If you have been online at all this summer you might have stumbled upon the eyesore that is the ‘Brat’ album cover. The unusual color choices and hit songs aren’t just part of some random artist’s latest release; they have become a cultural phenomenon.
Being a great album requires having multiple great tracks. ‘Brat’ certainly has memorable songs, but something that stands out about the record is the vulnerability Charlie XCX sneaks into seemingly light-hearted pop songs. An example of this is “Sympathy is a Knife”, which so happens to be one of my favorites from the album. This song focuses on Charlie XCX comparing herself to more successful artists and her feelings of inadequacy when compared to them. Even when the person mentioned in the song greets her with kindness, it makes Charlie XCX insecure, as if stabbed by a metaphorical knife. Not only did this track stun in the emotional sense, but it is also a good listen.
Among “Sympathy is a Knife”, my other favorites include “Von Dutch”, “Mean Girls”, and “Spring Breakers”. While the lyricism in these songs doesn’t stand out to me much, I adore the sound and feel that these songs bring. I could definitely see myself with my friends listening to these tracks on high volume.
There are plenty of great songs on this album, “Talk Talk”, “Hello Goodbye”, “So I”, and more but there are a couple of songs on this album that just didn’t hit the same for me. I didn’t particularly enjoy “Everything is Romantic”, “b2b”, and “I Think About it all the Time”. The lyrics were in line with the rest of the album but the sound of these tracks wasn’t very appealing to me. Even with songs I didn’t enjoy, this album still had a plentiful amount of great tracks.
Although the Album is insanely popular, it’s created more than just Song of the Summer contenders. ‘Brat’ has blown up the internet with trends and everywhere you look you can’t seem to avoid it. From political propaganda in the infamous ‘Brat’ green to eye-catching ‘Brat’ fashion trends, the phenomenon known as ‘Brat Summer’ is everywhere. It’s been used in food commercials and has had a large impact on the 2024 presidential race. On July 21, 2024, Chalie XCX posted ‘Kamala IS Brat’ on X. Since then it has become part of Harris and Walz’s campaign strategy, with Kamala HQ adopting the trend. ‘Brat’ hasn’t just impeded political agendas, it has created new dances and fashion trends. When people think about ‘Brat,’ they don’t just see an album, they see a lifestyle and memories of their ‘Brat Summer,’ and because of that this album has cemented a long-lasting legacy.