Is Sabrina Carpenter’s New Album as Tasty as It Sounds?

Sabrina Carpenter recently released her highly anticipated sixth album, Short n' Sweet. That's right, this is her sixth album. Although she's been blowing up lately, Sabrina has actually been making music for quite some time. But with her recent stint on The Era's Tour and the "Espresso" craze, it's been a particularly huge year for Miss Carpenter. She's been widely embraced in pop culture for her Polly Pocket aesthetic, cheeky attitude, and pop hits.

I listened to the Short n' Sweet album on the day it came out (August 23, 2024) and have continued to soak it all in. Now, let’s dive into the album as I explore my thoughts on each track.

"Taste"

"Taste" is a fun pop song with a nostalgic feeling. There's something about the background music, and when she says "I" at the beginning of the chorus, that creates this nostalgia. I also love her little "La la la la la la" throughout. Of course, we have to talk about the music video, too. The "Taste" music video dropped the same day as the album and is classic Sabrina Carpenter. It fits the brand of videos she's put out lately, often involving a little touch of violence. While it is a bit gory, it's still fun and cutesy. The narrative twists at the end are so great, too, with Sabrina and Jenna seemingly becoming friends (or perhaps more) once the man is out of the picture.

"Please Please Please"

We've all been hearing this one for a while now, as it came out as a single in June. The song has a bit of a fun twang to it and shows off her vocals, but it's not my favorite, and I don't have it saved. Like most people, I think it was a smart PR move to include Barry in the music video and stir up even more buzz. The girl knows what she's doing.

"Good Graces"

"Good Graces" is definitely a bop. My coworker said it sounds like an Ariana Grande song, and I agree. Sabrina loves to make a point that she is a Cool Girl™, and she is. Yes, she'll fall deeply for you, but that doesn't mean she's easily manipulated. If things go south, she will move on, and she will be spiteful about it.

"Sharpest Tool"

I love this one! It's a little slower, but I wouldn't consider it a "slow song" if that makes sense. It still has that "bop" quality to it. Her voice has a beautiful, airy vibe here that's so dreamy. I also really like how she sings the line, "Seems like overnight I'm just a bitch you hate now." It just hits something satisfying for me. Beyond the sound, the song's content is something many people can relate to. Who doesn't love a confusing situationship that gives you whiplash? So fun! But yeah, I really love this one sonically.

"Coincidence"

Along with the songs above (aside from "Please Please Please"), this was an initial save for me. Something a little country is going on in the background that's super fun. I picture cowboy boots and cute girly dresses when I listen to it. Her voice shines here, too, as always. This song has some great lines (once again, as always). I love the lines "Last week, you didn't have any doubts / This week, you're holding space for her tongue in your mouth" and "Your car drove itself from LA to her thighs."

"Bed Chem"

Here, we have the first song on the list that I only added after the album had been out for a few days. I'd been seeing Sabrina re-posting Insta stories of people listening to "Bed Chem," which inspired me to revisit it. I don't know why this didn't stand out initially, but I love it now. (I thought it was called "Bad Chem" for the first few days lol). I love, love, love the chorus and how her voice sounds in it. The whole song is really cute, flirty, and playfully suggestive. We all know Sabrina likes to be a little cheeky. I'm not gonna put any lyrics here, but just give it a listen.

"Espresso"

We've all been bopping to this one for a minute! "Espresso" came out in April and promised to be the summer song. This is at least partially due to the music video, which gave off that summery aesthetic. The song is pop perfection. It's pure fun. It also gave us the iconic lines "That's that me espresso" and "I'm working late cause I'm a singer". Espresso isn't as new as most of the album, but it stays a certified bop.

"Dumb & Poetic"

This is another one I don't have saved. While "Dumb & Poetic" certainly shows her talent, it doesn't do much for me. It's just a little too ... boring for my liking. I'm so sorry. I'm not against slow songs, but this one isn't as much for me.

"Slim Pickins"

Although it wasn't released as a single, "Slim Pickins" is another one we knew before the album dropped since Brina's been playing it at her shows lately. As some people have been saying, it gives Dolly Parton. It's so fun when she dips into this country-girl vibe, and it really suits her! But she's versatile, and it's not her main style, which makes it feel extra special.

"Juno"

This song is so damn fun and sunny and feel-good! It might just be my fav on the album (but favs are ever-changing, aren't they?). It makes me want to dance and spin and jump around. While I absolutely do not want anyone to make me Juno, I will absolutely jam TF out to the song. It's another perfect driving-with-the-windows-down moment.

"Lie To Girls"

"Lie To Girls" has a very pretty, airy quality. I don't have it saved now, but I am reconsidering. Some songs need a few listens! I don't see it entering my top songs from the album, but I like it more than I did initially.

"Don't Smile"

The final song! And you know what, I might cry because it's over. Maybe it's too obvious, but it's the perfect song to wrap up the album. Like "Lie to Girls" and "Sharpest Tool", it has a dreamy ethereal quality that's very enchanting. Ok, this is getting added to my liked songs now. I just needed some time! The whole concept is great, too. Sabrina takes a classic saying and flips it. The song is sad and lovely. "Don't smile because it happened, baby / Cry because it's over / (I want you to miss me, I want you to miss me) / Oh, you're supposed to think about me / Every time you hold her." She sheds the cool attitude and gets really vulnerable. It's a beautiful song.

Short 'n Sweet Hits the Spot

So, is Short 'n Sweet as tasty as it sounds? 100%! This album is so, so good, and there are lots of bops! A few songs aren't my favorite, but it's really hard to find a no-skip album. Overall, I love the album. It's fun, energizing, and perfectly shows off her vocal skills and playful personality. Although the autumn season is approaching, the vibrant pop nature of the album gives us all another burst of summer before the season fades. There's no need to rush into pumpkin spice just yet. (Even though the "Taste" video was very much giving ~Spooky Season~).

I'm excited to see Sabrina's career continue to grow, and I'm even more excited for the future music she'll make! She's already put out some exclusive bonus tracks, but I'm just going to patiently wait until they're released for everyone. Now go stream to Short 'n Sweet! It's delicious.