Critic Rating: 8.7/10
On August 29, only one year after the release of Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina wowed her fans once again with the release of her seventh studio album Man’s Best Friend. This new album radiates pure confidence and assertiveness, in the form of twelve quirky pop ballads, each one telling a story of its own. While it appears that Sabrina Carpenter is moving on quickly from the Short n’ Sweet era, which lasted just up to a year and six days, her confidence in her newfound style is admirable, and it shines brightly through all her recent productions.
Needless to say, Man’s Best Friend has been on repeat for me since its release, and there are 5 particular songs I found quite memorable, whether it be for its lyrics, beat, or overall emotional conveyance.
“Tears”: (7/10)
With the official tracklist’s release, I was fully expecting “Tears” to be either a heartfelt recollection of past lovers or a somber recount of her feelings. Upon my first listen, I was shocked to find that this was exactly the opposite. “Tears” is a surprisingly bold, cheeky, and playful track. Sabrina’s disco-pop style beat only amplifies her bold lyrics, which, although catching me off guard at first, quickly were stuck in my mind hours after my first listen. I will say, however, that this song is her most explicit one yet, with one of her fans even remarking that with Short n’ Sweet it was “more in a joking manner with innuendos, now it’s just too straight up.” Even Carpenter admitted herself that her lyrics in “Tears” are simply “Too TMI.” Accompanying the release of the album was the “Tears” music video, the second music video released so far for Man’s Best Friend. While also being a bit too explicit for my liking, I loved its originality and bold horror-style atmosphere; just like the “Taste” music video, Sabrina Carpenter has proven to always nail it with the music videos. Overall, while “Tears” might be too suggestive for my liking, it’s undeniably catchy and complements the album’s strong start.
“We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”: (10/10)
I’m genuinely in awe of what Sabrina Carpenter has created with this song. Her vocals are so heartfelt and powerful (especially in the outro) that she once again managed to drive me to tears with her words. Since the album’s release, I find myself returning to this track over and over; it just speaks directly to my soul in a way I can’t explain. I found “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” to be very reminiscent of “Fruitcake,” her Christmas EP released in 2023, as they both share many of the same harmonies and overall stylistic choices. The nostalgia in this correlation overall makes the song so much more meaningful. I see myself coming back to this song every chance I get.
“Nobody’s Son”: (10/10)
“Nobody’s Son” is a bubbly, fun pop anthem that exposes her vulnerable side while still keeping the track’s atmosphere lighthearted. The chorus in particular is where the song really gets stuck in your head; her artistry is so incredibly beautiful, and her vocal delivery scratches my brain in the perfect way.
“Never Getting Laid”: (9/10)
“Never Getting Laid”, despite what its title suggests, is an incredibly elegant song, with soothing vocals and an airy, soft ending. Sabrina Carpenter really utilizes her upper register for this track, a subtle touch that elevates the song in a pleasant way. The song starts off with a dreamy piano melody, a 70’s-esque production style that elevates the song to a whole other level. While I will say that the outro of “Never Getting Laid” left much to be desired, her overall use of synth tones, combined with her touching lyrics, makes this a standout track on Man’s Best Friend.
“Goodbye”: (10/10)
In my personal opinion, “Goodbye” was the absolute perfect ending for Man’s Best Friend. I enjoyed her witty use of language in her lyrics; her use of the word ‘goodbye’ in French, Italian, and Spanish emphasizes her complete closure, to ensure there’s absolutely no misunderstanding. The bridge of “Goodbye” is purely dialogue; a lighthearted touch that makes the song more interesting and relatable. She also uses the Spanish phrase ‘por siempre, te amo,’ which translates to ‘forever, my love,’ delivering it with such clarity and confidence that it almost sounds bittersweet. The artistry used in both her language and her vocals for the final track of Man’s Best Friend ends the album’s journey with something that is both personal and memorable.
With the release of Man’s Best Friend, fans have spoken out with complaints, claiming that the new album is not up to par with Short n’ Sweet, in terms of both its commercial success and overall listening experience. However, I love that Sabrina Carpenter prefaced the album with the fact that Man’s Best Friend was some of the most fun she’s ever had writing music and releasing songs. She even states in an interview that the album is “just fun – and that’s all it has to be.” At the end of the day, Carpenter was able to release an incredibly strong album that still stays true to the bold, exciting nature of her music, which ultimately is what’s most important.
Fans’ opinions aside, Man’s Best Friend to me was playful, cheeky, and unapologetic in its nature, which is something I truly love about Sabrina’s music. While I will say that the album was a bit overly explicit, compared to Short n’ Sweet which only contained light and humorous references, it’s undeniably catchy and showcases her incredible growth as an artist.
