Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album, *Short n’ Sweet*, has fans buzzing with excitement following her summer hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”.
Please Please Please Don’t Underestimate Her Humor
With her latest singles, Sabrina showed us a glimpse of her funny side, but on this new album, her humor truly shines. She drops lines like “The Lord forgot my gay awakenin’” in “Slim Pickins” and “How’s the weather in your mother’s basement?” in “Needless to Say.” Sabrina even gets nerdy, worrying about grammar, and goes all Shakespearean. In “Juno,” she makes a pregnancy joke that’s both charming and hilarious: “If you love me right, then who knows?/I might let you make me Juno.” Her wit is on full display, and it’s delightful. — A.M.
She’s Stuck in Another Love Triangle
Once again, Sabrina finds herself in a love triangle in her sixth album. This isn’t new for her—remember “Skin” and “Obsessed”? But now, the stakes are higher. The guy in “Sharpest Tool” who found God at his ex’s house seems to point to Shawn Mendes, while “Taste” appears directed at Camila Cabello. Even though she writes about famous singers, Sabrina is fearless. “I write songs about exactly how I feel, so I guess I can’t be so surprised that people are interested in who and what those songs are about,” she shared in an interview. “That’s something that comes with the territory.” — M.G.
We all love some drama in music, don’t we?
Carpenter Goes Country
She’s always been inspired by Taylor Swift, but Sabrina seems to be branching out into country, taking cues from stars like Kacey Musgraves and Dolly Parton. “Slim Pickins” really leans into this style, with vocal trills that remind us of these legends. Producer Jack Antonoff mentioned that her vocal runs are unique and classic, almost yodel-like. The album features plucky acoustic guitars, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she fully embraced country soon. — M.G.
Leonard Cohen, Pop’s Hottest Muse
Boygenius recently released a song about Leonard Cohen, and now Sabrina does too. In “Dumb & Poetic,” she sings about a wellness-obsessed guy who steals quotes from self-help books, delivering burns like “Save all your breath for your floor meditation” and “I promise the mushrooms aren’t changing your life.” She references Cohen with the line, “Try to come off like you’re soft and well-spoken/Jack off to lyrics by Leonard Cohen.” It’s intriguing to see Cohen become such a popular muse. — A.M.
Retro Power
Many artists use ‘80s retro by adding New Wave synths, but Sabrina does it differently. *Short ‘n Sweet* starts with “Taste,” a catchy tune with a melody that recalls Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes.” This song topped charts in 1981 and won Grammys. Sabrina makes this vintage reference her own, just as she did with her summer hits “Please Please Please” and “Espresso.” — J.D.
