Charli XCX is back, bigger than ever, and has just released what already sounds like the club album of the year. The self-acclaimed pop girl has once again created an album of hot anthems filled with equal amounts of attitude, relatability and a touch of emotion over the entire glorious 41 minutes. BRAT is sure to be played at beach parties thanks to its heavy focus on synths mixed with retro beats.
The album starts with the instantly iconic ‘360’ setting up BRAT to be an unforgettable LP. The subdued synth instrumental allows listeners to be fully absorbed by Charli’s motivational lyrics, offering the audience some affirmations to relay into a mirror. The singer’s love for non-sensical lyricism makes ‘360’ a delight to break down: “Yeah, 360 / When you’re in the mirror, do you like what you see? / When you’re in the mirror, you’re just looking at me / I’m everywhere, I’m so Julia”. Do the lyrics make sense and does it really matter if they don’t when a track is this much fun?
‘Club classics’ is self-explanatory. The verging-on incessant instrumentals are sure to make ‘Club classics’ a club classic itself. The track is about going out and having fun: “Put your hands up and dance / Yeah, I’m gonna dance all night, that’s right / All night / Never gonna stop till the morning light / Put your hands up and dance”. One thing about BRAT is that it will have you dancing non-stop.
For fans of Charli’s last album, CRASH, ‘Sympathy is a knife’ is sure to be a favourite. From its production to the vocals, the song wouldn’t feel out of place on her last release. The deep synths cut through the track, demanding attention from the listener. The preppy instrumentals, however, can’t hide the lack of confidence in the lyrics: “I don’t wanna share this space / I don’t wanna force a smile / This one girl taps my insecurities / Don’t know if it’s real or I’m spiralling”.
This theme of unassertiveness carries on through multiple songs on BRAT and is in direct contrast to the blasting instruments. Similarly, ‘Rewind’ follows this recipe of fun club energy with lyrics that have a darker tone. The track seems to be Charli looking back on easier times in her life and is filled with self-doubt: “I’d go back in time to when I wasn’t insecure / To when I didn’t overanalyse my face shape / Nowadays, I only eat at the good restaurants / But, honestly, I’m always thinking ‘bout my weight”. This longing for a simpler time is a sentiment many can relate to.
The certified dancefloor fillers ‘Talk talk’ and ‘Mean girls’ are going to be a hit in the clubs with their early 2000s sound. Both songs are exactly what is needed when it hits that point of the night when your energy might be lagging. On these bangers, Charli is that energetic friend who keeps dragging you back to the dancefloor for one more dance.
‘So I’ is a beautiful tribute to Charli’s late friend and fellow artist SOPHIE, who passed away in 2021: “You had a power like a lightning strike / When I’m on stage sometimes I lie / Say that I like singing these songs you left behind / And I know you always said, ‘it’s okay to cry’”. The stripped-back instrumentals allow the audience to reflect with Charli on the loss of such a legendary producer.
‘I think about it all the time’ gives us a look into Charli’s thoughts on motherhood, which makes for an unexpected but welcomed twist. Like most women, Charli seems plagued by the question of whether to start a family or not: “And a baby might be mine / Cause maybe one day I might / If I don’t run out of time / Would it make me miss all my freedom?” The constant splurge of lyrics feels like a panicked internal monologue.
We return to classic BRAT with ‘365’ to close the album. The instrumentals are a remixed version of ‘360’ bringing us right back to the start of the record. This almost never-ending cycle of partying seems to encompass much of what BRAT is about, making the track a perfect way to end the LP.
BRAT is filled with club classics and emotional lyrics. The album swings between feelings of pure ecstasy to melancholy making the album an exciting experience. Each listen will bring a new favourite lyric or insight into Charli’s mind. This album takes the audience on such an emotional rollercoaster ride there’s a song for any mood.
Words by Amy Britton
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