Sabrina Carpenter gazes over her shoulder, marked with a kiss of red lipstick. In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Carpenter said “Short N’ Sweet” “feels like a self-titled album … [It’s] very much blunt, very much forward, very fun and just some of the best memories I’ve ever had.” Image from The Official Website of Sabrina Carpenter

At 9 years old, Sabrina Carpenter posted covers of Adele and Christina Aguilera songs to YouTube, dreaming of being a star. Nearly 16 years later, “Short N’ Sweet,” her sixth studio album, debuted as her first number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart. 

Carpenter began her career in acting, and her first role was a guest on the drama series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” She was later cast in the Disney Channel series “Girl Meets World.” Carpenter continued to work with Disney, signing a five-album deal with Disney-owned then-label Hollywood Records. Soon after, she released her debut single “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying,” launching her music career. 

The “Summer of Sabrina” started when Carpenter released “Espresso” in April, followed by “Please Please Please” in June. In “Espresso,” Carpenter coos playful innuendos and flirtatious nonsense. Comparing her love to caffeine, she sings, “Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know / That’s that me espresso.” In contrast, “Please Please Please” has a more frustrated tone, where Carpenter begs her lover to not embarrass her or make her cry “when [she] just did [her] makeup so nice.”

With two chart-topping hits preceding its release, I initially feared “Short N’ Sweet” would not live up to fans’ expectations. But after only my first listen, I realized Carpenter had proved me wrong. “Short N’ Sweet” laments naive situationships, raves about picturesque (and provocative) love and oozes summer fun. 

The album is filled with cheerful pop perfection, destined to be belted in the shower for years. “Taste,” the opening track, argues Carpenter left a lingering presence on an ex-boyfriend. She claims that no matter how hard his new girlfriend attempts to erase her, she’ll “just have to taste me when he’s kissin’ [her].” In “Good Graces,” Carpenter is confident and assertive, telling the man she loves that she won’t hesitate to turn her “lovin’ into hatred” if he tries to hurt her.

One of my favorites from the album is “Sharpest Tool,” a melancholic track referencing the saying “he isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.” Carpenter details a failed relationship where the man she fell for never cared for her, singing “If that was casual, then I’m an idiot.” She mourns the man’s careless behavior towards her, where he dragged Carpenter along while continuing to date other women.

While Carpenter’s previous albums have stayed within the parameters of pop, “Short N’ Sweet” branches out to explore other genres. Influences of country, disco and R&B are evident in tracks such as “Coincidence,” “Espresso” and “Bed Chem.” In an interview with Paper Magazine, Carpenter said she draws inspiration for her music from songs and artists of her childhood, noting Christina Aguilera as an example.

“I love Christina [Aguilera]. That was one of my very first idols and icons,” she said. “I was 11 years old, and you couldn’t get her name out of my mouth. She’s very special to me. Those songs raised me.”

Though the album as a whole was wonderful, there were a few songs that missed the mark — most notably, “Slim Pickins.” Carpenter sings about the struggle of finding the right guy and settling for people she doesn’t care about “just to get [her] fixings.” The track felt detached from the rest of the album. It seemed to go for a solemn yet upbeat tone, but just felt confused. With other songs, Carpenter explored many genres with intention, but the strong country twang of “Slim Pickins” felt abrupt and stuck out against other tracks. 

In contrast, “Coincidence” also has an evident country influence, but it is one of my favorite tracks. The song is unique yet has the playfulness and fun that has become a Sabrina Carpenter staple. “Coincidence” teases an ex-boyfriend for his untrustworthy behavior, calling his repetitive cheating just a “coincidence.” She sings, “What a surprise / Your phone just died / Your car drove itself from L.A. to her thighs.”

“Short N’ Sweet” is clever, lighthearted and, above all, stupid — in the best way. With this album, Carpenter solidified her status as a pop princess effortlessly. I am instantly transported to a sandy beach whenever I hear the opening lyrics to “Taste,” reminding me that even as school begins, the “Summer of Sabrina” is never really over.