After months of excitement and controversy, Sabrina Carpenter is back with her latest album, Man’s Best Friend. Released on Aug. 29, the album has already debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart.
The “Espresso” singer-songwriter, who rose from Disney Channel star to Grammy-award-winning musician, is once again showcasing her iconic style with a unique balance of comedy, sensitivity, and individuality.
From the album title to its lyrics, Carpenter combines her signature wit and emotional vulnerability, with a fun pop production, to reflect on adulthood in a way that many fans, especially young women, seem to connect with.
Source: Evan Agostini, AP Photo
“It’s Sabrina at her very best,” said junior Sophie Meyer. “She sounds confident but also more open than ever. My favorite track is ‘House Tour.’ It feels so personal, like she’s inviting us right into her world. I’ve had it on repeat since the first listen.”
“House Tour,” like many songs on the record, offers fans a glimpse into Carpenter’s life, which, by the sound of the album, seems to be full of humor, romance, and sexuality, which has received its fair share of critique from the media.
When she announced her album back in June, Carpenter was quickly criticized for the original cover art, which depicts her on all fours at the feet of a man who appears to be using her hair as a leash. In response, many on social media called out the artist for catering to the male gaze and promoting a misogynistic narrative.
“I’m not quite sure how I feel about it,” said senior Shannon Willard. “On the one hand, she is writing about her sexuality, but on the other hand, it can come off as a little degrading.”
Carpenter responded to these claims in a post to social media where she revealed an alternative, more family-friendly cover, calling it “approved by God.” Other fans, however, have embraced the album, applauding Carpenter for trying something new.
“It’s bold and confident, and it proves Sabrina knows exactly who she is as an artist,” said junior Kate Leunes. “She doesn’t sound like anyone else right now, and I love that she’s willing to experiment.”
Fans, like Leunes, say Carpenter isn’t just delivering radio-ready singles; she’s telling stories about heartbreak, resilience, and finding joy in the messy, complicated parts of growing up, which listeners seem to enjoy.
“It’s a real party for heartbreak, a celebration of disappointment! It’s for laughing at yourself and your poor choices as everything is falling apart, it’s wondering how loyalty and love always gets you back to third wheeling, spoken sarcastically like a true 25 year old,” said Carpenter in an Instagram post for the album’s release on Aug. 29.
Salo Pizon contributed to this article.
