Rating: 9/10
Edited by Vaibhvi Patel and Mahi Sehgal
The summer of 2024 has been proclaimed a “brat summer” following the release of Charli XCX’s sixth studio album BRAT. With neon green all over the streets, this highly anticipated album collectively serves as a confidence anthem and has created an entirely new lifestyle across social media. As a less-than-casual listener of Charli XCX, I was only previously familiar with her most popular singles back in the 2010s. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this album had multiple songs aligning with my personal music taste.
The general vibe can only be described as electric. The main theme promotes party culture and encourages people to become “that girl.” In fact, in the context of the album, to be a “brat” is to be audacious and influential. It’s a light-hearted message, but I believe it’s an important reminder in today’s society to just live life to the fullest. This hype album is confident and showcases Charli’s growth as an artist while upholding her older, original music style. Most of the songs are within the pop/EDM genre and fit in a club setting with repetitive beats and a distinct autotuned sound.
Additionally, I think the album cover design is worth mentioning. It’s a block of solid neon green with the word “brat” typed out in a standard black font. It’s iconic and encapsulates the “chaoticness” of the album. This layout with the album title displayed with a single color is no stranger to Charli’s discography, as seen with her previous releases including CRASH, Pop 2, Charli, SUCKER, etc. Yet, compared to these, BRAT is obnoxiously loud (in a good way) and signifies a shift in her concepts.
Several songs have already gone viral on social media, most notably “360,” “Apple,” and “365.” “360” is the album opener and introduces Charli as the perfect role model who can be everywhere all at once. The lyric, “I’m everywhere, I’m so Julia” references actress and model Julia Fox, as she is typically recognized for her outward personality and self confidence, which upholds the overarching theme of the album perfectly. This is the main confidence booster track, and sets the mood for the rest of the album. Instead of coming off as conceited, it takes pride in being one’s authentic self.
“Apple” may be the most popular song of the album. It has a very unique subject matter compared to the other tracks as it deals with her personal relationships and familial issues. Charli, herself, is the apple attached to her family tree, and she is trying to break out of falling down the same path. I enjoy the apple related lines such as “rotten to the core” and “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” as well. Aside from the deeper meaning, this song is more danceable than the rest and it is no surprise that this is a fan favorite.
“365” is the closing song and serves to match and contrast “360.” The line “bumping that” is the final lyric of “360” and is the first lyric of “365,” which I found very interesting. It’s repeated in this song as well, and it details being a party girl 365 days of the year. This one didn’t stand out to me as much as the others, but still leaves a lasting impression as the last song.
My favorite song on this album is “Talk talk” for the sheer catchiness of it. The recurring repetition of the chorus makes it fun and lively. I can also envision this song being very relatable to many adolescents and young adults on the journey of finding a significant other.
Aside from the upfront conception of being the coolest person ever, Charli explores the downside of self exploration and the process it takes to love yourself. “I might say something stupid” is the first song to take a slower approach and take a break from the upbeat party tunes. The brat image is set aside and the track dives deeper into the more negative thoughts one might have while trying to fit into society. The tracks “So I” and “Rewind” have a similar message, including the lyric, “I’d go back in time to when I wasn’t so insecure.” This inclusion of songs reveals a more raw side. While a brat is supposed to be perfect and unbothered, there has to be some realness to it.
Overall, BRAT is the perfect pick-me-up album and is a true rollercoaster of emotions. I was thoroughly entertained listening to this album, and I acknowledge Charli XCX’s talent as a songwriter and artist. She was able to transfer her confidence and emotions through her album onto the younger generations to create the most iconic summer hits.