After pop star Sabrina Carpenter rocket-launched into popularity last year with the release of her album, Short and Sweet, the songwriter has shifted to a completely different aesthetic with her music. On August 29, 2025, Man’s Best Friend was released. Prior to its release, the album was already making headlines with its controversial cover. While I don’t find it problematic, many people deemed it too provocative. Although the cover photos have been circling the internet in recent weeks, the album’s content shines as the real star of the show. Man’s Best Friend features twelve songs and two music videos, rivaling the quality of her previous smash hit album and unquestionably competing for a Grammy in 2026.
Carpenter began promoting Man’s Best Friend with a music video for her song “Manchild.” The music video released on June 6, 2025, and immediately captivated fans. The song and music video are playful and fun, while also telling an entertaining story. The music video follows Carpenter as she hitchhikes across the country and indulges in countless side-quests and causes destruction. One of the standout lines from the video is a scene where Carpenter says, “Hey, men” in reference to three pigs, playfully calling out the behavior of men she has dealt with in her life, fitting in with the album’s theme. The music video speaks to Carpenter’s creative vision and serves as an apt introduction to the aesthetic of her new album. Ultimately, “Manchild” earns its place among the singer’s hit tracks.
The “Tears” music video begins right where “Manchild” left off, but the aesthetic has shifted to be more haunting and eerie. While the introduction runs quite long, and the story is a bit chaotic and hard to follow, the music video has three different endings. When it was originally released, it ended with Carpenter throwing a heel at a man, the video has been changed twice with different endings, before eventually returning to its original ending. I thought this was a very unique twist that makes the video more interesting, and a fun surprise for those who were able to catch all three endings.
The music videos performed well and garnered interest, and Carpenter’s album itself does not disappoint. The album tells a common story of being mistreated by romantic partners whilst navigating one’s love life. While there are plenty of more pessimistic songs on this album, there are also a couple of fun and lighthearted tracks. My favorite tracks are “When Did You Get Hot?”, “Go Go Juice,” and “Sugar Talking.” Putting aside my personal preferences, every song on this album is well-crafted, even if they take a couple listens to fully appreciate.
As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the Short and Sweet era and its music, I was surprised by Man’s Best Friend, because it seems to be the polar opposite in terms of sound and aesthetic of its predecessor. Despite being quite pessimistic, Man’s Best Friend is a stellar addition to Carpenter’s discography and is sure to lead to an entertaining tour.