Charli XCX’s “BRAT” was the album of the summer and for good reason. Fun and catchy front to back, paired with the genius strategy to keep releasing extras and remixes for weeks after made this an album you just couldn’t get away from.
My personal favorite song, “Talk talk,” is, like most songs on this album, unbelievably catchy. Pulsing bass and shimmering synths with some of Charli’s best vocals on the album and an infectious chorus make this something that’s hard to stop listening to.
“Von dutch,” the lead single, is ridiculous. The synths on this song sound like a car engine revving, and the layering makes it feel very dense. Charli’s lyrics are incredibly boastful with several refrains about how she’s “your number one.” All around it’s a really fun banger that is only heightened by its remix featuring A.G. Cook and Addison Rae. The remix feels like a much smoother, more up-beat version of an already pretty up-beat song.
“365” is an interesting track as it’s a remix of the album’s opener “360.” This version follows the same kind of vibe and melody as “360” for about 90 seconds before becoming its own thing entirely with heavy synth and bass hits that sound like some sort of futuristic lazer. Near the end of the second chorus the beat starts to distort until, out of nowhere, the song goes full EDM. It’s so much fun and is a perfect closer, as it feels almost like a recap of all the styles Charli touches on throughout the album.
“BRAT” is a near-perfect album with some unbelievably great production and writing that ranges from insightful to braggy and fun. It’s also the album that keeps on giving with its deluxe tracks, endless remixes and recently released remix version titled, “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.” It’s a project that will be talked about for years to come and excites me for whatever Charli XCX does in the future.