By: Evan Pachucki
Music, Fashion, Film, the new album by Charli XCX released on Friday, July 24th. The long-awaited follow-up to her 2024 hit BRAT had much to live up to. How can one match the scale of an album that defined a whole summer? Charli, rather than trying to up the scale, chose to lower it to a personal level; this album is a reflection on identity, celebrity, and above all, a love letter to art. The result is, in my opinion, a superb track list of 11 songs, all offering a piece to this pop puzzle. At only 30 minutes, Music, Fashion, Film is short and sweet; its brevity serves as an advantage, in my opinion none of these songs are skippable. This album showcases the lengths Charli goes to create unique listening experiences that set her apart from the rest of the pop music scene.
The album starts with “Rock Music”, which is not rock music; it’s a pop anthem that has Charli reflecting on her place in and the state of the music industry. This opening track arguably serves as an epilogue to the BRAT phase of her life. Charli sings that she thinks “the dance floor is dead.” The song uses a distorted guitar, drums and a synthesizer to great effect, making a great introduction to the sound of this album.
An attitude of cynicism underlines throughout this project, with Charli reflecting on herown status as a pop music icon. In the second track on the album “SS26”, Charli comments on internet culture and celebrity fandom. In one of my personal favorites on the album, “I’m Afraid”, Charli sings about her insecurities with being in a relationship, “I’m nothing without him. What if I ruin it?” This personal introspection is something I’ve admired a lot from Charli’s discography. It’s not all cynicism, however. In a catchy highlight of the album, “2007,” Charli reminisces on a past time of her life. In the penultimate track, “Magic Metal Montana,” Charli sings the praises of her longtime collaborator A.G. Cook.
Charli masterfully balances her cynicism out with her humor. This can be seen in one of the lead singles from the album, “Wink Wink.” Charli sings on the person she once was, before claiming that she’s “not a bad girl anymore.” She then of course ends it with a “wink, wink,” joking that she hasn’t changed at all.
Production wise this album is great. I think the distorted guitar and synthesizer really stand out. The sound of this album sets itself apart from Charli’s previous work, once again proving her ability to reinvent in a changing music landscape.
I think that one of the most important parts of making a good album is a solid closing track, and “No One Lasts Forever featuring David Cronenberg” does not disappoint. The album’s themes and sound culminate in this final track. David Cronenberg, director of body horror classics like Videodrome and The Fly, reads out a monologue for the second half of the song; he reflects on death, finality and the legacy of art. The song ends on a haunting note, with Cronenberg repeating that “they are dead, they are gone, no one lasts forever.”
Overall, I think that this is a good addition to Charli’s discography. It stands out among a great body of work. Fans of pop music and Charli XCX should be able to get a lot out of this album. I know I did.
