“Manchild”
Tristan: This track was the only single to be released before the album, coming out on June 5. You can definitely tell Jack Antonoff had a heavy hand on producing this track because of the synth-pop sound. Overall, the song is extremely catchy and I find myself humming the chorus all day everyday. With this being said, I’m not a big fan of spoken words embedded in songs. This song is heavily Sabrina’s sarcastic vibe, but the lyrics did not wow me in the way I thought they would.
Fav lyric: “Never heard of self care, half your brain just ain’t there”
“Tears”
Tristan: My hopes were all the way up with the opening instrumentals and vocals, but the chorus had me extremely disappointed. I think I’m supposed to find this song sexy, but I just find it cringey. In a shocking twist, I actually prefer the verses over the chorus. The chorus is so repetitive that it’s frustrating.
Fav lyric: “A little respect for women can get you very, very far”
“My Man on Willpower”
Manuela: This song feels like one of those TikToks when a creator tries to create a new song based on an artist’s style. It feels like AI generated Sabrina Carpenter, and I do not like that. It mixes the concepts of her already famous songs with her reputation to create something so basic and unoriginal. And I say that as a Carpenter enthusiast.
Fav lyric: “My slutty pajamas not tempting him in the least”
“Sugar Talking”
Manuela: Less sonically flashy than her other releases. The smooth midtempo mixed with R&B/ pop brings more melancholy than critique. It sounds like she is more upset than mad towards the performative love she comments on. Its theme could be compared to “Busy Woman,” yet, a cheaper copy of it.
Fav lyric: “It’s your seventh last chance, baby”
“We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”
Tristan: This one is raw and emotional, and it reminds me of “Don’t Smile.” I appreciate Carpenter’s vulnerability about resorting to physical intimacy when things get hard. Her angelic vocals shine throughout this track, especially in the final lyric of the last chorus. I cannot wait to hear how she performs this song live.
Fav lyric: “Called it a false alarm to all our friends / Then we almost broke up again”
“Nobody’s Son”
Tristan: Now this is what I’m talking about. This track feels the most unique, sound-wise, on the album. It’s the pop princess ballad I’ve been craving from Mrs. Carpenter. It has an ’80s feel, and I can definitely envision this as the backtrack to a movie montage.
I’m obsessed with the meaning because I think we’ve all had the “it’s not you, it’s me” line thrown in our face. Carpenter encapsulates the female rage we all feel after these out-of-the-blue breakups, calling out the parents who raised this man.
Fav lyric: “Probably should’ve guessed, he’s like the rest, so fine and so deceiving”
“Never Getting Laid”
Manuela: Certainly underwhelming rhythmically, still, it brings one of Carpenter’s best qualities: whispering threats. It is a sweet melody that delivers a strong clapback curse. It feels on brand even though I prefer her bops.
Fav lyric: “I love you just the same / I just hope you get agoraphobia some day”
“When Did You Get Hot?”
Manuela: Here, I feel she is finally fun, witty, and confident again. I am not too in for the electronic wave in the background, but the lyrics and her intonation sound great. I also wished for a deeper hook; the song just keeps going without a big moment.
Fav lyric: “I bet your light rod’s, like, bigger than Zeus”
“Go Go Juice”
Tristan: This track continues the fun note that a lot of us college girls can relate to. It’s light and funny, but it’s also real and relatable. The craving for validation hidden behind drunken texts. All tied together with a super catchy beat and a very funny outro. I’m adding this one to my playlist.
Fav lyric: “Got a soft spot for a bev’ and a boy that’s fruity”
“Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry”
Manuela: Carpenter has a better talent for songs about ruining a partner than the ones where she is ruined herself. She is confusing, mean, and she does not care. It is some clever songwriting about keeping someone on edge. I wish the instrumentals were a bit stronger at times, it would bring a sassier sound to the already sassy lyrics.
Fav Lyric: “Silent treatment and humblin’ your ass / Well, that’s some of my best work”
“House Tour”
Tristan: This is just one big sexual innuendo, but we’ve already had like fifteen from her. It’s nothing new, and it’s starting to get repetitive. The beat is nothing out of the ordinary, and sometimes it feels like the lyrics don’t match up with the music.
Fav lyric: “Yeah, I spent a little fortune on the waxed floors / We can be a little reckless ‘cause it’s ensured”
“Goodbye”
Manuela: Why does the beginning sound exactly like an underwhelming version of “15 Minutes”? The best part of the song is its bridge; it is playful and catchy. The beat ties into the unapologetic tone of the lyrics.
Fav Lyric: “Sayonara, adiós / On the flip side, cheerio / Por siempre te amo, wait, no”
Final thoughts: All in all, we feel this album was underwhelming when compared to Carpenter’s others. It comes only twelve months after her Grammy award-winning album “Short n’ Sweet,” so we can’t help but think a little more time and refinement could have made this one just as mindblowing. Overall, “Man’s Best Friend” feels like Carpenter’s (rightfully so) unused vault tracks.
