The wait is over — Sabrina Carpenter dropped her newest album, "Man's Best Friend,” this morning. Released just over a year after her last record “Short n’ Sweet,” the 5-foot blonde pop star has been maintaining her status as a “busy woman.”
In “Man’s Best Friend,” Carpenter delivers 12 new tracks that lean into the confident, provocative energy that’s become a focal point of her brand. The songs are often brash and cheeky, but they’re also threaded with moments of vulnerability that remind listeners she’s still writing from lived experiences.
When Carpenter announced the album’s release in June, she stirred up controversy over her cover art: She’s posed like a dog on a leash, playing into — or against — the male gaze. Some called it misogynistic, others argued it was satire.
The fact she stuck with the original cover is telling. Carpenter has always thrived in provocation, and here she doubles down, daring listeners to misinterpret her.
The album opens with “Manchild,” released as a single June 5, a tongue-in-cheek jab at immature men. Polished yet playful, the song lays the groundwork for Carpenter’s familiar balance of sass and charm.
On tracks like “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” and “Nobody’s Son,” Carpenter gets more serious with her audience. She laments her unlucky romantic streak, chronicling the exhausting cycle of almost-breakups and temporary reconciliations. With lyrics like “Here we go again, crying in bed / What a familiar feeling,” she makes it clear that, even though she’s having fun, she’s not shying away from the ugly side of relationships.
Then comes “Tears.” The disco-tinged anthem flips the bare minimum of decency into a punchline about attraction and captures how modern dating often rewards men for doing the least. Emulating the unfortunate but very real standards, she sings how “a little respect for women can get you very, very far.”
“Tears” also earned brownie points in my book for the music video — which featured Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo in drag. It’s a fun watch, especially with the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” references.
“My Man on Willpower” pivots to a relationship soured by change, capturing the sting of going from adored to ignored.
“Sugar Talking,” one of my personal favorites, dials up the percussion and showcases Carpenter’s vocals. Lyrically, it cuts through empty charm: “Big word for a real small mind / And aren’t you tired of saying a whole lot of nothing?”
One of the album’s cheekiest moments is “Never Getting Laid,” with lines like “I just hope you get agoraphobia someday.” Her vocal performance is one of the strongest here, elevating what could have been a throwaway joke into one of the highlights of “Man’s Best Friend.”
That same sense of humor runs through “When Did You Get Hot?,” which plays with the silliness of instant attraction, while “Go Go Juice” turns drunk dialing into a punchline, with Carpenter quipping, “Sipping on my go go juice, I can’t be blamed.” Together, they highlight her knack for taking the absurdities of love and turning them into pop gold with a wink.
The album closes with “Goodbye,” an ABBA-esque ballad full of glitter and heartbreak. With similarities to the group’s song “Fernando,” Carpenter gives a surprisingly moving farewell that lingers after the record ends.
At just 12 songs, “Man’s Best Friend” is short, but not as sweet as her other recent works.
The LP doesn’t quite hit the instant-classic heights of Carpenter’s previous album, or the pop culture impact of “Espresso.” Still, her wit, honesty and vocal delivery make every track worth listening to.
Overall, “Man’s Best Friend” is another valuable addition to Carpenter’s growing discography — one that continues to highlight her confidence, humor and willingness to push boundaries. She’s not talking nonsense, and giving it a listen will make you feel light as a feather.
Contact Aaliyah Evertz at aevertz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @aaliyahevertz1.
