Brat (album)
Brat | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 7 June 2024 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 41:23 | |||
Label | Atlantic[1] | |||
Producer | ||||
Charli XCX chronology | ||||
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Singles from Brat | ||||
Deluxe Edition cover | ||||
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Brat is the sixth studio album by English singer Charli XCX, released through Atlantic Records on 7 June 2024. She announced the record on 28 February 2024, and released the first single, "Von Dutch", the next day. The second single from the album, "360", was released on 10 May 2024.
Charli has described the album as being aggressive and confrontational. Brat received unanimous acclaim from music critics, many of whom praised the vulnerability of the lyrics. As of June 2024, it is the highest-rated album of 2024 on Metacritic.[2]
A deluxe version with three additional tracks, titled Brat and It's the Same But There's Three More Songs So It's Not, was released on June 10, 2024.[3]
Background and recording
The album evokes and channels the illegal London rave scene where Charli XCX started performing "when [she] was 14 or 15".[4] This is her sixth studio album and first after renewing her contract with Atlantic Records in early 2023.[5][6] It was announced on 28 February 2024, a day before the release of the lead single "Von Dutch", which was released on 29 February.[7][8]
According to Charli XCX, Brat is her "most aggressive and confrontational record", but also her most vulnerable.[9] On 22 February, during her Boiler Room warehouse set, she debuted snippets of tracks identified as "Spring Breakers" and "365".[10] She was joined on the stage by Addison Rae and Julia Fox;[11] a "Von Dutch" remix with Rae and A. G. Cook was released on 22 March.[12] On 6 March, she premiered "So I" at the Billboard Women in Music event.[13] "Club Classics" and "B2B" were released on 3 April as a two-pack promotional single. She also mentioned that brat "is probably the closest album to Pop 2 in it’s ethos".
After teasing the song for a few days, on 29 April, Charli announced the release of the next single, "360". It was released on 10 May alongside its music video, which was teased earlier that day, and was described by her as "[her] best music video ever". The music video features multiple "it girls", including Chloë Sevigny, Julia Fox, Rachel Sennott, Alex Consani, Emma Chamberlain, Chloe Cherry, Richie Shazam, Gabbriette, Hari Nef and more. A "360" remix featuring Robyn and Yung Lean was released on 31 May.[14]
Composition
Brat is a EDM,[15][16] hyperpop,[17] and dance[18] record. As Charli XCX told Billboard's Katie Bain, Brat is produced from a tight collection of sounds to create "this unique minimalism that is very loud and bold".[4] The Face's Shaad D'Souza compared the album's sound to 2000s-era Ministry of Sound compilations The Annual and Rihanna's 2010 album Loud, describing the lyrics as "shady and bratty, but tender and heartbreaking".[9]
Charli XCX has confirmed that one track from the album, "Girl, So Confusing," explores her contentious relationship with a fellow female artist. "Sympathy is a Knife" also alludes to this.[citation needed]
Another track, partially inspired by Red Scare co-host Dasha Nekrasova and actress and singer Julia Fox, focuses on society's "fascination with mean girls".[9]
The Face described the track "So I" as "a knotty exploration of her grief about [the death of] Sophie".[19][20][21]
Artwork
Brat's cover artwork and packaging was designed by New York City-based studio Special Offer, Inc.[22] The cover, a low resolution lime green square with the title disproportionately imposed on it, was met with criticism. In a cover story interview for Vogue Singapore, she told Chandreyee Ray that the criticism led her to question why fans feel "ownership over female artists" so much so that they demand their photograph be on all of their work; she had previously dubbed it "mysoginistic [sic] and boring" on Twitter. She further explained the album cover and particularly the colour choice, deeming green heavily oversaturated in the media and fashion "as of late": "I wanted to go with an offensive, off-trend shade of green to trigger the idea of something being wrong. I'd like for us to question our expectations of pop culture—why are some things considered good and acceptable, and some things deemed bad? I'm interested in the narratives behind that and I want to provoke people. I'm not doing things to be nice." People's Sadie Bell linked the album cover with the nature of the album, which Charli XCX dubbed "confrontational".[23][24]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.4/10[25] |
Metacritic | 95/100[26] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Exclaim! | 9/10[28] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Line of Best Fit | 9/10[18] |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Paste | 9.0/10[32] |
Pitchfork | 8.6/10[33] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brat was met with universal acclaim from music critics. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Brat received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 95 out of 100 from 23 critic scores.[26] As of June 2024[update], out of the entire Metacritic catalogue, it ranks as the highest-rated album of 2024, and as the 16th-highest-rated album of all time.[36] The review aggregator site AnyDecentMusic? complied 21 reviews and gave the album an average of 8.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[25] Contemporary music critics praised Charli XCX's emotional vulnerability and some dubbed Brat one of the singer's best albums,[37][33][38][39] with Laura Snapes of The Guardian calling it a "masterpiece".[29]
Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine described the album as "bratty and brash" but "frequently vulnerable".[35] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote that Brat "seesaws between extremes... a hyperpop rollercoaster of post-Saturn return, early-thirties anxieties, and It-girl bravado".[17] Ben Tipple from DIY saw the album as a manifestation of the singer's rave roots, dubbing it "an unmistakable representation of her very core; an exhilarating ode to the multiple facets of club culture."[40] At Pitchfork, Meaghan Garvey praised the album as one of Charli XCX's best, giving the album the website's "Best New Music" designation.[41]
Writing for Paste, Eric Bennett praised the album and described it as "messy and vulnerable... in a way Charli's work has lacked over the last decade".[32] Vera Maksymiuk of Riff Magazine wrote that "whether on punchy and sassy single 'Von Dutch' or on more stripped-back songs like 'I think about it all the time'...you can feel Sophie watching over her, guiding her and coaxing her out of her creative comfort zone, as she did in life".[42]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Charlotte Aitchison, except for "Apple", which was co-written by Noonie Bao.
No. | Title | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "360" | 2:13 | ||
2. | "Club Classics" |
|
| 2:33 |
3. | "Sympathy Is a Knife" |
|
| 2:31 |
4. | "I Might Say Something Stupid" |
| Gesaffelstein | 1:49 |
5. | "Talk Talk" |
| 2:41 | |
6. | "Von Dutch" |
| Easyfun | 2:44 |
7. | "Everything Is Romantic" |
|
| 3:23 |
8. | "Rewind" |
|
| 2:48 |
9. | "So I" |
|
| 3:31 |
10. | "Girl, So Confusing" |
| Cook | 2:54 |
11. | "Apple" |
|
| 2:31 |
12. | "B2B" |
|
| 2:58 |
13. | "Mean Girls" |
|
| 3:09 |
14. | "I Think About It All the Time" |
|
| 2:15 |
15. | "365" |
|
| 3:23 |
Total length: | 41:23 |
No. | Title | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
16. | "Hello Goodbye" |
| Cook | 3:39 |
17. | "Guess" |
| The Dare | 2:22 |
18. | "Spring Breakers" |
|
| 2:23 |
Total length: | 49:46 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
- "Spring Breakers" contains a sample of "Everytime" (2003), written by Britney Spears and Annet Artani, and performed by Spears.
Personnel
- Charli XCX – vocals
- Idania Valencia – mastering (tracks 1–5, 7–15)
- Randy Merrill – mastering (tracks 2, 6, 12)
- Manny Marroquin – mixing (tracks 1, 8)
- Tom Norris – mixing (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 13)
- Bart Schoudel – mixing, vocal engineering (tracks 4, 12)
- Gesaffelstein – mixing (tracks 4, 12)
- Geoff Swan – mixing (tracks 7, 9, 11, 14)
- Cirkut – vocal engineering (tracks 1, 8)
- George Daniel – vocal engineering (tracks 2, 11)
- Jon Shave – vocal engineering (tracks 3, 9)
- Finn Keane – vocal engineering (tracks 3, 14)
- A. G. Cook – vocal engineering (tracks 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16)
- Ashley Jacobson – vocal engineering (track 6)
- Hudson Mohawke – vocal engineering (track 13)
- Matt Cahill – mixing assistance (tracks 7, 9, 11, 14, 15)
References
- ^ Gonzalez, Alex (28 May 2024). "Charli XCX Teared Up Over A Boy's Ideal Of A Party On 'Recess Therapy'". UPROXX. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Album Releases by User Score". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b Bain, Katie (1 March 2024). "How Charli XCX Returned To Her Rave Roots For 'Loud and Bold' New Album". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ Geraghty, Hollie (23 February 2023). "Charli XCX reveals she's signed a new record contract". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (22 February 2023). "Charli XCX reveals details of new record contract". NME. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (28 February 2024). "Charli XCX Teases Upcoming Sixth Studio Album, Brat". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX announces new album Brat". The FADER. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b c D'Souza, Shaad (19 February 2024). "Charli XCX knows you're obsessed with her". The Face. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Gaca, Anna (1 March 2024). "Charli XCX: "Von Dutch"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ Carter, Ashleigh (23 March 2024). "Addison Rae Ad-Libbed Her Iconic Scream On Charli XCX's "Von Dutch" Remix". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (22 March 2024). "Charli XCX Has Shared 'The Von Dutch Remix with Addison Rae & A. G. Cook'". Dork. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (7 March 2024). "Charli XCX Debuts Sophie Tribute Song "So I" at Billboard Women In Music: Watch". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (31 May 2024). "Charli XCX Enlists Robyn and Yung Lean for New "360" Remix". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (28 February 2024). "Charli XCX Reveals New Album 'Brat,' a 'Club Record,' Will Arrive This Summer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Sunkel, Cameron (26 February 2024). ""I Came From the Clubs": Charli XCX's Upcoming Album Is Her Dance Music Magnum Opus". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (3 June 2024). "Review: With Brat Charli XCX Dances on the Edge". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Charli XCX: Brat Review – vulnerable pop | Pop". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ Smith, Serena (7 March 2024). "Charli XCX shares SOPHIE tribute song, 'So I'". Dazed. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Garcia, Thania (8 March 2024). "Charli XCX Debuts Song Dedicated to Late Producer Sophie, Karol G Is Woman of the Year and More From Billboard's Women in Music Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ D'Souza, Shaad (19 February 2024). "Charli XCX knows you're obsessed with her". The Face. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ @specialoffer.inc (28 February 2024). "SPECIAL OFFER, Inc. for CHARLI XCX: album artwork and packaging. Most thankful to @jackusinclair and @_ph.ia and @imogene without whom I'd be nothing". Retrieved 8 June 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ Ray, Chandreyee (1 April 2024). ""I wouldn't have a career without the LGBTQ+ community": Charli XCX on pop culture, heritage and using her voice for good". Vogue Singapore. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Bell, Sadie (2 April 2024). "Charli XCX Responds to Criticism of Her Brat Album Artwork: 'I'm Not Doing Things to Be Nice'". People. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Brat by Charli XCX reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Brat by Charli XCX Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Brat by Charli XCX". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Korngut, Josh (8 June 2024). "Charli XCX Brat Album Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b Snapes, Laura (6 June 2024). "Brat review – insecurity-obliterating anthems by pop's most human superstar". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Brown, Helen (6 June 2024). "BRAT review: Dance-pop star slips a little vulnerability into her clever, anarchic beats". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX – Brat". NME. 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Charli XCX Triumphs Through Pop Catharsis on Brat". Paste. 5 June 2024. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ a b Garvey, Meaghan (6 June 2024). "Charli XCX: BRAT Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Review: With Brat Charli XCX Dances on the Edge". Rolling Stone. 3 June 2024. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (3 June 2024). "Charli XCX Brat Review: Existential Crisis on the Dance Floor". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Album Releases by User Score". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Gillis, Drew (7 June 2024). "brat review: Charli XCX delivers her best album in years". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Santiago, Gio (7 June 2024). "Charli XCX - Brat · Album Review". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (5 June 2024). "Charli XCX: Brat album review — a pop star shows us what she's made of". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX – Brat". DIY. 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ Garvey, Meaghan (6 June 2024). "Review: Charli XCX: BRAT Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Album Review: Charli XCX honors club culture and Sophie on Brat". Riff Magazine. 5 June 2024. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.