Eve Hutchinson
U.S. pop sensation, Sabrina Carpenter, has once again rocked the music industry with her latest album, Man’s Best Friend, further cementing herself as a household name.
Last summer, a new pop star was born: Sabrina Carpenter. The 26-year-old American singer, songwriter and actress shot to global success with her smash hit single ‘Espresso’. Since then, she has catapulted into fame with her Grammy Award-winning sixth studio album Short n’ Sweet (2024).
Album Of The Summer Part 2?
After sweeping global charts, most artists would take time to rest and recharge, not Carpenter.
On 2nd June 2025, Carpenter released a mysterious teaser that had fans buzzing with anticipation for new music. This was shortly followed up by a new single: ‘Manchild’.
On 11th June 2025, Carpenter delighted fans with further news of the release of her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend (2025).
Not For The Faint-Hearted
This surprise announcement was not without controversy. Man’s Best Friend’s album cover received heavy public and critical backlash for its provocative material.
The cover depicted Carpenter on all fours with her hair being pulled by a faceless man. Is it damaging or empowering? Satirical or harmful? The internet could not decide. Ultimately, the cover has only cursory bearings to the album’s content.
Blending elements of disco, country and R&B, Man’s Best Friend (2025) is a self-aware, high-energy album from an artist who has found her specialities and is harnessing them to create infectious, fun, pop music.
Man’s Best Friend Or Man-Hater?
Carpenter once again channels 80s-inspired synth production with a country flair with the lead single ‘Manchild’.
“Rather than continuing the story and becoming a sequel album, Man’s Best Friend (2025) is its companion piece.”
‘Manchild’ serves as the bridge between Short n’ Sweet (2024) and Man’s Best Friend (2025). Here, Carpenter playfully criticises the foolish, immature men she dates, demonstrated by her biting, acidic tongue disguised in honeyed tones that chastises her lovers for their incompetence.
On ‘Tears’, Carpenter delivers a disco anthem which parodies the pleasure derived from a man who can do the bare minimum: assemble IKEA furniture and wash dishes.
To begin with, Carpenter stretches satire to the limit on this number but just manages to pull it off respectfully in a way only her charm can.
Moreover, as much as Carpenter relishes the lively numbers, she is still unafraid to be honest and vulnerable about her experience of heartbreak.
“She brazenly name-drops the ex-boyfriends she wants to drunk dial in the chorus and transforms the bridge into the slurred call itself, showing the mess heartbreak has reduced her to.”
For instance, during ‘We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night’, Carpenter laments the on-off again relationship dynamic she shares with her partner, showing off her higher vocal range as she belts “Big deal we’ve been here before and we’ll be here tomorrow.”
Pop With Puns
One of the highlights of the album is ‘When Did You Get Hot?’, an R&B-pop song which shows Carpenter’s quirks at their most authentic and witty.
In the song, Carpenter lusts after an old acquaintance who has turned “from an ugly kid to a sexy man”. Carpenter delivers low, sultry vocals and slides in subtle, creative sexual puns that will likely become some of the album’s most iconic lyrics.
“Man’s Best Friend (2025) is a self-aware, high-energy album from an artist who has found her specialities and is harnessing them to create infectious, fun, pop music.”
Heading into the latter half of the album, Carpenter maintains momentum and displays some of the strongest material on the record.
On ‘Go Go Juice’, Carpenter turns the satire on herself. She brazenly name-drops the ex-boyfriends she wants to drunk dial in the chorus and transforms the bridge into the slurred call itself, showing the mess heartbreak has reduced her to.
Sayonara, Adios
‘Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry’ brings the pace to a concerning halt, the mellow track failing to stir a response.
Thankfully, Carpenter makes sure her album concludes on a high, with the final ABBA-inspired anthem ‘Goodbye’.
In ‘Goodbye’, Carpenter firmly shuts the door on any chance of reconciliation with her former lovers, dismissing them using goodbyes in various languages. The pre-choruses’ farewells ranging from ‘arrivederci’, ‘au revoir’ and ‘cheerio’ allow Carpenter’s charisma and skill with wordplay to shine.
Carpenter is no longer ‘man’s best friend’; she has closed that chapter of her dating life for good.
Final Verdict
Still, following up on the mega success of Short n’ Sweet (2024) with a new project was bound to be a challenge for Carpenter.
Would it flop in comparison? Would it just be the Short n’ Sweet (2024) leftovers that didn’t make the final cut?
Rather than continuing the story and becoming a sequel album, Man’s Best Friend (2025) is its companion piece. It takes the elements of Short n’ Sweet that landed best and crafts them into a confident, well-executed album injected with humour and energy.
Carpenter’s female-oriented audience is sure to feel seen in the album’s exasperation with modern dating.
Carpenter may have said ‘goodbye’ for now, but she is bound to return next time with something even bolder.
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Featured image courtesy of Bill Stephan via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image license found here.
