The album may be short, but it is certainly the sweetest treat fans of Sabrina Carpenter could have gotten to close out the summer. Just over two years since her last album release, “Emails I Can’t Send,” Carpenter released her sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet,” on Aug. 23.
Full of witty wordplay and tragic lyrics set to delightful beats, Carpenter’s album represents how she continues to experiment with her sound while reminding the masses of her ever-growing star power.
The album opens with “Taste,” a classic pop song with light rock undertones in the instrumentals. Carpenter takes on a clever yet passive-aggressive tone as she taunts her ex-boyfriend’s new partner, reminding them that she had him first, and they’ll just have to deal with her haunting the narrative of their relationship.
As well as having what is, arguably, the best bridge on the album, this track carries similar themes to Olivia Rodrigo’s 2021 hit, “déjà vu,” with lyrics like “Every time you breathe his air / Just know I was already there.”
Following the summer hit “Please, Please, Please” is the third track, “Good Graces.” The beat is fast and fun. From a certain lens, this song could be seen as the more intimidating sister of “Please, Please, Please,” justifying its place in the album order. Listeners hear Carpenter threaten her man to stay in line instead of begging him to like she does on the album’s second track.
Sadly, though, this track has no bridge, leaving listeners to savor just three minutes and five seconds of two verses and a chorus. This is the first song in the album that signaled one of its flaws: the length.
“Sharpest Tool” puts Carpenter’s wordplay skills into full effect, specifically in the pre-chorus. Following the formula of The Wanted’s “Glad You Came,” Carpenter starts every line in the pre-chorus with the last word of the line that came before, showcasing her wits and ability to create a song that is nothing short of an earworm.
“Bed Chem” is undoubtedly one of the funniest and most provocative songs on the album. In just under three minutes, Carpenter leans into the “horny Shakespeare” moniker like never before, with lyrics like “Where art thou? Why not uponeth me?”
Sonically, the song has a smooth, beachy, ‘60s vibe, and Carpenter continues to show off her range and falsetto in the chorus.
“Dumb & Poetic” slows the album down with beautiful instrumentals and insults that will land this song on any person’s “I Hate Men” playlist. The only issue with this song is once again the length. At only two minutes and thirteen seconds, it is the shortest song on the album, which is saying something given that, in total, the album is barely over 35 minutes long.
The album’s country influence is palpable in “Slim Pickins.” Lyrically, the song is incredibly relatable, as Carpenter hopelessly laments the lack of options she has when looking for a suitable man. The song seems to be the inverse of “Bed Chem,” where instead of finding a perfect man with whom she has wonderful chemistry, Carpenter is settling for whatever she can get.
By the end of the album, it’s clear that Carpenter is still experimenting with her sound, although these songs prove she is becoming increasingly comfortable with it. While the length of the album is disappointingly short, Carpenter makes up for it with her stunning vocals, clever songwriting, and sheer musicality.