BRAT - Charli xcx
More than a mere hit-laden tracklist, BRAT breathes fresh air into the pop music scene to deliver a monumental release that ushers in a new era for the genre
Amongst a cultural landscape that is constantly allergic to centrepiece benchmarks of progression beyond simple aesthetic flourishes, one voice shines like a prophet of pop’s new age. That voice, of course, belongs to none other than Charli xcx; the longtime popstar who, while previously releasing exciting and forward-thinking projects such as 2022’s CRASH, has been largely relegated into a particular niche of the of the pop sphere. Until now, that is.
After an incredibly exciting and attention demanding rollout that included a viral New York Boiler Room set, a period of social media dominance, and a Bad Blood-esque star-studded entourage music video, the BRAT has arrived. And she is glorious. BRAT showcases the innovative popstar reaching unseen heights across what is easily her best release to date, and one of the best records that the genre has heard in years. From her natural authenticity to the infectious dance energy, to the iconic dichotomies, to the insane catchiness of the many hits on the tracklist, Charli has cooked up an album of pure pop perfection that feels like a tectonic shift of the scene.
BRAT’s pop-culture prominence comes not from a rejection of the worst aspects of pop’s modern state, but rather from embodiment and recontextualization of its pieces in conjunction with an unabashed sense of self. Tracks such as “Club classics” (itself an interesting self-referential piece) works just as easily as a chopped-up soundtrack for TikTok-ified media as it would as an extended 10-minute club mix. Driven by a raw UK rave energy from the exceptional talents of producers A.G. Cook and George Daniel, the core of the song has a meticulous and energized ambience which is so concentrated that its power is clearly communicated regardless of context. Charli’s bubbly vocals lead listeners in a hypnotic club dance-fest with the confidence and charm of the hottest peloton instructor you’ve ever known.
Across the entire runtime, Charli’s personability never wavers and serves as a continuous central element in achieving the highs that the work does. Whether she’s vocally interpreting 100 gecs-like stylings on “Sympathy is a knife” or vocoder warbles that echo of 808s & Heartbreaks on the electro-piano ballad “I might say something stupid”, the persistence of her youthful endearment is ever-present. It’s an element of her versatile skillset that cannot really be learned or developed as much as being an innate talent that clearly sets her apart from many of her peers. She goes beyond simply using such a magical ability to create a fun atmosphere to exceptionally utilize it in toeing the line between down-to-earth relatable artist and star-studded pop megastar. In doing so, she shatters both strict boxes and tears down preconceived notions to declare to the world “I’m not any label, I’m me.”
On songs such as the massive hit “Von dutch” for example, the latter identity is embraced to full effect. Charli cooly hits lines like “It’s okay to just admit that you’re jealous of me” and “It’s alright to just admit that I’m the fantasy” with such a natural confidence it seems impossible to imagine her as anything less than a true pedestal-placed popstar at the attention of the masses. Just as easily, however, Charli will slip into tracks of surprising authenticity and openness such as “Rewind” and “I think about it all the time”. The latter is an incredible piece of music that doesn’t sacrifice any of the energy of the rest of the album while communicating the musings of Charli on the idea of moving on from this whole position of her life which the album is concerned with. “Should I stop my birth control? // 'Cause my career feels so small in the existential scheme of it all” she questions as she considers that perhaps what she wants most in life isn’t the megastar persona, but rather a radically different manifestation of the life of an artist.
Immediately preceding “I think about it all the time” is the track “Mean girls”, an embodiment of her “cultural icon” status that is guaranteed to become a classic anthem. This dichotomy between the identities that Charli exhibits across BRAT are possibly best seen between these two tracks, showcasing an example of why this album is so exciting. It’s not a simple transition between embodiment of different personas, but simply a natural and unfiltered demonstration of her multi-faceted self.
Charli repeatedly breaks apart the pre-conceived notions of being any one “type” of artist or requiring complex and nuanced forms of expression. Specifically, BRAT’s songs are exceptionally direct, open, and unapologetically unconcerned with jumping through any hoops. The ongoing tension between the “low brow” directness and simplicity of the lyrics and the “high brow” production complexity works to give a strong allure throughout the work that makes it difficult to not get entranced by. There are further contrasting pieces which enhance the intriguing opposing forces at play, such as the album’s style vs. structure as a pseudo-concept album focused on Charli’s view on life as a continuous party. She utilizes a variety of club-style influences to slide across a list of topics that span over insecurities, indulgencies, bragadociousness, regrets, and the pain of missing friends who have passed on. Rave music, while certainly soulful at its core, is rarely used so effectively in such a personal regard in the modern age, and as such contributes to the project’s singular identity.
Through BRAT’s appearingly simple but truly complex style, the artist showcases who she is with such clarity that it transforms the body of work beyond simply a collection of exceptional tracks into a true encapsulation of identity. While this may seem straightforward, balancing all these aspects is not an achievement seen much in modern pop and speaks of an artist that is deeply in tune with herself, the culture, and the musical energies that surround it all. This form of pure openness makes for a thrillingly fresh experience that, alongside the never ceasing danceability, makes for one of the most electric (literally and symbolically) pop records in a long time. While it may be still be early to declare, the waves that BRAT stirs up with its vibrant and clandestine cheekiness, an invigorating mainstream injection of the best that the current rave scene has to offer, and a self-led offer to the masses to be unabashedly expressive are sure to define a key point in the next era of pop music excellence.