Clairo’s third studio album Charm released 12 July 2024, and is already a massive hit for the artist. The album blends mainstream genres together to create a distinctive sound, with soft rock conventions, soul influences and lo-fi pop rhythms interweaving. The piece feels much more mature and in-depth than her earlier work like ‘Pretty Girl’.
The new release excellently compliments the singer’s classic signature soft bedroom pop beat and overall aesthetic, and yet still adds something new and exciting to her discography. Wind instrument sounds not usually heard in Clairo’s previous work are featured in tracks like ‘Second Nature’, providing an entirely unique and catchy ending melody. Some fans describe it as her best album yet, with absolutely zero skips throughout.
‘Charm’ exemplifies the very epitome of personal songwriting, with lyrics so authentic they feel like turning the very pages of the artist’s diary. Many lyrics do not shy away from literal meaning.
“And we fall back in routine/ It can’t be over / And I remember everything / You used to know her” beautifully paints the heartbreak of returning to normalcy after the end of a relationship in ‘Slow Dance’.
‘Add Up My Love’ evokes the anger, pain, resentment and acceptance that comes with knowing that your love will never be enough for the wrong person all at once. The hook “Add up my love / Honey, was it enough? / Is it ever enough?” is deceptively catchy and simultaneously hard-hitting.
The single ‘Sexy to Someone’ (released 23 May) has quickly skyrocketed to become Clairo’s most popular track on Spotify, overtaking her viral hits ‘Sofia’, ‘Bags’ and ‘Flaming Hot Cheetos’. The track is clear to be a fan favourite, despite not currently making the UK top charts. It consists of some really interesting musical additions like flute-sounding parts and strong punchy keys from composers Claire Cottrill and Leon Michels on top of Clairo’s usual head-bopping rhythms.
The track achieves a fascinating combination of vulnerability alongside its’ upbeat nature. The chorus “Sexy to somebody, it would help me out / Oh, I need a reason to get out of the house / And it’s just a little thing I can’t live without” adds a captivating sing-along to the harsh relatable reality of wanting to be desired.
Were there to be any critiques of the album, it could stand accused of slightly lacking in variation. Each track is equally as enjoyable as the last, as they all portray Clairo’s classic sound. However, this also means that the album does not display as much variation as it perhaps could between each song, as there are no extremely vast differences.
Despite this, the album collects as an incredible piece of personal artistry, as it is clear that it has been crafted in Clairo’s exact handwriting, during a particular time in the artist’s personal life. The listener is taken on a very interesting journey emotionally, as Clairo exhibits a wonderfully vulnerable concoction of emotions with each track, showing a shameless and raw side to her songwriting.
Words by Rosie Brennan
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