The Sonic Evolution of Charli XCX Reaches New Heights on “Charli”

In 2019, it's hard to believe it's already been 8 years since Charli XCX broke ground on the music industry, from her early single releases "Stay Away" and “Nuclear Seasons" hitting in 2011 and the song that skyrocketed her to international success, "I Love It" taking Charli to the top of the charts as a feature on the Icona Pop single she penned herself.

Well now in 2019, XCX has established herself as one of pop musics most valuable talents. From assisting Iggy Azaela on the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single "Fancy" to penning for the likes of Rihanna to Gwen Stefani and even being tour support for pop powerhouses such as Katy Perry, Sia, and most recently, on Taylor Swift's 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour. Charli XCX has become synonymous with pop music and it's to absolutely no surprise to anyone who knows the pop game.

With her latest studio album, Charli, the British singer/songwriter flaunts her songwriting chops and calls in the favors on the collab-heavy 15-track release, stacked with features from Troye Sivan and Kim Petras to HAIM and Lizzo.

The journey begins with the appropriately titled "Next Level Charli," it's everything we love about Charli but elevated, giving you every reason to shout along at the top of your lungs. We're then led to the first collaboration on the album with the Christine and the Queens-assisted "Gone," there's a signature flare here that lends itself to both Charli and Christine and the Queens, it's a stunner!

Enter Sky Ferreira, the elusive singer/songwriter/model who turned heads and ears in the late 00's (remember her demo "Elevator") and has kept pop music fans salivating with her every musical move since, any material from Ferreira is a gift so to get her and Charli XCX giving us music with "Cross You Out" in 2019 is just beyond!

The Troye Sivan collab "1999" is the song we already know and love, fitting quite snug here as track 4 considering the final album on the track is the future-focused "2099" that also features Troye Sivan, of course. "Click" gives the mic to rising pop sensation Kim Petras along with Estonian rapper Tommy Cash for a deep ride til' you die cut. HAIM joins in on the fun with "Warm," once again Charli knows her audience and doesn't put HAIM out of their comfort space as this could easily be a HAIM song.

"Thoughts" sees Charli XCX on her own for the first time since we started the album, and it's a glorious moment that leaves me wondering why aren't we getting more solo Charli cuts here!? Either way, all is good at the end of the day but I'd be lying if I didn't tell you "Thoughts" is an album highlight, who knew hearing Charli's vulnerabilities through autotune heaven would be so damn good!

"Blame It On Your Love" with Lizzo is another album highlight, if you think you've heard this song prior to 2019 then you're right as it's a reworked version of "Track 10" from her 2017 release POP 2.

Now we enter the four-song stretch where we see Charli XCX carrying the album on her own, no features on "White Mercedes," "Silver Cross," "I Don't Wanna Know," and "Official." And as one would expect with the solo material on this album, we're given more highlights with these songs as "White Mercedes," "I Don't Wanna Know" and "Official" are absolute emotional bops, XCX allowing herself to expose a softer side than we're used to. I'm absolutely crushed over "I Don't Wanna Know" and "Official" in particular, unguarded pop on a genius level.

The albums final moments kick the energy up with "Shake It" featuring Big Freedia, CupcakKe, Brooke Candy and Pablo Vittar on the bass heavy track, it's perhaps the albums sexiest moment. On "February 2017" with Clairo and Yaeji the raw lyrics keep pouring in, with XCX revealing so much about her angels and demons on this album but doing it how she knows best, with melodic style that entrances the listener.

"sorry about GRAMMY night, was high and out my mind, was in a different place, tortured and drifting by..." - "February 2017"

The album closer "2099" with Troye Sivan goes hard, eliminating all of the bouncy pop flavors of "1999," here we have the duo playing it cooler than ever. As to no surprise, Charli is stacked with highlights that will keep pop music fans begging for more from the the 27-year-old pop boss.

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Last updated: 28 Mar 2024, 18:06 Etc/UTC