3.5 out of 5.0 stars
On Aug. 29, Sabrina Carpenter released her seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” The album focuses on themes of sexual empowerment and frustration within romantic relationships while telling the story of a failed romance and its aftermath. Produced by Jack Antonoff and John Ryan and written alongside Amy Allen, “Man’s Best Friend” acts as a cohesive follow-up to Carpenter’s 2024 album, “Short n’ Sweet.”
Carpenter, who rose to fame in her teenage years as an actress on Disney Channel, became popular as a singer and songwriter after the release of her 2022 album “Emails I Can’t Send,” and her performance as an opening act in Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Carpenter’s music is known for its relatable lyrics and catchy melodies that appeal to teens and young adults. “Man’s Best Friend,” while featuring lyrics and themes that make it slightly more mature than her previous albums, ultimately holds up to the same standards.
The album’s opening track, “Manchild,” was released as its first single on June 5, ahead of the album’s official announcement. The song quickly grew in popularity on TikTok with a popular dance trend and has since amassed over 300 million streams worldwide. While “Manchild” was met with a positive response upon its release, the album received criticism when it was announced a week later. Its cover, which portrays Carpenter on all fours with a man holding a fistful of her hair, was met with disapproval from fans who thought it promoted female submission. Following the controversy, three alternate album covers were released.
The album does an excellent job of telling a cohesive story when listened to in order. The first two tracks, “Manchild” and “Tears,” are upbeat pop songs that depict a relationship that is slowly described to be more toxic in subsequent tracks such as “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night.” Once the couple breaks up, track six, “Nobody’s Son,” takes on a slower tempo and a slightly more acoustic sound as Carpenter grieves her relationship and reflects on its end.
In its second half, the album begins to pick up again with more up–tempo songs such as “When Did You Get Hot?” which has lyrics about finding a rebound. The album’s concluding track, aptly named “Goodbye,” marks the final farewell to the relationship in an upbeat track with production reminiscent of the music of ABBA through the use of synthesizer and keyboard tracks. Carpenter put clear thought into the effect the songs’ order has on the story of the album, which adds to the listening experience.
Another highlight of the album is its over-the-top instrumentals. Several of the album’s songs have an orchestral sound, utilizing lots of violin, piano, bass and acoustic guitar in songs such as “Nobody’s Son” and “My Man on Willpower.” Additionally, both “Tears” and “Go Go Juice” feature instrumental interludes within the songs, with the fiddle solo being a major highlight of “Go Go Juice.”
While “Man’s Best Friend” proves to be a fun listen, many of the songs fail to stand out, especially compared to the several prominent hits Carpenter earned on “Short n’ Sweet.” This could be due to the lack of diversity in producers between the albums. While Antonoff and Ryan worked on both albums, “Short n’ Sweet” also featured the work of Julian Bunetta and Ian Kirkpatrick, who contributed to popular songs such as “Taste” and “Good Graces.” With a smaller team working on “Man’s Best Friend,” some of the music suffers from a lack of individuality.
Overall, “Man’s Best Friend” is an energetic, feel-good album filled with songs perfect for partying or for a cathartic listen after the end of a relationship. As Carpenter continues her tour with over 20 appearances scheduled in the next few months, fans will soon get the opportunity to hear the new album performed live.
