Album Review: CRASH - Charli XCX

Charli XCX has long been referred to as “the pop star of the future,” with production that often sounds like it’s from the next century. From Pop 2 onward to Charli and how i’m feeling now, Charli XCX’s sound hasn’t changed as much as it has evolved and matured, exploring new sonic and lyrical ideas and concepts that only she can achieve every time. The overcrowded, radio-friendly pop genre makes it hard for many artists to stand out, but Charli XCX has once again resisted certain tropes to create yet another captivating record that will likely pull the industry forward with her latest album CRASH.

Many of the album’s themes that recur throughout such as power, self-destruction, and sex are addressed in the opening title track “Crash”. This song utilizes both hyper-pop sounds and traditional instrumental backing, as seen in the track’s closing guitar solo that sets the tone for what’s to come next. “New Shapes (feat. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek)” follows, and as one of the most popular singles attached to this album, functions well when placed early on in the tracklisting. Both features meaningfully contribute to the aesthetic of the song, which is something that Charli has historically done well making sure of. “Good Ones” has a short runtime of just over two minutes, but the uptempo instrumental and synth-heavy chorus have kept it stuck in my head since its release. “Constant Repeat” has been well-known in Charli’s fandom for a while now as there have been multiple snippets released in the past, and this electro-pop moment helps Charli explore the emotional side of the project.

“Beg For You (feat. Rina Sawayama)” is next, and while I enjoy this track overall, I find that it could’ve benefitted from more compelling lyricism to leave a lasting impact. That being said, Sawayama’s feature is welcomed with open arms, as I see her becoming a big star in the near future. “Move Me” is a melancholic, moody, and reflective halfway point through the tracklisting that doesn’t do much to entice me. Relatively inoffensive, this song just doesn’t seem to earn its placement among its stronger peers. “Baby” is one of those stronger tracks found here, as Charli channels hyper-sexual and female empowerment energy to its benefit.

“Lightning” leaves me wanting just a little bit more complexity like “Move Me” did, but its vocoded chorus was a fantastic studio touch that proves Charli’s technical production is some of the best in the industry. “Every Rule” is a heartbroken ballad that was actually one of the earliest songs written for this project, even before how i’m feeling now’s release. Charli’s lyricism here is as strong as it has been over the course of her past few releases. This tone is immediately flipped on its head with “Yuck”, the charming, love-denying song that I can easily see becoming a radio hit this summer. Charli’s oldest fans will be extremely delighted to hear “Used To Know Me”, which has a club aesthetic that defined her early career but that is still very sonically appealing - this is the biggest bop on the album. “Twice” ends things off on another high note, as Charli reframes the tragedies in her life and decides to instead focus on what she has to appreciate, which is something we should all strive for in a world as crazy as ours.

Charli XCX’s final album on her label Atlantic Records has allowed her to fully embody her hyperpop aesthetic while, this time, catering more to a mainstream audience through the project’s cohesive and widespread rollout. CRASH proves that Charli’s two most recent projects weren’t anomalies, but that she really does have what it takes to live up to the “popstar of the future” reputation that she deservingly acquired early in her career. While not a perfect album, CRASH will still be on repeat for me for a while, and it has earned all of the praise it receives.

Favorite tracks: “Crash”, “New Shapes (feat. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek)”, “Good Ones”, “Constant Repeat”, “Beg For You (feat. Rina Sawayama)”, “Baby”, “Every Rule”, “Yuck”, “Used To Know Me”

SCORE: 7/10

Album Review: how i'm feeling now - Charli XCX

After the release of her 2019 magnum opus Charli, futurist pop-star Charli XCX earned herself much-deserved time away from creating and releasing music if she needed to step away. Instead, amidst what has been an unprecedented and challenging year in many regards, Charli XCX continued to spoil her fans by writing, recording, and producing a new full-length album in its entirety while in quarantine. While this album isn’t as influential or polished as Charli, how i’m feeling now encapsulates and reflects this year’s pandemic quarantine perfectly.

Experimentation tends to pique my interest when listening to new music, which is in large part why Charli XCX’s 2019 album was one of my favorites of the year. Simply put, her music sounds like it is coming from the future, and it is very possible that music to come will be influenced by what she’s doing now. how i’m feeling now continues this trend from track to track, pairing genuine and compelling lyrics with aggressive, highly condensed production which communicates a sort of cabin fever words just can’t convey. The heavy and industrial production contrasts with Charli’s robotic but loving vocals. The themes and topics covered aren’t nearly as abrasive as the sometimes punching bass and synth leads which Charli employs masterfully.

The themes of love and devotion used throughout this album are catchy and sweet, but are sometimes challenged by tracks which portray her in a different light, such as “detonate”. By expressing the wide range of emotions and personality traits which her relationships bring out of her, Charli’s lyricism becomes instantly more compelling and relatable than what would’ve come out of songs conveying perfect love stories. Self-reflection is common in times of isolation, which I’m glad this album acknowledges and accepts.

Charli’s honesty and genuineness are what make me such a fan of her recent music. The stellar production doesn’t hurt, either. While this album isn’t as perfect as it likely could’ve been given more time in an environment more conducive for music production, it captures a lot of the emotions which these dark times have shown us. Not every track is compelling, but the majority of the songs on this project are inventive, impressive, and hopeful. Definitely give this album a listen. Thanks for reading.

Favorite tracks: “pink diamond”, “forever”, “claws”, “detonate”, “c2.0”, “party 4 u”, “visions”

SCORE: 8/10

Album Review: Charli - Charli XCX

2019 continues to prove itself as the year of the successful female pop star. We’ve already been offered stellar albums from Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and Lana Del Rey this year, and to keep that trend continuing, Charli XCX has provided another wonderful project in her album Charli. Utilizing the available design of the pop genre that has become so squeaky clean and radio-friendly, Charli XCX introduces her newly refined and experimental sound that differentiates this album and puts it above a lot of the pop music being released lately.

The record’s opening track “Next Level Charli” is aptly named as it sets the stage for the rest of the tracks yet to come. Listening to this album feels like peeking around the corner and getting a sample of what pop music will sound like in the year 2099. Charli XCX has clearly gained notoriety from her previous works, as the tracklisting features many recognizable names such as Troye Sivan, Haim, Lizzo, and many others, whose presence on this project doesn’t seem like a stream grab or last ditch attempt to save a project. This project doesn’t need saving - its production is next level, its tunes are catchy, and its experimentation is next level.

Some of the deep cuts on this project are what make it so enjoyable for me. The otherworldly and somewhat abrasive ending to “Click”, the dizzying effects paired with standout features on “I Shake It”, and the somewhat robotic vocals found throughout (“Official”, for example) this project are incredibly refreshing. The hits of this project such as “1999” and “Blame It On Your Love (feat. Lizzo)” make it good, but the experimentation makes it great.

Some of the tracks don’t really have an effect on me. That isn’t to say they’re objectively bad, but just lacking in one way or another. “Warm”, for example, seems strangely safe for a project that is taking so many creative risks. Little tweaks here and there could’ve made this project even better, but I’m certainly not disappointed in what this album has to offer.

If you’re a fan of pop music and enjoy experimental music, this is the project for you. Charli XCX delivers pop bops and toys with the genre in a way that makes me excited to be alive to watch pop music take the next step toward the future. Great stuff.

Favorite Tracks: “Next Level Charli”, “1999”, “Official”

SCORE: 9/10