Brat

Every 8 years there’s a massive hit act that makes people tell you, “Oh, no, this is actually REALLY good, this has a lot more vitamins and fibre than you would expect!” and so you give it a try and it always turns out it’s just another Nutrigrain bar

This album has disappointingly very little to do with bratwurst.

Brat is a slice of mid 00s EDM and rave clubbing culture, and it does a great job of matching that sound with squelchy synths, punchy electronic percussion, and blaring bass. More importantly than just what's contained within the music, is the atmosphere that it cultivates. Charli XCX is a party girl, something you'll be well aware of by the end of the album. With brat, Charli XCX has come full circle. She started off as a electronic infused dance pop artist, and after playing around with less commercial elements during her time within the PC Music scene, she has come back to electronic dance-pop. Brat is not the same as her early work though, with her experience working with musicians in the PC Music space (such as A.G. Cook who produces some songs on the album) comes an injection of hyperpop sounds such as the heavily autotuned vocals and almost industrial bass, which really kicks the EDM up a notch beyond what it was inspired by. Speaking of inspirations, you can hear the influence of 00s EDM legends like Daft Punk and Justice all over the record, even 360 and the other songs that use its leitmotif (Rewind and 365) sound exactly like Stardust's one hit. The hyperpop influence here is the big reason why brat has such a big sound. The exaggerated effects of hyperpop give the album a high-octane and drugged up sound, like you're at the rave drinking alcohol and taking uppers. The blaring synths and heavy autotune do give the album a disorienting and wobbly feeling which matches the exhausted yet fun feeling from the club. Lyrically this album is her usual shtick of sexual party girl with more heartfelt lyrics about relationships, feelings, and insecurities. These personal lyrics had more impact on me during her 2020 COVID era hit album How I'm Feeling Now, but it does provide an interesting contrast to the non-stop partying atmosphere of brat. The penultimate song - I Think About It All The Time - drops a lot of the EDM and Hyperpop influences for a heartfelt song about Charli balancing her music career with her private life and starting a family, and it works as a wonderful introspective come down to the hi-energy clubbing sound from the rest of the album... Only for the closer, 365, to go full-throttle back to partying. I liked this a lot more now than I did when it originally came out, there's lots and hooks and energy and it's a very fun album. The lyrics push it further into artistic territory, and I'm glad for those who like them and relate, but really I'm just here to groove. Was it a good addition to the list: Yes 100%. I don't like albums that have been added within the past 5 years, but this was such a cultural phenomenon that it really would have been a huge misstep were it excluded. Probably the best possible inclusion they could have made between 2022 and now Top 3 songs: 360, Von Dutch, I Think About It All the Time

There’s a cool anxiety to the Sonic Youthy dissonant sounds that drone into these songs that suits the tone: marvellous songs that dwell in what’s not quite right, perhaps a core facet of great pop. This was as fine as I hoped it to be - such a splendid, fast set of tracks, blazing past with wit and hooks both verbal and sonic. Coming so soon after the 808 State debut, its lineage in acid squelch is unmistakeable, though I wouldn’t have imagined the style’s marriage to caustic diarising would hit so well. It’s a coherent album in this long age of multiproducer homogenisation. I hope her others are similar.

A pleasant surprise; unlike other recent yoof music hyped my way (*cough Sabrina Carpenter cough*), it sounds like CXCX is fully committed to making this as entertaining as possible, putting a real effort in. Tuneful and funny, once it gets going around "Everything Is Romantic" it's basically wall-to-wall bangers with sarcastic commentary, right up my alley. High enough quality even to redeem its mindless co-option by the clueless Harris campaign.

Actually pretty great album. Lots of fun and varied. A song on there really gave me Sleigh Bells vibes, and I fw Sleigh Bells. The last song goes pretty hard and I cranked the bass. 3.75/5

Brat - Charlie XCX This is such a weird one to review. I had only heard snippets of it before, and to be fair and honest, it is not my thing. But it ended up being one of the most popular albums of the last 10 years, a modern phenomenon, so I've gone in trying to hide any bias. It has a charm, and i genuinely mean it. There are so many charms to it that it becomes incredibly charming, but some of the charms themselves on their own are things I'd usually have as negatives. Firstly, im not sure she can sing, I think I've heard her say that herself, the use of autotone constantly is a choice, but it kinda works. The lyrics are horrendous, but it kinda works. The actually songs are something that sounds almost like a parody. It's like in a tv show when the friend is in a group and they play everyone their music and it's "okay". Part of me thinks everything about her is a comment on the music industry, and she's laughing at everyone lapping it up. But it works. Maybe it's a 3, maybe it's a 4. I don't know I found the whole thing very confusing

This was a big pop album and had significant cultural cut-through. But that's what big pop albums are supposed to do. I guess this is a textbook example of effective 21st century marketing, but is that the same as being a good record? Charli XCX's tendency to take the lid off and show how the sausage is made, coupled with a heavily ironic reflexivity, allows her to have her sausage and eat it too. When coupled when with the film The Moment, it is difficult to tell what she really means and what she doesn't. She can simultaneously sell-out and roll her eyes about the shit corporatization of music. It's smart, but morally slippery. Very po-mo. As a listening experience, it's a'ight. Good pop music, but it's hard to tell if it will bear the test of time. Charli herself seems to have moved on, having released the aforementioned film deconstructing Brat, and two subsequent albums. Let's reconvene in 20 year sand see if this album still floats.

fart

BRAT by Charli XCX is definitely not the sort of album I would normally choose to put on. It's quite a long way from my usual musical tastes, but that's one of the things I love about this challenge. Every now and then, an album comes along that surprises me. And I have to say, I actually liked this a lot! It's catchy, energetic and has plenty of variety, while still being a really easy listen. There are some great pop tunes here, and I enjoyed the mixture of electronic sounds, dance beats and catchy melodies. It's the sort of album that doesn't take itself too seriously and is great fun to listen to. What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the whole thing. I expected to struggle with this, but instead I found myself getting into the songs and enjoying the energy of the album. There's enough variation to keep it interesting, and nothing felt particularly weak or out of place. Overall, BRAT was a really pleasant surprise. It's not normally my kind of music, but I can certainly appreciate a good pop album when I hear one. This is another example of why I enjoy this challenge so much. It's introduced me to music I would probably never have listened to otherwise. I'd definitely listen to this again. Favourite tracks: "Everything Is Romantic", "360" and "Club Classics". Least favourite track: Nothing really. Everything was worth a listen. Album artwork: Cool album cover. Incredibly simple, but bright, striking and instantly recognisable.

One of the most culturally relevant pop albums of the past few years, definitely deserves inclusion on the main list. It's fun balance between irrevenrent club bangers and some touching confessional moments. I thought it was interesting reading some of the reviews here, and the few one-star reviews that seem to completely miss the point, lacking even a basic curiousity on the background of the album or the cultural moment to only offer a simple curmudgeonly criticism of it lacking depth or being shallow.

When I go to the pub I want to eat those pub classics

Started out skeptical and sketchy. This grew on me a little over the course. Upgraded to a three in the end. Still not quite my thing, but some of it's alright.

I’m definitely way outside the target demographic, but it’s refreshing to hear modern pop music that doesn’t sound like it was sanded down to be as inoffensive as possible. 360, 365 and talk talk were my favorites.

This is the exact mind numbing music that I dislike.

Definitely belongs in the main list.

TWO Charli xcx albums in just 4 days?! I'd question whether she belongs on the list at all. Not aimed at me and didn't hit with me.

A solid addition for the 2026 update, even if you don't particularly like the music I do think that from a pop culture perspective "brat" is at least as deserving of a slot here as many of the 60s-70s prog rock albums. My main complaint about this record is that "Sympathy is a knife" is not scattered five times throughout the album for me to hear it multiple times. My secondary complaint is that a couple of the remixes from the later album should be tacked on, although I wouldn't necessarily recommend the entire double album experience. Maybe in a 2036 update they'll saddle us with that one via "brat and it's completely different but also still brat" - who can say. At any rate - Charli XCX has been doing her electronic and PC music for a while now, she's also been doing radically introspective/vulnerable lyrics for a while, I think this is a really well done mashing of the two. Recession pop 4ever.

I tried to buy the hype at the time and was hugely underwhelmed. Do I remain so? Well, yes. There are moments of decent production, but by in large this is as homogeneous as the average British high street. The 2020s additions to the list are very questionable.

*Brat* is Charli XCX's sixth studio album, released in June 2024. It is a definitive artistic and commercial breakthrough that transformed her from a cult favorite into a mainstream cultural force. The album is defined by a deliberate contradiction: it pairs abrasive, club-oriented production with lyrics that are strikingly vulnerable, insecure, and conversational. This tension between the "party girl" persona and the anxious interior life is the engine of the record. ### Lyrics: Conversational Vulnerability and Specificity The lyrics on *Brat* eschew broad pop platitudes in favor of diaristic specificity. Charli writes about niche industry relationships and personal anxieties with a bluntness that feels radical for a major pop release. - **The "First-Name Basis" Approach**: Songs like "Girl, so confusing" and "Sympathy is a knife" address real, complex feelings toward other women in her orbit (the former widely understood to be about Lorde, who later appeared on the remix). This specificity invites listeners into a world of "it-girl in-jokes," but the underlying emotions—jealousy, competition, affection—are universal. - **Existential Anxiety**: Tracks like "I might say something stupid" capture the crushing insecurity of a party ("I don't feel like nothing special / I snag my tights out on the lawn chair"), while "I think about it all the time" tackles the biological clock and ambivalence about motherhood with a startling directness. The album's emotional core often lies in these moments of deflation rather than the highs of the club. - **Tributes and Legacy**: "So I" is a raw, stripped-back elegy for the late producer SOPHIE, moving from grief to a determination to carry on her legacy ("Your sounds, your words live on, endless"). ### Music and Production: Maximalist Club Realism Sonically, *Brat* is a love letter to the underground dance music that shaped Charli, filtered through a hyperpop sensibility. It is intentionally "sleazy, grinding" and "serrated," designed to sound like a basement club rather than a polished arena. - **The Sound Palette**: The album draws from early 2000s London club music, electroclash, acid house, and dubstep, all compressed into a tight, trebly mix. Lead single "Von Dutch" is built around a blaring, siren-like synth that echoes 2006 bloghouse, while "365" reworks the minimalist thump of "360" into something harder and more relentless. - **The Producers**: The record is a collaborative effort helmed by executive producer A.G. Cook alongside a rotating cast including Finn Keane (Easyfun), George Daniel, Hudson Mohawke, Gesaffelstein, and El Guincho. This roster ensures the album maintains a cohesive "PC Music-adjacent" texture while allowing each track its own distinct flavor—from the spooky, autotuned haze of "I might say something stupid" to the Spanish-tinged, techno-kick-driven "Everything is romantic". - **Vocal Processing**: Charli's voice is often pitch-shifted, autotuned, or layered, acting as another instrument in the mix. While one teen reviewer found the heavy tuning unnecessary, it is generally viewed as an aesthetic choice that reinforces the album's theme of constructed identity—the "brat" persona is a performance, and the vocal processing is part of that mask. ### Themes: The "Brat" Persona and Radical Honesty The central theme of *Brat* is the gap between the performed self and the private self. Charli defined a "brat" as a girl who "has a breakdown, but kind of like parties through it," and the album lives in that exact space. - **The Protective Persona**: The aggressive, hedonistic surface ("I'm your number one," "Club classics") functions as armor. As *The Guardian* noted, the album understands "how a hard persona can offer protection". The partying is not just fun; it is a coping mechanism for anxiety, aging, and grief. - **Digital-Age Identity**: The album is deeply concerned with how identity is constructed and fractured by the internet and fame. "I might say something stupid" explicitly grapples with the feeling of being "famous but not quite," a sentiment that resonates with a generation accustomed to performing their lives online. - **Feminist Complexity**: Rather than offering a unified "girl power" anthem, *Brat* explores the "nihilistic feminism" of messy, competitive, and loving relationships between women. It admits to ugly feelings without moralizing, which many listeners found liberating. ### Influence: The "Brat Summer" Phenomenon *Brat*'s influence extended far beyond music, becoming a defining aesthetic and attitude of 2024. - **Cultural Ubiquity**: The album's signature "sickly lime green" cover and lowercase Arial font became instantly recognizable, spawning memes, fashion trends, and even political branding when Kamala Harris's campaign adopted the "Brat" aesthetic. It was named Album of the Year by *The Guardian* and won multiple Grammys, including Album of the Year. - **Shifting the Pop Landscape**: Critics noted that *Brat* succeeded by doing the opposite of Charli's previous, more commercially palatable album *Crash*. By prioritizing experimentation and raw emotion over chasing trends, she created something that felt both of the moment and ahead of it. Its success suggested a appetite for messier, more honest pop, influencing conversations around how female artists present vulnerability and aggression simultaneously. ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** - **Cohesive Vision**: The production, lyrics, and branding work together seamlessly to create a fully realized world and persona. - **Emotional Range**: It successfully balances high-energy club bangers ("Von Dutch," "365") with moments of genuine tenderness and grief ("So I," "I think about it all the time"). - **Lyrical Specificity**: The conversational, name-dropping style feels intimate and refreshingly honest compared to typical pop songwriting. - **Cultural Impact**: It generated a genuine, widespread cultural moment that transcended music. **Cons:** - **Insider Energy**: The heavy reliance on industry references and "lore" can make some tracks feel exclusionary or difficult to parse for casual listeners who aren't familiar with Charli's circle. - **Vocal Processing**: The constant use of autotune and pitch-shifting can create an emotional distance; some listeners may find the effect grating or feel it obscures her natural voice. - **Pacing**: The album is intentionally relentless, but the unvarying high-energy, trebly intensity can feel exhausting over the course of a full listen for some. Ultimately, *Brat* is a rare pop album that functions as both a visceral dance record and a piece of introspective performance art. Its "cons" are largely extensions of its intentional aesthetic choices, which are inseparable from its strengths.

fun record. not deep. it's a party album and it knows it. i don't think that's a bad thing. all that said, i have felt since its release it's a tad bit overrated, but also ultimately not my thing. it's definitely a "you had to be there" album, but i was also there and i still don't think it's as great as everyone made it out to be. fun! but mostly just that.

I was nose deep in this album generator when this album first came out and completely missed it. When Charli xcx's name was everywhere afterwards I was somewhat curious but not enough to go listen to her catalog. So today is the day I catch up with pop music I guess. It's a fun party album for sure. Rave music is not quite my jam but I see the appeal. This is very danceable and not overly annoying like a lot of rave music.

She has a nice voice and i enjoy the lyrics but the excessive autotune just kills my ears. This would make for a great unplugged album

There's been some good pop over the last few years, but I don't understand the Brat love. The autotune really does grate after a bit and that is to the detriment of the whole album. The beats and that are pretty solid, but this doesn't do much for me.

This was fine pop dance music.

One of the very rare exceptions to my opinion that albums should have to be 10+ years old to qualify for this list. This album had such a cultural impact that I think it qualifies. It also helps that it's just bangers from front to back. I've been a Charli fan for a while now but this album was her first bonafide classic in my eyes.

she's everywhere, she's so julia. she had a couple of hits in the mid 2010s and subsequently switched up her sound in part thanks to SOPHIE's production on vroom vroom. During this time she arguably found her footing and released two incredibly well-regarded albums in 2019 and 2020. she then moved away from this experimental production style in the 2020s and, following a misstep, geared her next album towards beats and production that resembled 2000s electronic dance music that was popping off in the clubs. with this album, she became the 365 party girl, you're number one, an apple rotten to the core, and so much more. she is charli xcx, and she is brat. there is no doubt in my mind that brat's success came at a time when people were still trying to figure out how to find fun after covid restrictions had kept them inside for too long. i hesitate to say that covid was "over" but it was certainly in the rear-view mirror for many people. the move toward club-styled music reminded people how to have fun and pack themselves in a crowded room where everyone could dance, sweat, drink, make out, and feel the music. the best part is that it's not just a "forget your troubles and dance" album, but also one that dares to be vulnerable and emotionally resonant. few albums seem so tapped into the culture while also leading the culture, so much so that brat summer was seemingly inescapable. everything was lime green, lowercase, cool girls, and late nights. it was also an election year in the states! kamala was brat, and she lost! oh god, maybe the culture is not what we thought it was. regardless, the legacy of brat still looms heavy a good two years later, and i would reckon it will continue to be remembered as the moment of 2024. because for the moment, it seemed like everyone was bumpin' that.

This was missing a cover of the Ramones’ “Beat on the Brat,” which really would have sent this over the edge for me.

Another one of those critically-acclaimed, beloved albums that get lost on me, like with Lana Del Ray. I've given this work plenty of tries over the years, but it just doesn't take. I think it's a combination of 1) you have to have an inclination toward the genre, full-stop and 2) you had to have followed her career to understand the context of the lyrics and appreciate her progress from when she first started to her mid-career to now to be wowed by where she is now with BRAT. There's some songs I can get with, but not enough that I'd seek them out to listen. It's, overall, just lost on me.

It's a pretty OK pop album.

Not my style at all, I don't like the repetitive style, sonically and lyrically. One extra point for the personal lyrics that show a pretty feminist perspective.

2.5/5

I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this as much as I did. Still not a fan of over-autotuned vocals, but she just about gets away with it, the production is class and the songs are bangers.

What'd you call me? This is my second attempt at BRAT, and like the first time around, I'm not a big fan. Minimalism imitating countless other electronic-pop artists from decades prior is not something to get all overexcited by. And Charli XCX doesn't pull off the genre nearly as well as her contemporaries and predecessors. The songs are consistently short, though, which is pretty rarely seen these days. Kind of a cool callback to 50s/60s pop (and, later, punk) days. "360" is a big exception, though. Dang it, that synth melody is fantastic. It helps offset the bland percussion and vocals. And yet the singing here is some of the best on the album, simply because Charli's voice in later tracks is delivered kind of... obnoxiously, I guess. We hear the first example of this in "Club classics", a song containing almost aggressively lazy singing and an insistent echo effect that proves more annoying than catchy. "Sympathy is a knife" does substantially better. The autotune works to Charli's benefit. And that low, zany bass sound is one I've never heard from other artists. Also, we hear vocal harmonies (nice) for the first time. Though less convincing, "I may say something stupid" has a depressive feel that hits me in the Radiohead-and-Lana-Del-Rey-loving part of my brain. "Talk talk"'s synths sound like the ones from Jump. I like them, and also enjoy the chorus. In general, though, there's a reason why most artists sing without an accent: it sounds better. I take issuewith countless British artists' enunciation, and Charli XCX is no exception. "Von dutch": "omya nombawonn / omya nombawonn / (etc.)". Pretty damn catchy, to be fair. "Everything is romantic" starts with a gorgeous orchestral arrangement (imagine if she'd released an entire album of this!) before Charli colonises the mix with her accent which seriously detracts from the listener's enjoyment. It makes her sound like one of the Siri voice options. Still, I don't mind the song too much. The "Everything is" line goes hard every time it appears. The "fool in love a gay nanna gay", not so much. "Rewind" ends the side with that minimalist synth-pop sound that sounds a bit like a reprise of "360". The self-harmonising vocals are the best part of this track. Side 2 begins with "So I", an aggressively inoffensive track that could've easily been cut without many thrown hands. I didn't give this a Like on my initial listen, and listening to it again, I can see why. The melody takes zero risks and still manages, at times, to sound like an off-brand Stronger (Kanye). The synth lines wanders in circles without developing or providing much more energy than a limp gummy worm. "Girl, so confusing" is perhaps the most irritating song thus far. That low synth cuts through the entire mix and kills any solace one might otherwise find in the vocals or percussion. The "guhl" lyric repeats far too much for comfort. "Apple" is unexpectedly strong; the melody takes a more interesting, meandering approach than any prior track, and the mood is bright and optimistic. "B2b" is a strange one. It has all the makings of a big hit, but then it just... doesn't hit. The part where she said "back to back to back to back to back to back to (etc.)" was my least favourite part. And also my favourite part, because that's pretty much the entire song. (Scratch that; the "back back back back" ad nauseam syncopated bit is worse.) "Mean girls", despite having pretty crap lyrics, is catchy enough. And it makes good use of silence to separate a couple of contrasting sections, which is always a plus. "I think about it all the time" reads as a bit amateur, and it's pretty obvious why: weak delivery ("'Cause maybe one day I might" – her voice is *not* it, man), thin texture, and the song doesn't really go anywhere. "365", a recapitulation of the incredible melodic themes in "360", ends the record gracefully. In fact, I prefer the intense dance-floor-esque synths to the more lightweight ones in the opening track. Heck to the yeah. The last thing I'll say is that "Guess" should've been included on the main album. What a phenomenal, sexy, perfect song. 3/5 Key tracks: 360, Von dutch, 365

Pretty good; i think this just gets into four star range for me. I definitely think it merits inclusion in the book.

Listened to this one back when it released in 2024 which is just two years ago and didn't feel like listening to it again. I started listening to the album but got the same feeling as I first time I heard it. It's electropop that's somewhat catchy that's noticeable autotuned. Not my type of electronic music and I don't care about autotune in singing (many use it but it's like CGI, it's better when it's not noticeable). I think it's way too early to include this album in the 1001 album list. Give it a few more years and then we'll see.

I tried to give this a fair shake, but I just don't get it. I haven't listened to her outside of the Lonely Island song, Here I Go, so this was a first for me. Felt like I've heard all these songs before, just named differently and listed by a different artist. Also, why turn the autotune up so high?

My daughter loves this artist. And I have to say I’m a few track in and I don’t hate it. This is pretty good.

I think this is a fun album but a bit overrated

This is decent, a little more hit and miss than Wuthering Heights. It's got some really great production ear candy things going on; Von dutch for example has an undeniably catchy groove and even a nod to Aphex Twin. 365 also is obnoxiously fun. 3.25/5

Een irritant goed geheel

Some sameness to beginning cuts, the mechanized voicing not helpful. I do like the inventiveness, but it carries this only so far. I am sadly bored after a few tunes--works better in small doses.

This was great. Love the energy, didn't even mind the creative use of auto-tune. Heard the artist behind the music. I might be a few years late for a Brat summer, but I'll settle for a Brat fall.

I don't know. Yeah, it's fine. My son loves it. He'd give it 4.5. I actually found Wuthering Heights a little more interesting. But it's cool, and it's better than a lot of other albums in this genre. I just can't bring myself to get too worked up about it.

All of it. Right on!

Very good. 3.5

3.8

Don't mind it but probably just three stars though. Quite like some of the songs on it.

Not great, but not awful either. I got to the end with only a couple of tracks standing out above the pack. The autotune got very annoying by the end and there wasn't much substance really. Three stars.

Really glad that something cool and experimental actually hit the mainstream again!

Might have rated 4 but I didn't agree with this list trying to stay relevant by adding newer albums.

Was very much expecting to not like this, but it was much better than I expected. Feels a little wild to be included here, but I'm happy to have finally listened to it.

Man, you just had to be there. Kamala is brat. Back before things went deep in fascism with you know you.

By far better than the other Charli album but some of the albums removed for these is crazy and shows this author is bought and paid for or has a HUGE UK bias.

I did not have a brat summer. Neither in 2024 nor listening to this now.

I didn't want anything to do with this for the longest time, and then towards the end of the year it came out I was in th middle of this project and fancied forcing myself through some of the top albums of the year, and I got it. The production is fantastic, it perfectly captures the era its trying to celebrate, while still being something good for the modern pallette (I appreciate the time difference isn't that small). The character Charli presents comes through the music so that as you get to the more different tracks at the end you can appreciate how it fits into everything. And yeah plenty has been said about this album recently so I'm done talking about it.

I was aware of the Brat summer and the name Charli xcx. However, didn't know her music. I thought some of the lyrics were interesting but otherwise I'm not hearing anything innovative nor memorable. It could well be my age, but I wonder if this artist and her work will endure. I think I'm aware of her because music critics have been enthusiastic.

A production masterclass, stellar songwriting and lyricism, and an absolute cultural phenomenon. It’s giving 5 stars.

Excellent album. I am not the target audience of this style of music and my days of going out to the bars and clubs has long since passed, but I imagine people just losing their shit when 365 hit the dancefloor. I'll probably never listen to this again, but it is quality. Good pick Dimery.

две Чарли подряд… я послушно слушала, но этот электронный голос не для меня

Album #1091 (1,001 challenge): "Brat" by Charlie XCX (2024) "Brat" is the sixth studio album by British singer Charlie XCX (Charlotte Emma Aitchison). Electropop, synth-pop, club-pop, hyperpop, dance and electroclash are the Wiki-listed genres. Some new ones there. The album "draws influence from the 2000's English rave music scene, with a more aggressive sound than her previous album "Crash."" The album had a host of producers including Charlie XCX, A.G. Cook, Finn Keane, Cirkut, and George Daniel. Commercially, it reached #1 in the UK and #3 in the US and, critically, it had wide-spread acclaim and was shortlisted for the UK Mercury Prize. "360" opens the album with synth Keys and handclap dance beats. Charlie with clear vocals which become layered. A quick rap-like delivery as she celebrates her independence. Catchy and poppy. The next song "Club Classics" is well, more club. Fast beats, more quick vocals and a pumping synth. Here we go. Charlie's vocals are emotional in "Sympathy is a Knife" as she doubts herself. Handclaps and a booming synth. A very good song that builds. The first single released was "Von Dutch." A ticking beat which goes to club dance beats. A revving synth. Reverbing, echoing vocals. She's it! Another single "Apple" is a simple but catchy pop song. Poppy beats with a bouncy synth. Layered vocals and synths. Charlie goes personal with her relationship with her parents. The album closes with "365." More of the bouncy beats and bubbly synths. The song starts to build and we're deep into club. She's the 365-days a year party girl. Pop, dance, club and ballads. Quick, catchy short songs - 15 songs in 41 minutes. Charles vocals are fast, rap-like, emotional, layered and distorted at times. The lyrics can be personal (self doubt, relationships with friends and family), address fame and defiant/anthemic. Great production as the short songs scoot by. There's an edge to these songs both musically and vocally that I like a lot and take it above the typical modern day pop. This is one of the three out the 13 albums added to the 1,001 that I agree with. A high recommendation. 5 out of 5

Turns out I was right to largely ignore this when it came out

brat is brat

This is better than the tosh she did for the film that shall not be named. She’s good but I don’t know we’ll be listening to this in 2029. So probably not a must hear. 3

Alright, so a serious question: why are the vocals on these 21st century young female artists selections all autotuned? I'm sure some of them can actually sing, maybe, but regardless we are in some next stage devolution in that the 21st century youth can hear something I can't? I know these entries are designed to even up the boring old white guy music that dominates this process, but surely there are some better records than this to do that? I think that is the point; I like listening to an eclectic range of music and the key for me is do they have something to say: musically, lyrically, performance the whole package. I mean this is as valid as say David Cassidy in 1973, if you get my point. He was huge, he had a moment, Cherish broke a few hearts but no one is sitting around listening to a David Cassidy album anymore, whereas millions listened to him in 1973. That's what this stuff is, in the moment zeitgeist pop, but are these records the ones we need to hear before we cark it? I listened to this aaaaaaaaaalllllllll the way through. Not good.

It's just a genre and a style that I don't really care for. Listening to 'Von Dutch' as I type this, and it's just so repetitive. Too much of an electronica, dance-pop album for my tastes. I appreciate the relevance, there is a lot of appeal, but not for me.

360 was my top tune the other year on Spotify. Mind you it didn’t take much given most of my listening time was taken up by this project. The marketing was genius for this and I do believe the singles are enhanced by their videos. Love a good bit of pop. Not so keen on the autotune effect. This may be the best new addition to the list

Ohh look at that. More rave and EDM style stuff.......but with singing and actual song structure and subject matter. I thought this was solid. Overall its not my jam, but it wasn't off putting or terrible. It was listenable at least just didn't stand out to me or connect with my sensibilities.

This is the mega hit pop album that certainly has a right to be on this list for it's cultural ubiquitous. This is the first that I am hearing any of it, and it was fine. Modern pop is just not for me.

I don't know how I missed this during brat summer, I wasn't in the right mood I think.

Such a fun album! Endless club pop music with introspective lyrics. What’s not to love? I’ve been very happy with the new additions on the list

Von Dutch is an absolute banger Talk Talk is a decent little song But beyond that I struggle to see what the fuss is about. The autotune creeps over the line from quirky to annoying very quickly over an album

Ehh ok

4-/5

I don't get the hype for this album. It's fine.

Some interesting minimal electro sounds, with some catchy moments, but largely disposable and forgettable.

Eh, I really don’t see the appeal. It’s definitely doing something different than other pop artists are, but it’s just not very good, imo.

No, I really didn't like this. Didn't hate it. But really not for me this type of music.

getting near the end of this project and then more albums are added!! this one was a welcome addition

She really likes that auto-tune, eh?

It's October and I'm apparently having a brat Friday morning. I can see why this made a splash and why people were talking about it when it came out, even if it's not 100% for me. There's some catchy tunes in here, and when it's really going for it it hits. Less so when she's delivering tons of lyrics at once, but certainly with the music. I had no idea this is what it sounded like to be honest. I was expecting some minimalist, breathy vocal thing, so I'm actually delighted that wasn't the case. The negative: Parts of this album are deeply irritating. Parts of this album are hugely over-produced. Why is there so much auto-tune? Even on the ballad track, what's that about? It's obviously part of it, but it would have been so much better if she sang it properly. Better than I was expecting, frankly. I'm kind of glad I'm up to speed on what it's all about.

Amazed this became a classic already. Minus one since it's not her epic - Number 1 Angel was epic, this on is just pretty fine; and minus one for the album cover - in my epoch everyone would've killed for it. Since i can't count it well - 5-1-1 = 4. But damn, Charlie, you CAN make bangers.

The first listen I wasn’t convinced. But I gave it another go and quite enjoyed it.

Ah, an album that was massive for one year and everyone said how amazing it was. I didn't hear it and so have high expectations... and it just sounds a bunch of modern pop songs. Fuck me, I feel sorry for teens if this is classed as classic songs. Fine, it can be here because the fact it was culturally massive for a couple of months, which in this day and age is like a couple of years but come on... Best Tracks: 360; Von Dutch; Apple

It’s always been brat summer

I was fully aware of Brat Summer in 2024, but apparently needed two years to work up the courage to actually listen to it. Catchy, chaotic, and occasionally exhausting. I can see why it was a cultural phenomenon, even if I’m not entirely sure I needed to experience it myself. Apparently, I’m more Brat Autumn 2026. ★★★

Certainly house pop

Clearly intended for younger audiences, this candy is too sweet.

Great punchy production and the lyrics made me pay attention broadly. Just didn't love every song

Obviously, this is one of the new entries from the latest edition. While this collection of absolute bangers managed to spark a TikTok-driven subcultural zeitgeist for exactly one summer, only time will tell its worthiness on this eternal list. I think a better choice would have been Halsey's often-overlooked, "If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power." Her 2021 release also focuses on feminine empowerment and asks unanswerable questions. Her voice is stronger than Charlie XCX's and needs far less autotune to land the tough notes. Trent Reznor's production credit gives it more cross-generational appeal and provides a danceable, Industrial backbone. Check it out.

Nemmeste 5’er af de nye albums jeg kender

Lyder næsten endnu bedre nu end den gjorde sommeren 24!

Brat fall!

No standouts

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🔠🟩🦯 Production: 🤬👊🥾 Music: 🪩🧐💥 Rating: 💚💚💚(💚) /5

not terrible!

I heard the new edition of the book is out. Hope the other new albums aren't like this one

My added album to the personal list. I think this is an all timer. I have to admit, I dont come back to it often after the year of the Brat summer, but still, this is definitely an era defining record, and one that represents Charli XCX very well. She deserves to be on here.

First album from the new edition. I am VERY out of the loop when it comes to modern pop music. I knew of this album’s existence, but I had never heard anything from it until today. It’s pretty good. I know Dimery (deservedly) got a lot of shit for some questionable inclusions in the new version, but this one is worth it due to its quality and its popularity. It also learned an important lesson from its electronica forebears - in a refreshing change of pace, the longest song here is 3:31, and most songs clock in at under three minutes. As another band once said, the kids are alright.

nah my dude