please, and Taste. Great songs–obviously–but, trust me when I say, it gets even better. Since 2011 (a nod to Fall Apart), Sabrina Carpenter just continues to outdo herself!
Short n’ Sweet Individual Song Reviews
I beg you, take the star ratings with a grain of salt. Solely for aesthetic purposes.
Taste
We start off Short n’ Sweet with pure pop perfection, Taste, which, as of writing this, still holds a place in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, months after its release. Even without its accolades, this is easily one of my favorites off of the album and one of Sabrina Carpenter’s best singles to date. It’s a boppy song, with a catchy chorus and a striking intro: ‘Oh I leave quite an impression.’
She sings about the reconciliation of a previous lover and their ex, making clever jabs at both parties. Throughout the song, emphasis is placed on her lasting impression. Even though she’s gone [from the relationship], her presence will always linger. Overall, it’s a solid song with a great music video featuring actress Jenna Ortega, and it’s one I see holding up in the coming years.
Please Please Please
I’ll be honest, based off of the first teaser, I wasn’t sold on the song, but of course, she proved me wrong. It’s the second single of the album, following the hit Espresso. Some even say it was a “fumble” of a second single–but, the charts don’t lie. In fact, it became Carpenter’s first #1 single. See what happens when you make good music?
Light guitar plays throughout the song, giving it elements of country music, which would just be the beginning of this country-infused album. The lyrics touch on her expectations within her relationship and how she hopes her partner won’t be a disappointment. The song has grown on me a good deal, and it continues to break records I never saw coming a few years ago. ‘Proud’ doesn’t even begin.
Good Graces
Good Graces is so Ariana Grande-coded, and I say that in the most positive way imaginable. It’s upbeat and uses elements of R&B similar to Grande’s sound, most notably from her Positions album (2020). That alone instantly made this a favorite of mine. The assertive lyrics, in which she declares the boundaries within a relationship and how easily it’ll be for her to move on if they mess up, only add to that. Who knew ‘I won’t give a f*ck about you,’ could be so catchy?
Sharpest Tool
At first, this was one of my least favorites on Short n’ Sweet, but I’ve seen the light! This song reminds me of an older track of hers, skinny dipping from her 5th studio album, emails i can’t send (2022). Like skinny dipping, Sharpest Tool is a gentle song with soft vocals and an amazing pre-chorus. Genuinely, this song has been on repeat for weeks. She sings about not getting proper closure with an ex, and how the relationship left her with questions that will–presumably–remain unanswered. A pure masterpiece.
Coincidence
This Hoedown Throwdown *ss song! I feel like line dancing when I listen to this! This album, funny enough, made me realize just how much I enjoy country music. As thrilling as the song is, it’s about a betrayal and how ironic it is for her ex to have reconciled with his girlfriend (continuing from Taste). And this bridge? Sabrina Carpenter has never built a bridge she couldn’t cross. Coincidence is too good, and she deserves all the praise in the world for this track.
Source Genius.
Bed Chem
If she’s anything, she’s horny and I applaud her for it. The song is about her first meeting her lover and how palpable the physical connection is. It has a heavy R&B influence, which is always good in my books, and she’s very witty on the track. ‘Come right on me, I mean camaraderie,’ is easily one of the best lines on the album. Shakespeare couldn’t do it. On my first listen, it was instantly in my top 3, but as you’ll soon find out, that’s changed. That aside, this is still a great song. Thank you, Barry Keoghan!
Espresso
When she teased this song for the first time, I knew she had a hit on her hands. Everyone knows this song–as they should–it’s quite literally, the Song of the Year. She compares herself to an espresso throughout the song, using it as a metaphor for her effect on her partner. Another fun song, it has that similar summer tune you know and love, and it makes for the best getting-ready tune. And you heard it hear first folks: it’s the second-best single on Short n’ Sweet–I don’t make the rules.
Dumb & Poetic
It’s one of the slower, more mellow songs on Short n’ Sweet, falling under the alternative pop genre. She disses an ex for his ‘soft and well-spoken’ persona, which is thrown out the window, as he’s broken her heart. He now perfectly falls in line with the title Dumb & Poetic. It’s an emotional song that fits perfectly in a sad playlist, so don’t be shocked if you get a little teary-eyed. Well done, Miss Sabrina Carpenter.
Slim Pickins
She’s so country-bumpkin in this song, which I like! Most of her country-esque music reminds me of earlier Taylor Swift, which is a compliment. She talks about the lack of good guys to choose from in today’s dating pool. This leaves her with the worst pick of the litter. It’s a song I’m sure many women dating in their 20s can relate to (sadly). This song definitely makes you appreciate her softer tone, as it’s very light on the ears.
Juno
While I still haven’t watched Juno (shoutout to Elliot Page), if the song is an indication of how the movie is, I’m sure to love it. It would seem she finally found ‘A boy who’s nice, that breathes,’ with how she’s singing about how good he makes her feel. She mentions wanting to get knocked up by this great guy, similar to the protagonist of the film Juno. Overall, it’s a cute and horny song—she says so herself—that makes you wanna dance in circles. Whatever you’re doing, Barry Keoghan, keep it up!
Lie To Girls
It really is that easy for men. Lie to Girls is a soft song about how much BS women get from men, even if it takes a toll on their well-being. It’s sad. Like, really sad. But it’s a favorite of mine, produced by Jack Antonoff, noted within the alternative music style. Unfortunately, most women can relate to this song, which just goes to show that men really suck. Yeah. Men suck.
Sources Just Jared and Musictech.
Don’t Smile
This song is beyond good; it’s phenomenal. I say this with bias, but it’s the best song on Short n’ Sweet. Another R&B-infused track, it delves into the longing one feels after the end of a relationship. She finds herself struggling to move on and wanting her ex to hold the same sentiment, evident with lyrics like, ‘I want you to miss me, I want you to miss me,’ and ‘Take my phone and lose your number, I don’t wanna be tempted.’ It’s an emotional track and a great way to close out the album. P.S. This track would fit perfectly on Singular Act II (2019).
Overall Short n’ Sweet Album Review
Short n’ Sweet Track Ranking
- Coincidence
- Don’t Smile
- Sharpest Tool
- Bed Chem
- Dumb & Poetic
- Taste
- Juno
- Lie To Girls
- Good Graces
- Slim Pickins
- Espresso
- Please Please Please
Make your own ranking here!
My Thoughts
From start to finish, Short n’ Sweet is incredible, like all of her albums are—including those under Hollywood Records. This is definitely one of her best projects, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll continue to outdo herself.
Two More Songs?
If you’re a true Carpenter, you’ll notice two songs are missing from this album review: Busy Woman and Needless To Say. I didn’t include them simply because they are not currently available on streaming, at least not legally. Sabrina Carpenter released the two songs on separate limited edition versions of the Short n’ Sweet album: Short n’ Sweet(est) and Short n’ Sweet(er). I’ll keep it brief by assuring you that both songs are incredible. I’m sure they’re available to listen to in a Discord server or a subreddit, but for legal reasons, I won’t be sharing that here.
Closing Remarks
With that being said, I’m going to wrap it up here. This marks the first official album ranking on this blog, and I look forward to putting out more in the future. To my Carpenters, I hope you liked my review. Feel free to share your own ranking in the comments below. As always, thanks for taking the time to read my blog, and I hope you continue to find my content worthy of that time. Thank you!
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