By Nik McMullen
The album Brat by Charli XCX has become a cultural phenomenon within the past year; from being ranked a “95” on Metacritic to receiving a “10/10” score from famous internet critic Anthony Fantano, it’s clear that the album had potential to create a cultural impact within Generation Z. But does it really live up to the hype?
This is Charli XCX’s sixth official studio release, totaling 12 songs on standard edition and 29 songs on the subsequently released remix album. First released on June 7th, 2024, Brat became an instant commercial hit: according to Billboard, Brat debuts with “77,000 equivalent album units earned within a week,” clearly showing the incredibly high sales quality and marketing value of the album, but what is it about? Taking a deeper listen into the album, the true artistic quality of the album is quickly revealed.
Both within each song and as a whole, the album portrays a form of rebellion and self acceptance. According to Elliot Groove from the Raindance Film Festival,“‘Being a Brat,’ as defined by Charli, is not only about rebellion but also about the impact one has on culture and how society receives the rebellion”; it’s clear that Charli’s album reflects those types of themes, and others, including partying lifestyle, ego, money, and enjoying life.
A great example of this multi-thematic blend is “Girl, so confusing,” the tenth track on the album, which explores these themes while tackling topics like relationship issues, struggles of being a woman in today’s culture, and the difficulties that can arise when connecting with others within the music industry. Fantano expands on this even further in his album review, saying that “Charli sings about difficulties of letting people in and navigating the music industry, among other people who she may have a difficult time to trust.”
Clearly, the album can tackle many subjects and themes at a time and still sell exceptionally well, but does that make it good? Absolutely. For me, this album takes expectations and exceeds them in every category.
Songs like “365” are electronic and chill, yet upbeat. Songs like “Rewind” left me visualizing a potential future where I’m having to think back to simpler times; yearning to go back and take it all. Even though each song is very different, they all feel like they belong, while all throughout Charli’s vocals stay calm, collected, and demanding like she’s sucking me into this world of her music.
Overall, Brat remains an amazing experience, and a spectacle to my ears, which is why I’m feeling a definite 10/10 on this one. Everything about this album is absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait for what Charli XCX does next.
