Sabrina Carpenter Short n' Sweet Album Review: A Breezy, Man-Eating Pop Classic
Art Treatment by Liz Coulbourn & Kaitlyn McNab/Courtesy of The Lede Company/Universal Music Group
The next few days are going to be full of relatively pointless Sabrina Carpenter discourse about who she’s singing about on her new album Short n’ Sweet, but luckily you can just ignore all of that and enjoy a fun, breezy pop album about the objective silliness of being in love with men.
Carpenter kicks off Short n’ Sweet with “Taste” and its movie reference-laden horror music video starring Jenna Ortega; the following 11 tracks go down like lemonade, crisply written with tart innuendos and sweet, good humor galore. If Carpenter knows one thing, it’s that you have to laugh at yourself — you’ll hurt yourself more than any man possibly could.
Below, Teen Vogue editors P. Claire Dodson, Aiyana Ishmael, Honestine Fraser, and Kaitlyn McNab listened through all 36 minutes of Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, chatting through her evolution as an artist, her penchant for horny jokes, and why she’s had the pop star impact she’s had this year.
Kaitlyn McNab, Culture Editor: What y’all are most excited about for this new era of hers/what do you think she’s been building up to
Aiyana Ishmael, Associate Editor: I'm excited for her southern twang but to also get some more sultry r&b feels. I think seeing everyone re-blow up that clip of her singing Jazmine Sullivan and realizing she's got that vocal range on her is so funny (as someone who has always known this to be true)!!
P. Claire Dodson, Associate Culture Director: ok so I think it's been so fun to watch sabrina come into herself more and more over the years! I loved emails i can't send, it really felt like her most assured and most her work yet and i'm excited to see her build on that with short n sweet (edited)
Claire: yes! do love people realizing the depth of her vocal talents, and she does fun things with her voice that i really like
Claire: motherf*cker country intonation, syllable of the year
1. “Taste”
Claire: mark height joke off your bingo card
Aiyana: One thing Sabrina going to do is remind a boy he's missing her. I have to stan
Claire: and remind a girl she's been with her man
Aiyana: This is an interesting way to start the album. I'm not mad at it but wasn't exactly what I was intially expecting. (edited)
Kaitlyn: is this her Deja Vu
Kaitlyn: sorry lmao
Claire: no i was about to say.... i would say this even if there weren't one of many elephants in the room... but the thematic similarity is there
Kaitlyn: and the tempo tbh. not to do that… but lmaoooooo
Aiyana: Y'all are onto something
Claire: "i know i've been known to share" at the same cadence as “i know you get deja vu!”… sung in a similar way
Kaitlyn: he got those jokes from her, she taught him Billy Joel, tomato, tom-ah-to
Aiyana: I love though that hers has an early 2000s feel
Kaitlyn: these men don’t deserve rights
Claire: i feel like it feels in character to poke at something with a wink
Claire: she had to know people would think of deja vu
2. “Please Please Please”
Kaitlyn: what do y’all think about this especially as the unexpected breakout single from this album
Claire: i loved it
Claire: it's weirder than espresso
Claire: which i think is why it works so well. espresso showed people she could do the doja cat vibe, big silly pop single thing
Aiyana: Okay maybe unpopular opinion with the internet, but I hate how the TikTok-ification of songs really bolstered this above the rightful, more deserving, best single Espresso. We won in the end getting it to #1 but I was so mad when this track was leading over miss Espresso just because of the singular word "motherf*cker"
Claire: hahahha. I just love that in both these songs the men are giving art/patrick
Claire: pathetic boys who are either obsessed or about to embarrass her at every turn
Kaitlyn: 100% agree Aiyana!
Claire: i'm a please please please stan over espresso I think.... but the video sold me
Aiyana: Oh tea
Kaitlyn: Sabrina is very adamant about letting her listeners know what she does not tolerate: pathetics, desperation
Kaitlyn: and i agree
Kaitlyn: i too do not tolerate those things
Claire: such a good music video done so simply and in a really fun way, she's bringing back the video as an art form
Read More: 10 Cute Mini Dresses to Wear if You’re Obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter’s Style
3. “Good Graces”
Aiyana: GOOD GRACES HIVE RISE TF UP
Claire: yeah this one is fun
Kaitlyn: oh i love how this sounds just off the opening guitar and vocal riffs
Aiyana: I'm dancing in the Condé office right now, just so you know
Aiyana: Twirling around my desk
Claire: office on a friday????
Aiyana: Don't want to talk about it rip
Kaitlyn: this is a direct descendant of Dangerous Woman the album
Aiyana: This song has such an early 2000s feel that I am eating up. I could see Sabrina tapping into something fun like a remix with Ciara or even Ariana Grande if she leaned into her "thank u, next" era again
Claire: yes! she's always been an ariana daughter vocally but you can hear it a lot on this album in some interesting ways
Aiyana: they're all so short… and sweet
Claire: hahaha
Claire: it's very breezy! makes it all the more annoying how upset some fandoms are
Aiyana: i personally don't want albums that are an hour long. i can get through all my cardio listening to this album. it's the perfect length, i'd argue. i'm not on the stairmaster for more than 36 minutes baby
Claire: going back to your early 2000s point, i feel like the album is a nice mix of that sound and the more like 70s thing she likes
Claire: i could see this being a k-pop song
Claire: which makes sense as shes a kpop girlie
Claire: finish your chores prematurely LOL
Aiyana: She's such a fun lyricist
Aiyana: I love a girl who respects innuendos, puns, and being unserious on the track
Honestine Fraser, Senior Social Media Manager: i listened to a bit of it last night and i agree with you claire, i think it's a perfect mix of 2000s pop and that 70s sound
Claire: do you guys feel like when she uses words like "sus" it's working or it's cheesy
Claire: this is not a trick question or a loaded one
Aiyana: hmmm i have no problem with her saying it
Honestine: yeah i kind of feel like it works for her? it doesnt feel cheesy to me
Claire: i agree, it's interesting how she toes that line
Claire: speaks very plainly and colloquially but it feels mostly genuine, wonder how it will age
4. “Sharpest Tool”
Aiyana: "I know you're not the sharpest tool in the shed." She wrote that line about every guy I've ever liked
Aiyana: There's nothing I love more than an emotional song lyrically put over a whimsical and airy beat
Claire: i like the sounds on this one, is this a jack track
Claire: ah yes it is
Claire: jack antonoff they could never make me hate you
Kaitlyn: if jack antonoff has 0 haters, i am no longer on this earth
Claire: hahahah
Claire: i get it but he draws me back in every time
Aiyana: idk this jack man but he ate this one little thing
Claire: hahaha
Honestine: the sound is kind of giving coming of age movie vibes
Claire: i was thinking that earlier!! this whole album feels like that
Claire: it's very fun
Claire: even when it's sad, it's the kind of sad where everything is going to be ok
Honestine: yes!!! i feel like im walking in the middle of the street at midnight having an epiphany lol
Claire: absolutely, great way to put it
5. “Coincidence”
Claire: this one was my early fave
Aiyana: Streets are saying this is a response to "June Gloom" by Camila Cabello
Claire: which to be fair to camila, i like that song
Claire: i love this guitar
Aiyana: Unpopular opinion I haven't stopped listening to that album, so win for her
Claire: definitely has some hits! i luv it is going to be in my spotify wrapped
Aiyana: To me “Coincidence” feels like a matured continuation of "opposite" like an older sister to it
Claire: "Your car drove itself from L.A. to her thighs" is one of my favorite lyrics on this album
Claire: "grueww" pronunciation country girl
Aiyana: Sabrina give me a 5 minute long song challenge
Aiyana: Every song so far 2:30 and some change
Honestine: i like “Coincidence” but i do wish it was longer!
Claire: me too
6. “Bed Chem”
Aiyana: R&BRINA HIVE WE UP AGAIN
Claire: i read that bed chem is an inside joke between her and her friend, and i really like that she wrote it into a song
Claire: very fun shorthand
Aiyana: Bed Chem is so fun
Claire: feels like a phrase i could see people picking up
Honestine: this is soooo fun!!!
Aiyana: My girl loves to talk on the track, it's one of my favorite things about her
Claire: agreed
Claire: cue: it'll be a wednesdayyyyy
Aiyana: She's Ariana's daughter but Bed Chem is Janet Jackson x Toni Braxton's daughter
Claire: the camaraderie lyrics lol
Honestine: YES aiyana
Kaitlyn: did she just make a 69 joke lmfao
Claire: yes absolutely
Claire: does it count as innuendo when it's just blatant
7. “Espresso"
Aiyana: The RIGHTFUL album single release winner. YUP YUP
Kaitlyn: THIS THAT WHAT????? ????
Claire: HA
Claire: going back to espresso vs please please please though, espresso will be the clear legacy
Honestine: idk i think this might be my favorite song so far lol
Aiyana: A perfect song in her discography
Claire: she nailed it with the singles
Claire: maybe with the exception of taste... jury is still out
Honestine: i agree...is this a safe space to say im not really that big of a fan of please please please lol...but espresso...that's my girl lol
Aiyana: very safe space
Claire: we are a house divided
Aiyana: Espresso is a song I will play every summer for the rest of my days.
Honestine: me too!!!
Honestine: it really was the song of the summer..but now forever
Claire: two great songs imo! good couplet
Claire: yeah good point, espresso is like the classic contender
Aiyana: It's like the epitome of a sunny beach day, sipping something sweet while your sunscreen is working overtime
Honestine: YES exactly, its so fun!! i never skip it
Claire: it smells like sunscreen
Claire: that Vacation brand
Honestine: HAHAHA yes specifically the vacation brand
8. “Dumb & Poetic"
Aiyana: Dumb & Poetic LOL
Aiyana: IDK who she's roasting but I'm eating it up. Sister, hit him again one time for me
Claire: jack off to lyrics by leonard cohen — second favorite line
Aiyana: just cause you talk like one, doesn't make you a man
Aiyana: this song could easily be on megan maroney's album, i love it
Claire: yeppp or kelsea ballerini
Aiyana: so short so good
Claire: i love the country format where the phrase changes throughout: "just cause you talk like one, just cause you act like one, just cause you leave like one, doesn't make you a man"
ShortNSweet.png
9. “Slim Pickins"
Kaitlyn: ok banjo
Aiyana: SLIM PICKINS
Claire: the dolly track
Aiyana: she's speaking to my country heart
Claire: or more kacey musgraves
Aiyana: Need kacey on the remix
Honestine: there's really something for everyone on this album
Aiyana: This is so follow your arrow coded
Claire: ^^^^ totally
Claire: another reason i think she's hitting... she's drawing on some different reference points than the other pop girls
Aiyana: Slim Pickins: Me trying to find a man to date in nyc that's my age and wants to actually be in a relationship
Kaitlyn: how did she get this prayer from my diary???????
Honestine: same for LA Aiyana, it's not any better here lmao
Aiyana: "moanin' and b*tchin'" every single girl i know right now
Honestine: she gets it!
Claire: yepppp
Aiyana: "the lord forgot my gay awakening" so true, literally me sabrina
Claire: she's tapped into the "men suck" without giving them unnecessary weight
10. “Juno"
Honestine: Juno is giving 70s/80s pop i love it
Aiyana: I love how explorative she has been in this album with its sound. It's a collection of diary entries all with different colored pencils on each page sewn together by her unique and eclectic lyricism. I fear not many new pop girls are doing it like her!!
Honestine: her versatility is so good on this album
Honestine: yes!!!
Claire: finishing my earlier thought about pathetic men... like take a song like "the smallest man who ever lived" — taylor is wondering if he strategized this, if someone wanted her dead etc. sabrina does not give these men that amount of credit. they're not out to hurt her mostly they're just extremely dumb and cant control themselves
Aiyana: which i think is the case 95% of the time
Claire: totally
Aiyana: men are simple simple creatures
Honestine: and i love that she acknowledges that
Aiyana: I could hear Juno in the opening of a romcom starring Cami Mendes (our new age romcom queen)
Claire: ^^^
Honestine: yes!!!
Claire: she's going to get those song placements
Claire: The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3.... watch out
Claire: belly leaving jer at the altar and running to conrad to this song
Honestine: i know a netflix teen romcom will hate to see her coming
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11. “Lie To Girls"
Aiyana: LIE TO GIRLS
Claire: again putting the power back with girls, in a kind of sad way. guys dont even need to hurt us we'll do it to ourselves (based on their bad behavior but)
Honestine: i love her self awareness
Aiyana: I love this track its beautifully put in how sometimes we allow so many red flags to soar past our logic because from the beginning of time we've been taught being loved by a man is something more important than logic
Aiyana: she's reading me for filth unfortch
Honestine: "if they like you they'll just lie to themselves" is so real
Claire: so true
Claire: so I think the album should have ended here
12. “Don't Smile”
Aiyana: OMG NOOO
Aiyana: I am a don't smile apologist
Claire: make dont smile the bonus track
Aiyana: I mean yes but let me enjoy my sleeper track
Claire: lie to girls, such a pretty outro, good theme ending
Aiyana: Lofi Beats teas
Claire: yup, she said these girls need something to study to
Honestine: LMAO
Aiyana: Its a dreamy track that makes me want to groove around some very dark bar with a [redacted] in hand
Aiyana: I respect a girl who knows she's a catch and that no one can fill the hole that will inevitably be left once she's gone from their life
Claire: i do like the juxtaposition of Taste and don't Smile — she tries to be snarky and gleeful and just ends up sad
Honestine: yeah i agree with you claire, i dont think it shouldve ended on this song, but the "dont smile because it happened baby, cry because it's over" is kind of clever as an ending lol
Claire: i actually read this song as kind of acknowledging that thinking you'll never be replaced is sort of a coping mechanism we use to feel like we won when really it's just that people move on
Claire: the deja vu / taste perspective only works for a little while
Aiyana: very valid take
Claire: in reality the person just continues on doing whatever they want
Aiyana: I love this track
Aiyana: and I will stand alone in that
Claire: ok fine i've come around on it
Claire: the more i think about it the more i like the placement
Aiyana: But give it time in a year or two people will join me
Honestine: Aiyana, you're always ahead of your time
"Taste," the official music video
Kaitlyn: not the parental advisory warning!!!!!!
Claire: it's serious
Claire: Ok Mona from pretty little liars
Claire: This is wild
Aiyana: Jenna ain’t never seen a horror role she ain’t loved
Honestine: LOL
Kaitlyn: LMFAO JENNA WITH THE GUN GOT ME CTFU
Claire: Ultimate brunette vs blonde showdown
Kaitlyn: oh my God
Kaitlyn: wait this is so gory LMFAOOOOOO
Kaitlyn: i’m actually obsessed with this
Aiyana: This is the duo I didn’t know I needed but I’m so grateful
Honestine: okay the virgin suicides reference?!
Aiyana: Book the movie right now
Claire: Kinda gay
Honestine: and kill bill omg
Claire: Oh really gay!!!
Aiyana: Now kith each other
Aiyana: This is so hot
Aiyana: OMG THEY KITHED
Claire: Oh I loved that
Claire: no notes
Honestine: SO many movie references im obsessed
Aiyana: THIS WAS SO GOOD IM DYING
Kaitlyn: and they lived happily ever after ??
Kaitlyn: “you kill me” HAHA
Aiyana: they were roommates
Kaitlyn: LMAOOOOO
Honestine: I LOVED THIS
Honestine: MUSIC VIDEOS ARE SO BACK!
Claire: this video makes any discourse about her and whoever the f*ck even more annoying because sabrina always circles back around to "let's laugh about how we lost our minds over a boy"
Claire: skin/skinny dipping both have the parts about one day we're going to realize how silly this is
Claire: do we think this album puts her in grammy AOTY territory
Kaitlyn: I don’t know about AOTY but I do think a strong contender in allllll of the pop categories
Honestine: yes! ^ i agree
Kaitlyn: and 100% Best New Artist
Kaitlyn: she and Chappell will both be up there
Honestine: for sure BNA!
Claire: agreed!
Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet is now available on all digital streaming platforms.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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