2025 Grammy's Review: "Brat" - Charli XCX

 

"Brat" - Charli XCX

(Atlantic Records)

1) 360

Some very catchy lines; "I'm tectonic, moves I make 'em.....666 with a princess streak". Its a solid opening track that doesn't overstay its welcome.

2) Club Classics

The intro is very abrupt, and the overall mix doesn't fit right in my opinion.

3) Sympathy is a knife

There are some solid lines; "I feel all these feelings I can't control", but the lyrical flow is a bit messy.

4) I might say something stupid

This has a more subdued intro. She doesn't feel like she belongs; "Guess I'm a mess and play the role". 

5) Talk talk

She's trying to interact with a crush.

6) Von dutch

This track revolves around someone's obsession/jealousy of her; "It's so obvious I'm your number one".

7) Everything is romantic

There's a different vibe on this track, with more vocal variance.

8) Rewind

She wants to go back to a time when she didn't feel insecure about herself.

9) So I

This track finds her feeling remorseful; "When I'm on stage sometimes I lie, say that I love singing these songs you left behind". 

10) Girl, so confusing

This is melodically one-note, but with an important message.

11) Apple

This track deals with the nuances between two people.

12) B2b

With a really pronounced beat, this focuses on a rebound relationship of sorts. A bit repetitive when it comes to the overall sound.

13) Mean girls

There's a cool keyboard interlude, but overall this track could use a little something more.

14) I think about it all the time

She's seriously pondering her future; "I finally met my baby, and a baby might be mine". 

15) 365

This track sees the album come full circle from the opening "360".

There's a variance of opinion on "Brat" when it comes to certain circles (high praise from critics, some social media circles) and I'm here to say that neither take is spot on. Was this the best sounding album of the year? No, but does it deserve derision? No. Certain tracks can have a repetitive nature to them, but its a solid album from the "electropop" feel. (84.9)

90.9 "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" Chappell Roan

88.1 "The Tortured Poets Department" - Taylor Swift

87.9 " Hit Me Hard & Soft " Billie Eilish 

87.3 "Cowboy Carter" Beyoncé

85.9 "Short n' Sweet" Sabrina Carpenter 

84.9 "Brat" - Charli XCX

69.6 "Djesse Vol 4" Jacob Collier

69.3 "New Blue Sun" Andre 3000

2025 Grammy's Review: "The Tortured Poets Department" - Taylor Swift

 

The Tortured Poets Department - Taylor Swift

(Republic Records)

1) Fortnight ft/ Post Malone

                                                                                                                                           

The vocals sit well with the synths, but this song does feel repetitive at times. Post does a good job though with his prominent role during the bridge.

2) The Tortured Poets Department

There's a cool 80s pop-beat. The chorus finds Taylor openly mocking herself and her partner. The 2nd verse is a bit shaky lyrically, but the bridge feels highly personal. Her soft vocals add emphasis.

3) My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

This track continues that 80s 'Madonna-esque' vibe. There's nice variety throughout the verses on this underrated track; "Rivulets descend my plastic smile.....Pull the string and I'll tell you that he runs because he loves me". 

4) Down Bad

The synth work really adds to the vibe. This track deals with 'love-bombing'; "tell me I was the chosen one...sent me back where I came from". You can sense the anger and sorrow present.

5) So Long, London

Right from the start this track grabs your attention with the 'choral bells' style of into. You get the sense that she's been trying to prop her partner up; "I'm pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free". She emotes perfectly throughout this track, giving off a sense of frustration while letting go and moving on.

6) But Daddy I Love Him

This track has a throwback Country vibe. While she's playful and coy in chorus, she also makes some serious comments regarding the media and/or the extremes of the parasocial nature of the fandom; "I don't cater to all these vipers dressed in empath's clothing". 

7) Fresh Out The Slammer

This track centers around a rebound, with a western country feel. The closing half-time feel can feel very sudden and abrupt.

8) Florida!!! ft/ Florence + The Machine

Florence brings her signature vocal styling on this feature; "So I did my best to lay to rest all of the bodies that have ever been on my body". This track has an overall cool vibe, but it can feel a bit lyrically puzzling.

9) Guilty As Sin?

She's feeling trapped; "This cage was once just fine, Am I allowed to cry?". This track really grooves as she deals with fantasizing while either in a relationship or just out of one.  The bridge feels very poetic.

10) Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?

This track feels very haunting; "So I leap from the gallows, and I levitate down your street". You can really feel the anger.

11) I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

That western country vibe comes back. This song kind of just goes in circles.

12) loml

There are some deeply heartbreaking lyrics on this piano ballad; "I can't get out of bed, 'Cause something counterfeit's dead". 

13) I Can Do It With A broken Heart

This track is very unique, as your hear the Eras Tour stage directions in the background. While upbeat, you get the sense of what she was going through during the beginning leg of the tour.

14) The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

She makes good use of her lower voice on this track. This bridge is simply epic, as she lets out her anger. It feels theraputic.

15) The Alchemy

While there's a cool vibe, this track can feel a bit forgettable.

16) Clara Bow

This track almost feels like a sequel to "Nothing New", as she talks about what it takes to make it in the industry; "Beauty is a beast that roars, down on all fours, demanding more". A perfect message for both the close of the traditional album, and intro to the anthology.

The Tortured Poets Department is a fascinating album, with it largely written either during the prep for the tour or while on the tour itself. While there are some bumps, this certainly feels like her most personal album (especially once you factor in the tracks on the anthology). An impressive piece of work. (88.1)

90.9 "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" Chappell Roan

88.1 "The Tortured Poets Department" - Taylor Swift

87.9 " Hit Me Hard & Soft " Billie Eilish 

87.3 "Cowboy Carter" Beyoncé

85.9 "Short n' Sweet" Sabrina Carpenter 

69.6 "Djesse Vol 4" Jacob Collier

69.3 "New Blue Sun" Andre 3000

2025 Grammy's Review: "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" - Chappell Roan

 

"The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" - Chappell Roan

(Amusement/Island Records)

1) Femininomenon

A perfect opening track, this deals with wanting more; "I'm so sick of online love". The switch-up with the tempo in this track is genius.

2) Red Wine Supernova

This deals with exploration; "Fell in love with the thought of you". The bridge is terrific.

3) After Midnight

She doesn't want to be classified or deemed as a "good girl"; "I'm feeling kind of freaky, maybe its the moonlight". 

4) Coffee

This slowed down track packs a lot into it; "I'll meet you for coffee, cause if we have wine, you'll say that you want me, I know that's a lie....If I didn't love you, that would be fine". Some really powerful lyrics.

5) Casual

She's stuck between a 'friends with benefits' situationship and a relationship; "you said 'we're not together', so now when we kiss, I have anger issues".

6) Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl

With a dance beat, this track deals with how she's over it, dealing with the same type of person; "I'm through with all these hyper mega bummer boys like you". A really fun track.

7) HOT TO GO!

This track has a sort of "Mickey" (Toni Basil) feel to it, along with Madonna; "it's all in my head, but I want non-fiction". 

8) My Kink Is Karma

With a half-time feel, she's gleeful at her ex's downfall; "ruined my credit, stole my cute aesthetic......using your distress as foreplay". 

9) Picture You

There's a different vibe (a classic kind of sound). This track is so well-written, dealing with self-pleasure along with a wistfulness; "Do you feel the same, I'm too scared to say half of the things I do when I picture you". 

10) Kaleidoscope

Vocally this acts as a showcase for what Chappell can do, but I find that it drags a bit. The aural vibe is similar to "Picture You", but with this track it feels like it doesn't really go anywhere.

11) Pink Pony Club

Chappell Roan paints a picture on this track about staying true to herself.

12) Naked In Manhattan

Late in the album, I find "Naked In Manhattan" to be a standout on what she's capable of accomplishing. 

13) California

A mournful track, this deals with all the times she's felt like she's let the past version of herself down (through all of the roadblocks to get to this moment).

14) Guilty Pleasure

There's a sort of Lana-vibe present here; "feels like pornography watching you try on jeans".  

"The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" is up there among debut works from an artist. She's been on a journey to get to this moment (getting turned away by prior record labels), but hearing this album its just hard to imagine anyone turning her down. There's a lot of variety here, from up-tempo dance beats to some brilliant slowed-down tracks. I can't wait to see where she goes next. (90.9)

90.9 "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" Chappell Roan

87.9 " Hit Me Hard & Soft " Billie Eilish 

87.3 "Cowboy Carter" Beyoncé

85.9 "Short n' Sweet" Sabrina Carpenter 

69.6 "Djesse Vol 4" Jacob Collier

69.3 "New Blue Sun" Andre 3000