Clairo’s latest album shows us third time’s the ‘Charm’

Five days after the release of Charli XCX’s “Brat,” a hyperpop record featuring an attractively unstable party girl aesthetic, Clairo released “Charm,” whose mellow, soft girl summer tone enchanted me in every way imaginable. 

Released on July 12, the artist’s third studio album fits into an alternative, indie-pop genre and explores themes of yearning, introspection and the complexities of femininity as a young adult. Many young social media users who don’t exactly resonate with the high-energy aesthetic of a “Brat summer” are beginning to embrace a “Charm summer” instead. 

Clairo, born Claire Cottrill, said the narrative of the album exists in the “gray area and the buzziness that two people can feel when they are being charmed by each other.” Listening to the album should invoke the exciting yet uncertain feeling of a crush or an infatuation with another, resonating with the young audience.

Similar to her previous record, “Sling,” “Charm” embraces Clairo’s typical indie-alternative and relaxed style through the interplay of piano, drums, guitar, flute, saxophone, clarinet and soft vocals. In “Charm,” however, she seems to have taken a break from the slow seriousness of her previous album towards something more upbeat and playful, as seen in the lead single “Sexy to Someone,” which debuted on May 23. 

Listening to the song, I was initially surprised when I did not hear the melancholy lyrics and slow beat characteristic of “Sling.” Instead, “the single”Sexy to Someone” was flirty and spirited with a cute, catchy chorus: “Sexy to somebody, it would help me out / Oh, I need a reason to get out of the house.” The single delved into the emotions of wanting to feel attractive and desirable, shared by many young women. The song’s relatability and light-hearted nature were the reasons why I instantly added it to my summer playlist.

The eighth track, “Add up My Love,” also sparked the interest of many listeners online because it seems to capture the essence of summer with its upbeat and cheery sound. The lyrics are simple yet sassy, and the instrumentals perfectly encapsulate the feeling of a teenage summer. 

The seventh track, “Juna,” a favorite on social media, sees Clairo exploring similar feelings of femininity and youth. The lyrics of the chorus in this song are what started to make the album’s broader theme of “being charmed by someone” more clear to me: “You make me wanna try on feminine / You make me wanna go buy a new dress”. 

Even with a more playful style of writing in “Charm,” Clairo still maintains her artistry with lyrics that are illustrative and immensely dynamic.

The album’s opening track, “Nomad,” which came out as the second single before the album was released, is my personal favorite due to the way the melody, instrumentals and lyrics combine. The song manages to sound beautifully yearnful, raw, emotional, catchy and real. In the chorus, Clairo sings, “But I’d rather be alone than a stranger,” capturing the feeling of wanting to be wanted — a common motif throughout the album. She hones in on a universal feeling of wanting to be loved, yet settling for less because it’s better than nothing.

Clairo writes for herself rather than for an audience throughout this album, she mentioned in an interview with Apple Music. This album further resonates with its young adult audience precisely because of the vulnerabilities it deals with. 

You have to give Clairo’s music extra attention, and occasionally do some research, to fully appreciate it. I feel as though this album perfectly continues that style of complexity and nuance that is present throughout “Sling.” Yet by the same measure, some of the songs in “Charm” are hard to catch onto due to both their instrumental and lyrical complexity. At times, her vocal style lacks variety.

Overall, Clairo’s well-produced latest release takes a charming approach at highlighting femininity and the complex feelings of growing into adulthood. Stanford community members will have a lot to look forward to when Clairo takes “Charm” to the Frost Amphitheater on Oct. 6.

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and includes subjective thoughts, opinions and critiques.

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