Island Records

Release Date: April 12th 2024

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Sabrina Carpenter– Espresso (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Espresso

One of the rising pop stars at the moment is Sabrina Carpenter. An actress as well (Sabrina has starred in films such as Clouds, Tall Girl, Tall Girl 2, and Work It), Sabrina has inspired, comforted, encouraged, and provided us all with thought-provoking and confronting pop songs. In my own opinion, Sabrina is a different brand of pop- not the kind of superficial and party-pop that is permeated all throughout with expletives galore (although she has branched out of later in her most recent album and recorded more ‘risqué’ and ‘adult’ songs!), but rather a deeper pop that discusses real issues, or at least a care-free pop that is just soothing and calming to listen to. I’ve known this for a while, and thus at the beginning of 2021, I personally blogged about Sabrina and spoken at length as to why I believe she is one of today’s most influential ‘up and coming’ artists. With the release of Sabrina’s brand-new album emails i can’t send which released in July 2022; I thought- why not voice my thoughts on Sabrina’s latest project? Sabrina may have been underrated before, but with this album, she is sure stepping into stardom and fame and popularity very, very quickly!

If you want to read my review of Sabrina’s album, you can do so here. Also in the past, I’ve voiced my brief thoughts about Sabrina’s previous singles “Skin”, “Skinny Dipping” and “Fast Times”; and about how Sabrina as a singer and as an artist is evolving and pushing the boundaries on what pop music sounds like and what pop music should be about lyrically and thematically. I’ve also noticed that with Sabrina in the past, she has also sung about pertinent, relevant and relatable issues other than just ‘having a good time’- songs like “Thumbs”, “Eyes Wide Open”, “Why”, “In My Bed”, “Pushing 20”, “Exhale”, “Sue Me” and “Can’t Blame A Girl For Trying” all come to mind when thinking about songs that aren’t just superfluous and are all about gratuity and excess. I mean, sure it’s fine to have songs about partying once in a while, but songs about deeper issues and real things people are going through- that’s where the lyrical goodness is found! As for Sabrina’s new album, it is jam packed with 13 tracks of pure pop, yet it is thought-provoking and nonetheless confronting. “Fast Times” and “Skinny Dipping” are both present in this album (“Skin” is missing!)- and so I’d say that because these tracks are familiar, then you guys can check them out first, and then backtrack through the entire album. In 2023, Sabrina released the deluxe edition of emails I can’t send– this time with 4 extra tracks. But… we’re not here to cover over old ground. this year, Sabrina is back with her brand new summer anthem/pop track “Espresso”.

There was something really exciting about the fact that there was so much personality throughout the entire song, because those are the ones that are really, really fun to sing live with a crowd. Those are the ones that people, I think when they don’t know my music or who I am or anything, they can just tune in to a single song and kind of leave with a better idea of my sense of humour.

This was one of those times in my life where it was just like, I just thought I was the s**t in the moment. And I think you don’t always feel that way, so you kind of have to capture those moments that you do because that’s how you find those little… for me, equating it to caffeine and that addiction was really fun and I definitely have a caffeine addiction as it is. So, it really ends up being a full circle for me. The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that b****.

“Espresso”, as fun and playful as it is, seems to be, according to Sabrina, not just a fun song. It’s a track that speaks about confidence in young women and the fact that they can use it to make guys do whatever they want for them. Now, even if “Espresso” does have a meaning to it (which when I read the lyrics now again, it’s clear that it does!), that doesn’t mean it’s an edifying song. In fact, I’d even go so far to say that “Espresso” is a melody about a woman in power over a man, and in a toxic and unhealthy relationship with the man, but the woman is dominating and having all of the control over the guy. It’s a no-win situation for the guy; and though I am for female empowerment, this way of lording over your control to the other person like in the way of ‘I’m better than you and I’m going to flaunt it’ kind of way… well, that’s really a way that I don’t really condone or agree with. And is this song a song that Sabrina champions, or is it a ‘warning’ kind of song, outlining that women could act this way towards men, but shouldn’t? As in women should treat men chivalrous just like men should treat women as such? Something to ponder over.

With Sabrina Carpenter’s latest studio album soaring on the iTunes charts in 2022 and 2023, as well as impressing the critics; I’m sure many of you may see this project as Sabrina’s inner most thoughts and nothing more. Yet for me, these melodies, which are indeed Sabrina’s most vulnerable and authentic moments of her relationship and ultimate breakdown of said relationships with Joshua Bassett and Dylan O’Brien, pack a great punch lyrically and thematically. Or at least that’s what I gleaned from listening to the album myself. You all may gain something different from Sabrina’s new album. Or you may not like it at all. You may not relate to relationship songs, or you may be like me and like them despite you personally not being in a relationship. And that’s ok. As with the latest single “Espresso”, well, let’s just say it’s super catchy… and considering how I found it helpful in that it’s a ‘warning’ song (even if it may not be what Sabrina intended!), I’d say this song is needed and indeed timely as well. Well done Sabrina Carpenter, for “Espresso”… which has lots and lots of lyrical treasures and hidden messages and meanings to unpack!

Score: 4/5

RIYL: Olivia Rodrigo, Sofia Carson, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Tori Kelly, JoJo, Julia Michaels, Delta Goodrem, Echosmith