Sympathy is a knife, b2b, rewind are top 3. Von dutch right after them😆 It's so hard tho, I love the whole album. I had mid-high expectations and it still surpassed them
the new commercial peaks Lana and Charli are experiencing making their BEST and most adventurous music yet just goes to show that having a loyal “cult” following is way more important than charting or having top 40 hits. Brat cements Charli as the legend and pioneer she already was when the vroom vroom EP came out
Honestly a cult fanbase that’ll stay with you through thick and thin IS worth more than just being a wallflower pop star that loses steam after 2 or 3 hits and has no cult base to lean back on or experiment with! Lana’s another great example of p much abandoning charts for consistent album and tour sales
They both also peaked in critical acclaim as well! Brat is currently the highest rated album of this year (93 on metacritic, 88 on AOTY) (Edit: Brat keeps rising and is now 95 on metacritic and 90 on AOTY)
like finding the tastiest freshest coldest most delicious water you could take a gulp of, when everyone else around is trying to offer you a warm bottle of dasani. this album slaps hard thanks for a another great video!
Thank you! And YES! Omg, it’s the first record this year to kinda flub all my expectations in every way possible but still deliver on the artist’s sort of promise or vision. Tough needle to thread!
@@EljohnMacaranas i wish she had more exposure, she could really have the other popgirlies trembling in her boots if they mainstreamed her properly! cant wait for remixes
You're so right about 360 having all its lines being Instagram caption perfect, it's so catchy and gets stuck in your head and also soooooo clever, my favorite from her, it's so casually elegant 😩, "I'm everywhere I'm so julia" has got to be the "I'm working late cuz I'm a singerrr" for Charli
love how this album goes really hard with the high energetic tracks and yet goes very vulnerable and raw with the more personal ones. the melancholic melody, rawness and demo-ish/unfinished sound of i think about it all the time absolutely gets me.... cant wait for the remix album
I think about it all the time has this like dark yet real tone to it, underrated! The album’s such a perfect mix of her hyperpop stuff but with the lyrical talent she kinda sidelined after True Romance and Sucker. The remix album will destroy me!
ill just copy paste my review :P This album is the apex of everything Charli has been building up to in her career. From the incredible, glitchy, avant-garde productions from long time collaborator A. G. Cook to the deep, catchy, and rich pop hooks and lyrics, this album easily wins my AOTY. Charli manages to mix 90s house with glitch pop in a truly novel way, and every new song managed to surprise me in multiple ways. When I heard the house piano line in "Mean Girls," my jaw genuinely dropped. When I realized she was singing about the late hyperpop pioneer SOPHIE in "So I," I nearly teared up. In spite of all of the incredibly smart promo and publicity (thanks in part to the incredibly passionate queer community), Brat shows Charli at her artistic, emotional, vulnerable, confident best yet, and is absolutely worth a listen.
I agree it’s pretty much the culmination of Charli’s career thus far. Like it feels like the record that Pop2 had sorta been teasing, self-titled is great and CRASH was a cute detour but brat is pretty much the real successor to Pop2
i truly think of sophie's death as one of the cursed moments of this timeline, that shifted the course of broadly defined culture forever. my heart breaks when i ponder on the amount of artistic genius we could have seen, but never will. sophie transformed the lives of many and could have given so much more good to the world through her vision. we lost a star that is impossible to replace i'm afraid, although it gives me comfort that she remains an inspiration to others and will remain for decades to come.
I saw someone on Twitter describe this album as a love child between XCX World and HIFN and I have to agree. She gave us hit after hit. This is gonna hit so hard when I go to Provincetown this month
@@EljohnMacaranasIt also has the same vulnerability that she hadn’t shown since True Romance IMO. I always thought that album was amazing even when it doesn’t have this cutting edges production.
tbh the boiler room set had stunning hard hitting remixes and she could have easily gone for the ministry of soundish rebrand but I like that she's giving something a bit fresher, lighter and oxygenated here. I think the snot green theme riled everyone up but now that the album is out it gives this slightly off garnier freshness which I love. I also like how the straightforward lyricism allows for the high concept commercialism to leak out into simple, mundane existential feelings. For me it's like a soundtrack to waiting at a bus stop next to a soggy prada ad.
That last sentence is so real. But yeah, I’m glad she’s not a servant to her references. The grimy green is actually really perf and the lyricism strikes that balance of diaristic yet brief! Like I adore detailed lyrics but only if the instrumentals allow for it. There’s a cool aerodynamic feel to it all! 💚
you forgot to mention that she heavily draws influence from early 2000s Myspace DIY music on this album. She grew up around that era so it is nice to see her bring that aesthetic back
Easily my fav pop album of the year and a very strong AOTY contender in general. It's such an exhilarating record and feels like the culmination of everything she's been doing for the past few years. I'm so happy seeing Charli finally getting her flowers.
I've listened to this album now 9 times since yesterday and I'm still processing everything. And that's the best thing about Charli and her best work, and why I think Crash, even though a good album and has aged better than I thought it would, ultimately failed in comparison as a Charli album, cause it didn't challenged the listeners imo. I'll be honest, I was very put off the first listen of brat (the rave almost took me 😂) but the need to listen to again and again and again, was there. Now I think it's top 3 on her discography and the love only grows! She gave me the chaos that I needed Holy trinity of tracks atm Sympathy is a knife, Rewind and 365. Honestly though, every song slaps, the only one that I haven't vibed with yet is Apple. I do have one slight critic though. I wish she retired the trend of short songs by now, but oh well, streaming era two and a half minute songs are here to stay I guess! Happy Pride king, I hope u dance and cry to this album this month at the clubs, sure hope I will.
Like I agree on the Crash assessment. It’s not a failure by any means but Brat lets her have her cake and eat it and people apparently wanted that for her! I love your trinity and have to say Apple is a decent track! I think upon learning it was about her parents and intergenerational trauma, I went ohhhhh! Also happy pride month back!!! I’m def clubbing like crazy when I get back to LA
I remember everyone clowning on her on Twitter for the "minimalist music/lyrics" tweet and though the same but she was right the lyrics are very direct but the production is the furthest thing from minimal. This album is easily top 3 in her discography
I love it, it reminded me of HIFN a lot, the house influences were cool, and a couple of the songs' lyrics really hit me where I live lately, especially with aging and wondering "should I become a parent or will I regret doing so?" for "I think about it all the time" and dealing with losing someone close to you for "So I". This album really has it all for me.
It’s really introspective in a way that like captures late 20s early 30s mindsets so well. It’s horrific in a sense that these questions don’t stop no matter how rich, famous or successful you are. Like even someone like Charli is arrested by existential dread!
It's a satire album on "pop star" image, I think ppl especially the fans expected that the album will be a "I'm a pop star so I don't care" type of concept. But what we get instead is a whole take on existence and image while a spotlight is directly pointed at you. The ups and downs, especially how to navigate vulnerability when people expect you to be this solid wall that comes from being a "brat". Definitely one of the best charli albums.
I so agree! I think she ironically did what she sought to do on Crash better here. Like she deconstructed herself and her career in a way that really does feel unique and unsettling
If Spring Breakers isn’t on the deluxe and becomes this era’s Taxi it will cause my life to spiral! Also your review is spot on- Brat is some of her best work imo and somehow manages to be both full of club and car bangers while still being emotionally vulnerable and intensely personal. It feels like such a love letter to her fans too
I love this album. It's definitely in my top three album of the year, besides Billie Eilish and Deeper Well. My favorite tracks are Sympathy with a Knife, Von Dutch and Girls So Confusing. It's also definitely a groover. The more I listen to it the more I like it.
i love this album it’s very fun it might not be my favorite charli album my favorite is self-titled but it’s been so rewarding to be a charli stan during this era. i think talk talk could be the next single it gives off the same energy as 360 and i think if there were any song to go viral from this record it’s talk talk. this album isn’t just a record you can put on in the background to set the mood it has some really deep lyrics you have to digest and this is probably my second favorite charli record yet but i think she can top it
Oh agreed that this is a sit down and listen to full record! Talk Talk is perfect for Pride and the rest of summer!!! Charli (2019) was also a moment just because it’d been like 5 years! Like that era was rewarding too. This one with the Metacritic praise and even casuals admitting this is a solid all-arounder has been a dream!
I like Charli and her music in general yet not to the same height as my best friend does who's a full-time devoted stan of hers (like imagine that my favorite song of hers is Doing It - solo version - from 2014 ijboliana) but when I tell you that Brat feels REFRESHING AND REINVIGORATING. Because Charli has made it clear that (1) she WILL she SHALL do whatever the hell she wants and whatever comes out of her cooch (2) she gives two flying fuxks about being "relatable" in her music; however, by giving us songs as "Girl, so confusing" or "So I" or "Sympathy....." she accomplishes that with heightened success because she portrays herself in the most humane way possible. Also she accomplished with heightened success something that bazillion of singers have tried (and many failed) for years: "this album is like crying on the dancefloor".
I think it’s a good album and people are going to pretend it’s one of the best albums ever made, but like, did y’all not hear How I’m Feeling Now? That is the project that should be getting praised.
Tbf I think HIFN was overshadowed by the pandemic (which ironically is why exists) and a lack of proper promo, Brat is her first like hyped promo’d project in this vein with label support!
Honestly How I'm Feeling Now is a masterpiece that deserved far more acclaim than it got due to the time it was released. But I think many fans can tell you that album is easily her best or at least top 2 Charli. I'm just happy to see Charli getting the universal praise she's deserved for so long now with Brat. It feels like people are finally realising how much of a trailblazer and great artist she is.
Brat is my second album of the year behind Cowboy Carter, she really did something here. As someone personally felt bored by Crash, this album is a breath of fresh air, though it hits your lungs intensely
"The kind of song they'd play in a Shrek movie when he's sad about something in the 2nd act" that's crazy 😭😭😭 Leading up to brat, I kept thinking back to what you said in a previous video about how Crash served as a palette cleanser for what Charli does next. As someone who's followed her since 2013, this era feels noticeably different to the others and I think Crash really helped separate her from being known as the "bleep bloop hyperpop girl" and get recognised as an artist in her own lane. And it's not only just in the music and marketing, but Charli herself seems way more confident and in her element compared to past eras and I'm happy for her! 💚👼
My sister’s a director so they always coming up with insane stuff. But yah! I’m shocked how right I was about that statement. Crash was def a smart move to pivot away from being pigeonholed and to prove she could make good “anon pop” as well. But this era was so well-deserved! She’s unadulteratedly herself and being loved for that and very few artists really get that pleasure! Especially in the pop world, I feel like she’s truly just gonna continue her avant pop.
I love all your Charli videos! Brat is obviously incredible, and I'm so happy that it's given Charli both the critical AND popular acclaim she has long deserved. I think my favorite song is Everything is Romantic; it's so different from anything Charli has done-in the best possible way. But I also am obsessed with Von Dutch, Cult Classics, 360, and Girl So Confusing. I've read many people say there are no skips, but I personally don't especially care for Talk Talk. Not to the point of literally skipping it, but ykwim 😂.
I don't think "Girl, So Confusing" is about Marina because they have made music together in 2013. They made a song called "Just Desserts" and I think everyone forgets about that
I can feel how everything Charli’s experienced and worked with coalesces into this album, it’s fantastic, and honestly I think a good start for someone who’s new to her music.
Von Dutch is about Twigs. They had a falling out bc Charli said someone (Twigs) was calling her a flop and a sellout in closed circles in London. It was right before Charli was writing the album.
I think about it all the time is her best in my feels song. Which she has some good contenders like thoughts, i dont wanna know, and enemy. The vocal performance is so sweet and vulnerable
Talk talk, rewind, and everything is romantic were stand out songs for me. They’re all so fun!! I moved to Italy last year and everything is romantic reminds me of why I moved to Rome in the first place. Plus it’s really fun listening to it on a walk in the city, matches the vibe lol
Everything is romantic is so Italy-coded not just lyrically but sonically I must travel there soon! Talk Talk’s easily the most “commercial” track yet still a little edgy. Rewind’s my underrated lil fave 💚 great taste!
Okay, so in my personal opinion, I do think BRAT is amazing. Just think the singles sounded a little bit different compared to the rest of the record, but I can’t explain it. Great review !!
I hate that I got into her so late, I’ve always been stuck in my ways with listening to music primarily in other languages n coming back to English to only hear the pop divas from my childhood (Katy, Gaga , Beyoncé , etc etc) but I’m here now and yeah , she’s great. I’m loving the slow shift into happier beats in the pop realm , when music became more “sad” it’s a reason why I started getting into hearing music in other languages cause I gravitate more towards fast paced dance stuff . But yeah , I loved this album and I was surprised how much I LOVED the deeper more emotional string focused cuts like “I think about all the time, everything so romantic , SO I” . This album was pure fun, even in its “saddest” moments. Deserves the critical praise FOR SURE
@@EljohnMacaranas 1000%, been watching so many video essays on her , she didn’t lie when she said she helped pioneer trends. I’m about to listen to her whole discography!! Thanks for responding x
i got super into charli during probably the best period of my whole life (early quarantine in 2020) so self titled became my fave album of all time and HIFN and Pop2 will forever be so insanely nostalgic to me. I love this album so much but I really hope I can love it as much as those other ones now that i'm kinda going through a rough spot. its so goood. sympathy is a knife and weirdly enough Apple are so addictive.
It sucks to hear you’re going through a rough time! Wishing you all the best! This is def an album about powering through existential dread and fears so it might fit the bill
I personally never listened to charli xcx before ( i heard her popular hits im an 08) but once i heard von dutch i was obsessed and when brat dropped idk it literally made me feel like i was living in the album i love the production and everything ag is a monster with his beats and i love the story telling of the album that its basically the stages of the club where in 360 having fun and stuff but by the end of 365 shes basically stuck in the party girl world where she doesnt eat sleep and partys on repeat as said. I really want to listen to this album when im older for club experiences 😂❤
I honestly didn’t like this album and I couldn’t understand the hype, but this video was so helpful in me understanding this better. I think like with TTPD for me, being a long term fan of Charli absolutely helps in loving this album. While her music isn’t for me, your video definitely gives me a better perspective on what she’s saying here.
I don't know why, but 2024 has been a year of disagreement. I shouldn't say by a terrible margin, but some pop records haven't been connecting with me. While it's more true of Billie Eilish's latest (for now), I think Charli XCX fits into that box as well. While I still happily give it an 8/10, there is something about my personal expectations that is probably holding it back. For whatever reason, I got really into hyperpop around the time of "How I'm Feeling Now" and that record has been one of my most played in the years since. I love the creativity and messiness in the sound production. Given that A.G. Cook is on both, I don't think it's too out of line to compare the two in that way. I get that Cook is moving away from hyperpop aesthetics a little (his new album "Britpop" explores how) and it's not shocking to hear that on "Brat." However, I think because I was in love with "How I'm Feeling Now" (and even what she did on Bottoms with Leo Birenberg) that I find "Brat" a bit too mannered and direct stylistically. I want to be more wowed by the poppiness of the sound, but I am not there. Charli XCX does A LOT of fantastic work on this album, but after two listens there's little sonically that is resonating with me, even in the Cook-iness. With that said, I think it goes without saying that I do love the record because of how personal the lyrics are. Obviously stuff like the ode to Sophie hit hard and I enjoy talk of self-image and mental health mixed in there as well. It's nice to hear her maturing and taking those risks. Again, I don't know that I buy them on an innovative sound level, but then again I'm not someone who has a club mentality, which I feel she emphasized a lot on the record. She's innovative and there's a lot to like, but somehow immediate thoughts put this more in the "lesser" category of her work (I'll probably revisit "Crash" soon, which I remember liking more). Mind you, it's still 8/10 for me, but something hasn't quite clicked yet. I'm sure it will eventually.
Yessss Farrah’s impact! Like it’s kinda insane how that record has had an odd impact on hyperpop and music construction to this day. People reference it without even knowing it!
I'm gonna go as far as to say that BRAT is like a little sister Britney's Blackout due to topics surrounding fame. This is 2020s Blackout for the internet. It's such a well crafted album.
this album is amazing. easily album of the year and it is everything i could have hoped for. the only thing that could have made it better is spring breakers. edit: i can’t believe she actually released spring breakers 😂
I'm literally obsessed with this album and I have only listened to it once (Meghan Trainor also dropped her album so I've had a busy day today 😂) I need a little more time to listen but I'll definitely come back and give some proper thoughts on it later but I'm anticipating the Remix album. I hope we get a Dua Lipa or a Kim Petras collab on it tbh.
Your top 3 of 2024 so far: 1. brat & HIT ME HARD N SOFT (tie): 10/10, 3. COWBOY CARTER: 9.4/10 … other highlights: Eternal Sunshine, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, Radical Optimism, Deeper Well. Can’t wait to see your end of the year ranking in December! We’ll see if Short n’sweet, SZA’s LANA, or Lasso will make the top 10!
@@EljohnMacaranas Charli and Lorde have never had beef. The beef's in question is the one with Marina. They were pretty similar back then like they could be family. They used to hang out and have fun, but that "that froot looks familiar" situation ended this.
I don't know if I'm actually overanalyzing but I feel like Charli's decided to drop songs that are really "bratty", really "bitchy", capturing this feeling of pettiness and petulance before the album came out just so when people actually listen to it, they'll realize how emotional and raw and cruel the b-sides are. How much of a contrast these songs have with one another, you know? The whole concept of the album, as I interpreted based on Charli's explanation, is something along the lines of "Fake it 'til you make it", hide your fears and keep your insecurities beside, so you will not get hurt by being vulnerable. Also Charli said that she tends to be brat with herself, shoving everything down and never letting her mind a room to breathe because of fear, never really taking the proper care that her mental health needed and being so harsh with herself. So I think it's very interesting that the most vulnerable tracks are the ones right by the middle of the album, like we're doing a deep dive into Charli's mindset because she's finally taking a step back, taking care of her traumas and letting herself be with no barriers
I feel like a lot of people really forget between the meme-y and high energy tracks how this is sorta her coming to terms with the fact she might not want to or be able to be that 365PartyGirl. The two little quasi ballads have stuck out to me as genius little breaks from the chaos to remind us that there’s a facade up
mean girls was my favorite track so far until the piano started 😭😭 it was an awesome breakdown at first but the fact that it stayed until the song ended made me hate it
I'm fairly new to Charli xcx. The lead-up singles really drew me into Brat... amazing album! A few comments here mention this as being a top 3 contender, as far as her discography goes. What are generally seen as her are other more adventurous/'best' albums?
I LOVE it Honestly first listen, i haven't payed too much attention to the lyrics because the sound and production gagged me. Apple is one i payed attention to and Mean Girls and both were great for songwriting I love how experimental tbis album is and how vulnerable it is! It's like a club hyperpop version of DYKTTATUOB Strong AOTY contender once I delve into the lyrics more
The songwriting really feels evolved compared to her earlier works though hifn def had spades of the depth here. The sound is so fresh yet still in continuity with the previous work! Ocean Blvd is a good comp in that it’s a refinement of the artist’s core sound and a culmination of previous works and eras!
I think the hype and overdue recognition is part of the whole appeal, it’s genuinely nice seeing a fave of mine who’s kinda been ignored finally get some major publications praising her
It’s the first time I am listening of her and her latest album, let me just say I am hooked, that’s how good this album is, I’m impressed with the textures in sound and the vibe 🟩💚
Brat kinda changed my life. Drop down below what your fave songs were! Also flashing lights/seizure warning 4:12 onwards!
Everything is Romantic, Rewind, and 365
girl, so confusing., 360, B2b, Von dutch, OML ALL OF THE TRACKS R SO GOOD
@@Moxyt0cynpicking just 3 is a nightmare for me
@@noneapplicable1327yaaaas
Sympathy is a knife, b2b, rewind are top 3. Von dutch right after them😆
It's so hard tho, I love the whole album. I had mid-high expectations and it still surpassed them
the new commercial peaks Lana and Charli are experiencing making their BEST and most adventurous music yet just goes to show that having a loyal “cult” following is way more important than charting or having top 40 hits. Brat cements Charli as the legend and pioneer she already was when the vroom vroom EP came out
Honestly a cult fanbase that’ll stay with you through thick and thin IS worth more than just being a wallflower pop star that loses steam after 2 or 3 hits and has no cult base to lean back on or experiment with! Lana’s another great example of p much abandoning charts for consistent album and tour sales
They both also peaked in critical acclaim as well! Brat is currently the highest rated album of this year (93 on metacritic, 88 on AOTY)
(Edit: Brat keeps rising and is now 95 on metacritic and 90 on AOTY)
It’s not about Lana and Lana didn’t do shit. She can barely sing.
Brat permanently changed my brain chemistry. Mother slayed so hard that i found the will to live again
No like I’ve been bratpilled too hard… I can’t not bring it up all the time
@@EljohnMacaranas I mean it was a cultural reset, you're 100% in the right 🤣
Period
like finding the tastiest freshest coldest most delicious water you could take a gulp of, when everyone else around is trying to offer you a warm bottle of dasani.
this album slaps hard
thanks for a another great video!
Thank you! And YES! Omg, it’s the first record this year to kinda flub all my expectations in every way possible but still deliver on the artist’s sort of promise or vision. Tough needle to thread!
@@EljohnMacaranas i wish she had more exposure, she could really have the other popgirlies trembling in her boots if they mainstreamed her properly! cant wait for remixes
You're so right about 360 having all its lines being Instagram caption perfect, it's so catchy and gets stuck in your head and also soooooo clever, my favorite from her, it's so casually elegant 😩, "I'm everywhere I'm so julia" has got to be the "I'm working late cuz I'm a singerrr" for Charli
I’m so everywhere I’m so Julia is such a genius little line
Sympathy is a knife, rewind!!!!
YES! I keep seeing some people on twitter not dig Rewind but ummmm it’s a bop!
@@EljohnMacaranasRewind slander?! but it’s like one of the best 😭
No wayyy, those two are one of my favs as well !! Apple is also great
@@yummiburritobowl apple is so good! 💚
Literally one of her best songs ever
She said in a podcast that apple is about her relationship with her parents. Like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
That tracks… I def avoided pods before recording! Wow! What a beautiful song.
love how this album goes really hard with the high energetic tracks and yet goes very vulnerable and raw with the more personal ones. the melancholic melody, rawness and demo-ish/unfinished sound of i think about it all the time absolutely gets me.... cant wait for the remix album
I think about it all the time has this like dark yet real tone to it, underrated! The album’s such a perfect mix of her hyperpop stuff but with the lyrical talent she kinda sidelined after True Romance and Sucker. The remix album will destroy me!
365 might top Track 10 for me idek 💀 like it’s so good and the SHYGIRL remix
Oh that remix is going to give me a second wind once I hear it in a club
ill just copy paste my review :P
This album is the apex of everything Charli has been building up to in her career. From the incredible, glitchy, avant-garde productions from long time collaborator A. G. Cook to the deep, catchy, and rich pop hooks and lyrics, this album easily wins my AOTY. Charli manages to mix 90s house with glitch pop in a truly novel way, and every new song managed to surprise me in multiple ways. When I heard the house piano line in "Mean Girls," my jaw genuinely dropped. When I realized she was singing about the late hyperpop pioneer SOPHIE in "So I," I nearly teared up. In spite of all of the incredibly smart promo and publicity (thanks in part to the incredibly passionate queer community), Brat shows Charli at her artistic, emotional, vulnerable, confident best yet, and is absolutely worth a listen.
I agree it’s pretty much the culmination of Charli’s career thus far. Like it feels like the record that Pop2 had sorta been teasing, self-titled is great and CRASH was a cute detour but brat is pretty much the real successor to Pop2
Holy shit I am never going to get over SOPHIE’s death, even listening to you explain the context for So I had me choked up.
Seriously, I had to do like 3 takes…
i truly think of sophie's death as one of the cursed moments of this timeline, that shifted the course of broadly defined culture forever. my heart breaks when i ponder on the amount of artistic genius we could have seen, but never will. sophie transformed the lives of many and could have given so much more good to the world through her vision. we lost a star that is impossible to replace i'm afraid, although it gives me comfort that she remains an inspiration to others and will remain for decades to come.
I saw someone on Twitter describe this album as a love child between XCX World and HIFN and I have to agree. She gave us hit after hit. This is gonna hit so hard when I go to Provincetown this month
Omg have fun in P-Town!!!! Also yesss that’s a perfect descriptor!
@@EljohnMacaranasIt also has the same vulnerability that she hadn’t shown since True Romance IMO. I always thought that album was amazing even when it doesn’t have this cutting edges production.
tbh the boiler room set had stunning hard hitting remixes and she could have easily gone for the ministry of soundish rebrand but I like that she's giving something a bit fresher, lighter and oxygenated here. I think the snot green theme riled everyone up but now that the album is out it gives this slightly off garnier freshness which I love. I also like how the straightforward lyricism allows for the high concept commercialism to leak out into simple, mundane existential feelings. For me it's like a soundtrack to waiting at a bus stop next to a soggy prada ad.
That last sentence is so real. But yeah, I’m glad she’s not a servant to her references. The grimy green is actually really perf and the lyricism strikes that balance of diaristic yet brief! Like I adore detailed lyrics but only if the instrumentals allow for it. There’s a cool aerodynamic feel to it all! 💚
you forgot to mention that she heavily draws influence from early 2000s Myspace DIY music on this album. She grew up around that era so it is nice to see her bring that aesthetic back
True Romance was such a perfect little epilogue to that time before music got overpolished again
"Von Dutch" and "Good ones" MV are masterpieces PERIOODT ✨️
She knows how to do a video
dudeee i love brat so much.I love the electronic essence of it and I love how vulnerable she can be on some tracks.
She’s living proof anyone who says electronic music is unemotional or like too too robotic to be canonized is talking out of their ass
Easily my fav pop album of the year and a very strong AOTY contender in general. It's such an exhilarating record and feels like the culmination of everything she's been doing for the past few years. I'm so happy seeing Charli finally getting her flowers.
Oh for sure! And the acclaim she’s gotten! Overdue!
I've listened to this album now 9 times since yesterday and I'm still processing everything. And that's the best thing about Charli and her best work, and why I think Crash, even though a good album and has aged better than I thought it would, ultimately failed in comparison as a Charli album, cause it didn't challenged the listeners imo. I'll be honest, I was very put off the first listen of brat (the rave almost took me 😂) but the need to listen to again and again and again, was there. Now I think it's top 3 on her discography and the love only grows! She gave me the chaos that I needed
Holy trinity of tracks atm Sympathy is a knife, Rewind and 365. Honestly though, every song slaps, the only one that I haven't vibed with yet is Apple.
I do have one slight critic though. I wish she retired the trend of short songs by now, but oh well, streaming era two and a half minute songs are here to stay I guess!
Happy Pride king, I hope u dance and cry to this album this month at the clubs, sure hope I will.
Like I agree on the Crash assessment. It’s not a failure by any means but Brat lets her have her cake and eat it and people apparently wanted that for her! I love your trinity and have to say Apple is a decent track! I think upon learning it was about her parents and intergenerational trauma, I went ohhhhh!
Also happy pride month back!!! I’m def clubbing like crazy when I get back to LA
This era has just been something else, like it’s crazy. Brat 4 life
Metacritic domination, everyone making memes about the green, Charli looking happy for once 💚
Your sister’s comment about Shrek… made me think of I Need Some Sleep from Shrek 2 😭 why did she clock that tea
EELS 💚
I remember everyone clowning on her on Twitter for the "minimalist music/lyrics" tweet and though the same but she was right the lyrics are very direct but the production is the furthest thing from minimal. This album is easily top 3 in her discography
It’s frustrating bc people think quantity is quality, what matters most is how it sounds all together
I love it, it reminded me of HIFN a lot, the house influences were cool, and a couple of the songs' lyrics really hit me where I live lately, especially with aging and wondering "should I become a parent or will I regret doing so?" for "I think about it all the time" and dealing with losing someone close to you for "So I". This album really has it all for me.
It’s really introspective in a way that like captures late 20s early 30s mindsets so well. It’s horrific in a sense that these questions don’t stop no matter how rich, famous or successful you are. Like even someone like Charli is arrested by existential dread!
Your reviews genuinely make me enjoy the music more
Thank you so much 💚 oomfie ILY
that family guy edit… oh the angels are INSANE
i think Angels have the funniest edits like of all the fandoms
It's a satire album on "pop star" image, I think ppl especially the fans expected that the album will be a "I'm a pop star so I don't care" type of concept. But what we get instead is a whole take on existence and image while a spotlight is directly pointed at you. The ups and downs, especially how to navigate vulnerability when people expect you to be this solid wall that comes from being a "brat". Definitely one of the best charli albums.
I so agree! I think she ironically did what she sought to do on Crash better here. Like she deconstructed herself and her career in a way that really does feel unique and unsettling
If Spring Breakers isn’t on the deluxe and becomes this era’s Taxi it will cause my life to spiral! Also your review is spot on- Brat is some of her best work imo and somehow manages to be both full of club and car bangers while still being emotionally vulnerable and intensely personal. It feels like such a love letter to her fans too
She’s dropping Spring Breakers… tonight!
It’s the perfect love letter to Angels 💚
well guess what Mimi, SHE DID!
I feel so blessed rn
The beats are so good, and the album makes you feel cool. It will be on constant repeat!
Yessss! Constant Repeat pun!
I love this album. It's definitely in my top three album of the year, besides Billie Eilish and Deeper Well. My favorite tracks are Sympathy with a Knife, Von Dutch and Girls So Confusing.
It's also definitely a groover.
The more I listen to it the more I like it.
Girl So Confusing is such a bop like omfg its chorus is a bit long but it gets stuck in your head
@@EljohnMacaranas it's starting so simple, but 31 sec in a BOP!!!!
Beth gibbons and Kim Gordons records this year are also incredible
Circling back on this because I saw brat live last night in LA - hoping you were there too. AOTY, I fear.
I’m so jealous! Could not attend but yes, AOTY!
@@EljohnMacaranas hopefully you can catch the Sweat tour!
i love this album it’s very fun it might not be my favorite charli album my favorite is self-titled but it’s been so rewarding to be a charli stan during this era. i think talk talk could be the next single it gives off the same energy as 360 and i think if there were any song to go viral from this record it’s talk talk. this album isn’t just a record you can put on in the background to set the mood it has some really deep lyrics you have to digest and this is probably my second favorite charli record yet but i think she can top it
Oh agreed that this is a sit down and listen to full record! Talk Talk is perfect for Pride and the rest of summer!!! Charli (2019) was also a moment just because it’d been like 5 years! Like that era was rewarding too. This one with the Metacritic praise and even casuals admitting this is a solid all-arounder has been a dream!
I like Charli and her music in general yet not to the same height as my best friend does who's a full-time devoted stan of hers (like imagine that my favorite song of hers is Doing It - solo version - from 2014 ijboliana) but when I tell you that Brat feels REFRESHING AND REINVIGORATING. Because Charli has made it clear that (1) she WILL she SHALL do whatever the hell she wants and whatever comes out of her cooch (2) she gives two flying fuxks about being "relatable" in her music; however, by giving us songs as "Girl, so confusing" or "So I" or "Sympathy....." she accomplishes that with heightened success because she portrays herself in the most humane way possible.
Also she accomplished with heightened success something that bazillion of singers have tried (and many failed) for years: "this album is like crying on the dancefloor".
I think 360 is about being perfect, and 365 is about being consistent and enduring
That’s such a good read! 🟩
brat changed my life
Spill… my brain chemistry has changed
I think it’s a good album and people are going to pretend it’s one of the best albums ever made, but like, did y’all not hear How I’m Feeling Now? That is the project that should be getting praised.
Tbf I think HIFN was overshadowed by the pandemic (which ironically is why exists) and a lack of proper promo, Brat is her first like hyped promo’d project in this vein with label support!
Honestly How I'm Feeling Now is a masterpiece that deserved far more acclaim than it got due to the time it was released. But I think many fans can tell you that album is easily her best or at least top 2 Charli. I'm just happy to see Charli getting the universal praise she's deserved for so long now with Brat. It feels like people are finally realising how much of a trailblazer and great artist she is.
Brat is my second album of the year behind Cowboy Carter, she really did something here. As someone personally felt bored by Crash, this album is a breath of fresh air, though it hits your lungs intensely
The issue with Crash was how anonymous a few of the songs felt, this one’s p much Charli’s personality and uniqueness on display!
Brat and CC and HMHAS are locked in a three way battle like I think each one could be a seasonal fave of mine CC was my Spring fave
"The kind of song they'd play in a Shrek movie when he's sad about something in the 2nd act" that's crazy 😭😭😭
Leading up to brat, I kept thinking back to what you said in a previous video about how Crash served as a palette cleanser for what Charli does next. As someone who's followed her since 2013, this era feels noticeably different to the others and I think Crash really helped separate her from being known as the "bleep bloop hyperpop girl" and get recognised as an artist in her own lane.
And it's not only just in the music and marketing, but Charli herself seems way more confident and in her element compared to past eras and I'm happy for her! 💚👼
My sister’s a director so they always coming up with insane stuff. But yah! I’m shocked how right I was about that statement. Crash was def a smart move to pivot away from being pigeonholed and to prove she could make good “anon pop” as well. But this era was so well-deserved! She’s unadulteratedly herself and being loved for that and very few artists really get that pleasure! Especially in the pop world, I feel like she’s truly just gonna continue her avant pop.
I love all your Charli videos! Brat is obviously incredible, and I'm so happy that it's given Charli both the critical AND popular acclaim she has long deserved.
I think my favorite song is Everything is Romantic; it's so different from anything Charli has done-in the best possible way. But I also am obsessed with Von Dutch, Cult Classics, 360, and Girl So Confusing.
I've read many people say there are no skips, but I personally don't especially care for Talk Talk. Not to the point of literally skipping it, but ykwim 😂.
Everything is Romantic is just an all-timer for me, really captures how it feels to travel to somewhere new and immerse yourself in the new!
You are the first I've heard anyone talk about hot girls. So underrated. I really love brat too.
SUCH A GOOD SONG FROM AN AMAZING MOVIE
I don't think "Girl, So Confusing" is about Marina because they have made music together in 2013. They made a song called "Just Desserts" and I think everyone forgets about that
I think it is about Lorde
I think the Lorde thing probably fits better
everything is romantic, 365, sympathy is a knife ❤
Yaaaaaas Everything is romantic needs more love!
@@EljohnMacaranasExactlyy
I can feel how everything Charli’s experienced and worked with coalesces into this album, it’s fantastic, and honestly I think a good start for someone who’s new to her music.
It’s def a summary of her like career like splashes of each record in there! (Except maybe SUCKER)
maaaaaaaan i loved this album so much it's insane
It shocked me how much I was going to LOVE it?!
Von Dutch is about Twigs. They had a falling out bc Charli said someone (Twigs) was calling her a flop and a sellout in closed circles in London. It was right before Charli was writing the album.
Oh that’s so unfortunate… 😭
I think about it all the time is her best in my feels song. Which she has some good contenders like thoughts, i dont wanna know, and enemy. The vocal performance is so sweet and vulnerable
I feel like it combines elements of those songs in a way that fuses the best parts together
Talk talk, rewind, and everything is romantic were stand out songs for me. They’re all so fun!! I moved to Italy last year and everything is romantic reminds me of why I moved to Rome in the first place. Plus it’s really fun listening to it on a walk in the city, matches the vibe lol
Everything is romantic is so Italy-coded not just lyrically but sonically I must travel there soon! Talk Talk’s easily the most “commercial” track yet still a little edgy. Rewind’s my underrated lil fave 💚 great taste!
Okay, so in my personal opinion, I do think BRAT is amazing. Just think the singles sounded a little bit different compared to the rest of the record, but I can’t explain it. Great review !!
I think the singles def leaned hard into the cool girl angle to the point the other vulnerable songs r hit hard as a surprise!
Thank you for this, you captured the essence of BRAT perfectly
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
I hate that I got into her so late, I’ve always been stuck in my ways with listening to music primarily in other languages n coming back to English to only hear the pop divas from my childhood (Katy, Gaga , Beyoncé , etc etc) but I’m here now and yeah , she’s great.
I’m loving the slow shift into happier beats in the pop realm , when music became more “sad” it’s a reason why I started getting into hearing music in other languages cause I gravitate more towards fast paced dance stuff . But yeah , I loved this album and I was surprised how much I LOVED the deeper more emotional string focused cuts like “I think about all the time, everything so romantic , SO I” . This album was pure fun, even in its “saddest” moments. Deserves the critical praise FOR SURE
She’s truly one of those artists that sneak up on you. I was obsessed with her back when I was in HS around the time True Romance came out!
@@EljohnMacaranas 1000%, been watching so many video essays on her , she didn’t lie when she said she helped pioneer trends. I’m about to listen to her whole discography!!
Thanks for responding x
Thank you for uploading.
Thank you for watching!
Great review! This album is EVERYTHING! i'm so julia!
THANK YOU!
i got super into charli during probably the best period of my whole life (early quarantine in 2020) so self titled became my fave album of all time and HIFN and Pop2 will forever be so insanely nostalgic to me. I love this album so much but I really hope I can love it as much as those other ones now that i'm kinda going through a rough spot. its so goood. sympathy is a knife and weirdly enough Apple are so addictive.
It sucks to hear you’re going through a rough time! Wishing you all the best! This is def an album about powering through existential dread and fears so it might fit the bill
i think u should totally review shygirl!! shes got some cool stuff!
I’m briefly talked about her for one of my year ends! When she drops a new record, I’m gonna def cover properly
an utterly perfect review, AS ALWAYS.
the ONLY reviewer I watch 💚
OMG I WAS LIVING FOR YOUR REACTION! Like I watched it right after I published mine! 🟩
@@EljohnMacaranas 🥹🫶🏻
The fact that she released this Album for Me. It’s literally the height of its core . Brat Summer 💚
She’s taken the summer for me! Most played record this year in just 2 weeks!
I am onboarded as a new fan after brat 💚
Welcome to the Angels!
I swear she uses vocals that were in round n round on 365 like the little ooos sound like they were from that unreleased bop like!!!🤯
Wait… I revisited that demo and omfg her mind
I personally never listened to charli xcx before ( i heard her popular hits im an 08) but once i heard von dutch i was obsessed and when brat dropped idk it literally made me feel like i was living in the album i love the production and everything ag is a monster with his beats and i love the story telling of the album that its basically the stages of the club where in 360 having fun and stuff but by the end of 365 shes basically stuck in the party girl world where she doesnt eat sleep and partys on repeat as said. I really want to listen to this album when im older for club experiences 😂❤
The production is amazing!
I honestly didn’t like this album and I couldn’t understand the hype, but this video was so helpful in me understanding this better. I think like with TTPD for me, being a long term fan of Charli absolutely helps in loving this album. While her music isn’t for me, your video definitely gives me a better perspective on what she’s saying here.
I don't know why, but 2024 has been a year of disagreement. I shouldn't say by a terrible margin, but some pop records haven't been connecting with me. While it's more true of Billie Eilish's latest (for now), I think Charli XCX fits into that box as well. While I still happily give it an 8/10, there is something about my personal expectations that is probably holding it back. For whatever reason, I got really into hyperpop around the time of "How I'm Feeling Now" and that record has been one of my most played in the years since. I love the creativity and messiness in the sound production.
Given that A.G. Cook is on both, I don't think it's too out of line to compare the two in that way. I get that Cook is moving away from hyperpop aesthetics a little (his new album "Britpop" explores how) and it's not shocking to hear that on "Brat." However, I think because I was in love with "How I'm Feeling Now" (and even what she did on Bottoms with Leo Birenberg) that I find "Brat" a bit too mannered and direct stylistically. I want to be more wowed by the poppiness of the sound, but I am not there. Charli XCX does A LOT of fantastic work on this album, but after two listens there's little sonically that is resonating with me, even in the Cook-iness.
With that said, I think it goes without saying that I do love the record because of how personal the lyrics are. Obviously stuff like the ode to Sophie hit hard and I enjoy talk of self-image and mental health mixed in there as well. It's nice to hear her maturing and taking those risks. Again, I don't know that I buy them on an innovative sound level, but then again I'm not someone who has a club mentality, which I feel she emphasized a lot on the record. She's innovative and there's a lot to like, but somehow immediate thoughts put this more in the "lesser" category of her work (I'll probably revisit "Crash" soon, which I remember liking more). Mind you, it's still 8/10 for me, but something hasn't quite clicked yet. I'm sure it will eventually.
great vid love this albummmmmm and charli
THANK YOU... BRAT SUMMER
brat is aoty. hands down
The power to sway elections 🟩
"Play taxi!" and "play spring breakers!" (the two genders)
I’m “play spring breakers” though when she played Taxi at the LA show before going on
My first thought upon especially hearing I might say something stupid was Farrah Abraham as well!
Yessss Farrah’s impact! Like it’s kinda insane how that record has had an odd impact on hyperpop and music construction to this day. People reference it without even knowing it!
I am definitely not a Charli fan. None of her previous work really connected with me. But this album was phenomenal. Its been on repeat.
I think it's such a concentrated effort on her end... loved it
I'm gonna go as far as to say that BRAT is like a little sister Britney's Blackout due to topics surrounding fame. This is 2020s Blackout for the internet. It's such a well crafted album.
Oh it does have echoes of it! Like 2020s fame isn’t being everywhere but rather being watched too much by the same people both admirers and haters
Definitely a 10/10
YES
I'm so glad someone else thought of Farrah Abrahams with I Think About It All The Time
Seminal work by accident like weirdly influenced a lot of
Great review!
Thank you!!! 💚💚💚
Thank you!!! 💚💚💚
brat is amazing I hope she makes a remix album it’s that good! ❤❤❤
WE NEED IT ASAP
its my favorite of this year. everything is romantic.
Everything is romantic is a career best like omfg
Rewind reminds me of Uffie, the influence is there
Uffie’s such an icon 😭
Probably my second favorite release of her after Pop2
Pop2 is such a classic omfg
OMG Charlie, Bey, Taylor, Billie and Ari all in one year. The girls are truly girling
And we still have Lorde allegedly
amazing video
Thank you!!! Will be discussing deluxe tracks on a loose podcast soon-ish… i need the remix album!
@@EljohnMacaranas you WILL see me in your comments if there's a remix album
this album is amazing. easily album of the year and it is everything i could have hoped for. the only thing that could have made it better is spring breakers.
edit: i can’t believe she actually released spring breakers 😂
Spring Breakers just dropped and while it’s tempting to make another video imma just talk about it on the podcast
I'm literally obsessed with this album and I have only listened to it once (Meghan Trainor also dropped her album so I've had a busy day today 😂) I need a little more time to listen but I'll definitely come back and give some proper thoughts on it later but I'm anticipating the Remix album. I hope we get a Dua Lipa or a Kim Petras collab on it tbh.
I need to give miss Trainor a stream later! But yah, I’d love Dua Lipa and Kim and Carly on it
Your top 3 of 2024 so far: 1. brat & HIT ME HARD N SOFT (tie): 10/10, 3. COWBOY CARTER: 9.4/10 … other highlights: Eternal Sunshine, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, Radical Optimism, Deeper Well. Can’t wait to see your end of the year ranking in December! We’ll see if Short n’sweet, SZA’s LANA, or Lasso will make the top 10!
I have a good feeling Lana and SZA will break though and I’m perched for Sabrina whose video is coming shortly and sweetly soon 💙
AG Cook cooked 🧑🍳
i can't wait to see Carly Rae Jepsen do a cover of Talk Talk because when i heard it at first i thought it WAS Carly, the vibe was nearly identical
I need her on the remix 🟩
Watching this on the refrigerator later
Your refrigerator is gonna be yassified 💚
personal aoty
Same!!!
B2b is a Bipity-bop
It’s perfect for the club
Sympathy Is a Knife is about FKA Twigs. Girl, So Confusing is about Marina.
Girl So Confusing being about Marina would make the poetry line fit a bit well even if Lorde does that too
@@EljohnMacaranas Charli and Lorde have never had beef. The beef's in question is the one with Marina. They were pretty similar back then like they could be family. They used to hang out and have fun, but that "that froot looks familiar" situation ended this.
she deserves commercial success!!!!
Honestly she does but I’m glad she’s not a slave to it anymore
I think it is!!
Agreed tbh
I don't know if I'm actually overanalyzing but I feel like Charli's decided to drop songs that are really "bratty", really "bitchy", capturing this feeling of pettiness and petulance before the album came out just so when people actually listen to it, they'll realize how emotional and raw and cruel the b-sides are. How much of a contrast these songs have with one another, you know? The whole concept of the album, as I interpreted based on Charli's explanation, is something along the lines of "Fake it 'til you make it", hide your fears and keep your insecurities beside, so you will not get hurt by being vulnerable. Also Charli said that she tends to be brat with herself, shoving everything down and never letting her mind a room to breathe because of fear, never really taking the proper care that her mental health needed and being so harsh with herself. So I think it's very interesting that the most vulnerable tracks are the ones right by the middle of the album, like we're doing a deep dive into Charli's mindset because she's finally taking a step back, taking care of her traumas and letting herself be with no barriers
I feel like a lot of people really forget between the meme-y and high energy tracks how this is sorta her coming to terms with the fact she might not want to or be able to be that 365PartyGirl. The two little quasi ballads have stuck out to me as genius little breaks from the chaos to remind us that there’s a facade up
mean girls was my favorite track so far until the piano started 😭😭 it was an awesome breakdown at first but the fact that it stayed until the song ended made me hate it
It’s OK the remix album will provide u an alt (i vibe with it bc it’s insane)
The piano is chef's kiss 😍. Also it feels like it has an interpolation of Rihanna's S&M.
@@thesovgc yup, i dont know what i was thinking back when i wrote this lmao, the piano is my favorite part of the track now tbh
i really wish i could've gone to the brat parties in london
The video of her dancing in a crowd of a club, the FOMO I felt!
i feel like she shouldve used the full satisfaction sample at the end of 365
I feel like that’d also work p well I imagine people are gonna edit it themselves at the clubs
in the podcast "la culturistas" she say Apple it's about her parents lol
OMG… the airport makes sense now 😭 avoided the episode for spoiler purposes aside from clips
Everything so romantic, sympathy is a knife, apple
The taste! My most played 3 rn ngl 💚
@@EljohnMacaranas like idk why but Apple just does it for me
I'm fairly new to Charli xcx. The lead-up singles really drew me into Brat... amazing album! A few comments here mention this as being a top 3 contender, as far as her discography goes. What are generally seen as her are other more adventurous/'best' albums?
Definitely give: Pop2, How I’m Feeling Now (esp this one), and Number 1 Angel a listen! Charli (2019) is also pretty solid
@@EljohnMacaranas Thank you, really enjoying these albums!
Sympathy is a knife was AMAZING
Literally the song that probably gagged me the hardest on the first listen other than 365
I LOVE it
Honestly first listen, i haven't payed too much attention to the lyrics because the sound and production gagged me.
Apple is one i payed attention to and Mean Girls and both were great for songwriting
I love how experimental tbis album is and how vulnerable it is!
It's like a club hyperpop version of DYKTTATUOB
Strong AOTY contender once I delve into the lyrics more
The songwriting really feels evolved compared to her earlier works though hifn def had spades of the depth here. The sound is so fresh yet still in continuity with the previous work! Ocean Blvd is a good comp in that it’s a refinement of the artist’s core sound and a culmination of previous works and eras!
It’s definitely her most hyped but not her best
I think the hype and overdue recognition is part of the whole appeal, it’s genuinely nice seeing a fave of mine who’s kinda been ignored finally get some major publications praising her
It’s the first time I am listening of her and her latest album, let me just say I am hooked, that’s how good this album is, I’m impressed with the textures in sound and the vibe 🟩💚
best record of 2024 too, lowkey
Rn, I seriously feel that! And that’s tough considering how many wonderful albums dropped!
Sympathy is a knife🔥
Future classic!!!
She ate.
DEVOURED
No crumbs left 🙏
Talk reminded me of He needs me by carly rae jepsen!!!!
It’s very Dedicated-coded
COLD VISIONS AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
💚