Sabrina Carpenter is back to weigh in on the state of modern romance, and the verdict is … complicated.
On her newest album, “Man’s Best Friend,” the pop princess wavers between confusion, exasperation and longing, but lands always in the end at that same signature sensuality that propelled her sophomore project, “Short n’ Sweet,” to success. The 12-track offering, which dropped Aug. 29, presents an airy, yet candid, look at the 26-year-old’s love life.
On “House Tour,” she cheekily invites a suitor in after a date over an ’80s disco beat; on “Nobody’s Son,” she mines the perils of being a perpetual third wheel; and on “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night,” she chronicles the yo-yo of an on-again-off-again romance.
Sabrina Carpenter issues a warning to ‘pearl clutchers’ about lyrics on her new album
For an album so punctuated by romantic misfortune, the sonic landscape is surprisingly upbeat. She channels Abba, Dolly Parton and, at times, her previous self to gift her audience a raunchy follow-up to “Short n’ Sweet.”
Nearly every song has some double-entendre or sexual innuendo, often delivered in the comic tone listeners have come to expect from Carpenter. Beneath the dirty jokes and Reddi-Whip light synth, the pop star is, however, presenting a clear message: Modern romance is hard. The men are boring, immature, or flaky − she seems to be saying − so you might as well have some “Go Go Juice” and some fun in the meantime.
‘Man’s Best Friend’ album cover sparked controversy
Carpenter’s original album announcement was met with some controversy. When the pop star first posted a picture of the cover on social media — which saw her dressed in a black dress and high heels, kneeling on the ground in a dog-like pose while an unidentified individual stands off to the side and pulls her by the hair — some chided the choice as insensitive and anti-feminist.
Sabrina Carpenter sparks controversy with provocative ‘Man’s Best Friend’ album cover
“This just set us back about 5 decades,” user @uhhhlexa_ wrote on social media, while another, @mgracegunderson, added: “Excited for new music but this cover is a big no from me, dawg. In this political climate?? Girls, get up!”
In a recent interview with “CBS Mornings,” Carpenter addressed the backlash, saying: “My interpretation is being in on the control. Being in on your lack of control and when you want to be in control. Like, I think as a young woman … you’re just as aware of when you’re in control as when you’re not. And I think some of those are choices. And I think for me, this whole album was about the humanity of allowing yourself to make those mistakes, knowing when you’re… putting yourself in a situation that will probably end up poorly.”
Contributing: Edward Segarra
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sabrina Carpenter’s new album ‘Man’s Best Friend’ drips with sexiness
