Sabrina Carpenter’s newest album, “Man’s Best Friend,” takes listeners through a roller coaster of emotions. Using a combination of pop and retro flair, as well as some western elements, Carpenter has taken her music to the next level. Showcasing heartbreak in a lighthearted way, the magic of “Man’s Best Friend” incorporates lyrics and riffs to create a good mood, while managing to cover sadder elements of a relationship.
The album starts off with the hit track “Manchild” which made its debut on June 5, 2025. This was put out as a teaser for “Man’s Best Friend” which was announced a week later. This upbeat track sets the tone for the album and allegedly talks about one of her old lovers, referring to them in a negative way. The line from the prechorus, “What do you call it? Stupid? Or is it slow? Maybe it’s useless?” sums up this track. “Manchild” tells a much different tale than “Tears,” the next track on the album. Using creative lyrics and scenarios, this track describes Carpenter’s happy tears after finding someone who can be responsible in a relationship, as well as the qualities she wants in a man.
The third track of the album introduces a more serious note about the two-sided nature of a relationship. In “My Man on Willpower,” Carpenter talks about how different her relationship was in the beginning, and how “self-restrained” it is now (of course, before her breakup). She also sings about how she wants to get back the old version of her lover. “Nobody’s Son” and “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” continue on the theme of the toxicness of Carpenter’s relationship. In “Nobody’s Son”, Carpenter sings a letter to her ex-boyfriend’s parents, saying lines like “That boy is corrupt…and yes I’m talkin’ ‘bout your baby” and “Here we go again, crying in bed, what a familiar feeling.” On a similar note, “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” combines harmonies and riffs to create a lyrical masterpiece, continues the theme of the earlier tracks.
The fourth track, “Sugar Talking,” shows Carpenter realizing she can do better than her past relationship. In this song, Carpenter brings up how she isn’t taking any “sugar talking” and how she doesn’t care about what is said in writing. This track is on a brighter note, along with tracks “When Did You Get Hot?” and “House Tour”, which bring in a brighter mood. “When Did You Get Hot?” talks about someone Carpenter has known for a long time, but only saw recently. In this track, Carpenter asks the main question — “when did you get hot?” — to Devin, whom she met again at the prospect convention with her friends. This track keeps a similar spirit to “House Tour,” which is by far the most upbeat song of the album. With its 1980s charm, “House Tour” playfully talks about Carpenter’s living area.
The closer of this album, “Goodbye,” shows that Carpenter is ready to move. Here, Carpenter sings the word goodbye in various languages, including Spanish and French, an appropriate way to say “cheerio” to her listeners.
“Man’s Best Friend” is a must-listen. Through its lyrics, vocals and instrumentals, Carpenter delivers a dazzling album that throws energy into every song. Even if you’re not a Sabrina Carpenter fan, I still encourage you to give this album a listen.
