Key facts
- Charli XCX has released her new album, 'Music, Fashion, Film,' following her 2024 success 'Brat.'
- The album consists of 11 short, guitar-based songs.
- Themes explored include identity, self-worth, and the pressures of fame.
- A review describes the album as having promise but ultimately being a 'hastily released sketchbook of half-baked ideas.'
Charli XCX has released her new album, 'Music, Fashion, Film,' a follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2024 album 'Brat.' The new LP features 11 short, guitar-based songs, which a review from Euronews Culture describes as an 'anti-Brat' effort that contains promise but ultimately falls short of expectations.
The album explores themes of identity, self-worth, and the pressures of post-'Brat' fame. However, the review notes that the ideas are muddled and many tracks are too brief, clocking in at around two minutes, preventing them from fully developing.
Lead single 'Rock Music' is critiqued for its lyrics and accompanying video, which are described as performative and uninspired. The album cover, featuring icons John Cale, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Scorsese, is also noted as being too literal.
Despite some promising moments, including tracks like 'SS26,' 'Card Declined,' and 'Camera,' the album is largely characterized as a "hastily released sketchbook of half-baked ideas." The review concludes that while following up a global success like 'Brat' is challenging, 'Music, Fashion, Film' barely registers, with its existential questioning appearing self-indulgent rather than profound or witty.