"Man's Best Friend" - Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter is obtaining superstardom in a way that nobody should be shocked by. Man’s Best Friend came out this August, and I wanted to let it sit for a moment before reviewing it.

         While I don’t think Sabrina Carpenter’s third studio album with UMG's Island Records is an impeccable album, I think it was a wise business move. Carpenter knows how to make a viral and enjoyable TikTok sound – integral for artists today. The album announcement also made her surprise extra Short n’ Sweet Tour leg more intriguing, as the album rollout occurred between the tour leg announcement and shows.

         I rate this album a 7/10. The songs are all cohesive and high quality but follow similar themes to that of Short n’ Sweet (2024). The sound strays toward her two Singular Act records released with Disney’s Hollywood Records in 2018 and 2019. Carpenter faced backlash upon revealing the anti-feminist looking cover, and while many claimed it was satirical, the album doesn’t really support that point. The audience expects a man-eater main character, and Carpenter has the right idea but seems too devastated to truly pull it off.

The album cover for Man's Best Friend

         “My Man on Willpower” can be coupled with “Manchild” and “House Tour”. They share production styles and are all catchy, but the first is my favorite. “Manchild” has funnier lyrics but didn’t stand out to me in the same way upon the first listen. “House Tour” feels unnecessary in the context of Carpenter’s sexual songs. These three songs make the submissive-looking album cover seem not-so-satirical.

         “Go Go Juice”, “Goodbye”, “Tears” and “When Did You Get Hot?” all have touches of country and disco. “Go Go Juice” is fabulous. Carpenter writes as if she’s drunk rambling, and by the bridge, sings like it too. “Goodbye” makes an excellent closer and builds beautifully. “Did you forget that it was you who said goodbye?/Can’t have a cake/Can’t eat it too/By walking out, that means you choose/Goodbye” is addictive. On the flip side, while “House Tour” is unnecessary, “Tears” is gross. “Tears drip down my thighs”? Ew. “When Did You Get Hot?” is a great song when looking at virality, but it’s nothing particularly special.

         “Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry”, “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” and “Never Getting Laid” are sections of a story. The latter two feel like the before and after of a relationship ending, respectively, while the first feels like an explanation of why Carpenter is part of the problem. One of the highlights of the album is the whispering before the choruses of “Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry”. “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” is a little too vulgar for a sad song (“Gave me his whole heart and I gave him head”), while “Never Getting Laid” has creative lyrics but not sound (it reminds me of “Need You Now” by Lady A).

         “Nobody’s Son” and “Sugar Talking” feature Carpenter snarky and disappointed, and it burns in the tiniest, most perfect way. I love “Nobody’s Son”, but “Sugar Talking” doesn’t build as well as others.

         I’m interested to see how Carpenter, ever the clever businesswoman, promotes this album. It seems silly to embark on a new tour so soon after the last, but it’s not like it wouldn’t sell. Carpenter’s work ethic is impeccable, and I’m proud to have been following her almost since the beginning of her departure from Disney.