This year, Sabrina Carpenter’s newest album was announced, and I was genuinely excited. Anytime a new album drops, it feels like something to look forward to — almost like waiting for a new season of your favorite TV show. When the “Man’s Best Friend” album cover came out, it immediately sparked controversy because it depicted Sabrina on all fours, which had everyone forming opinions before even hearing a single track. But when release day finally came and I took my first listen, I was shocked. I completely hated it. Every song felt off. Nothing vibed with me or clicked the way I expected.

But, like always, I have this habit of revisiting an album, especially albums I’m unsure about, which was highlighted by seeing her this year in concert for the Pittsburgh leg of her ‘Short n’ Sweet’ tour. Honestly, TikTok played a huge part in changing my mind. Clips using the songs “Nobody Son,” “Sugar Talking” and others kept appearing on my For You Page, and something in me flipped. Suddenly, the flow, the rhythm, the production — everything just hit. It was completely weird, but it was nice to be addicted to a new album. I became addicted to the melodies, obsessed with the hooks and once one song got stuck in my head, the rest of the album naturally started to play. Little by little, every few days, I’d get hooked on a different track until eventually the entire album took over my daily listening. Now, “Man’s Best Friend” isn’t just an album I enjoy — it has become my top album of the year so far.

The reason I am comparing it to “Short n’ Sweet” is that my reaction to that album was so different. “Short n’ Sweet” is phenomenal — there’s no denying that. It has incredible tracks like “Good Graces,” “Juno,” “Don’t Smile” and so many others that are beautifully crafted. Sabrina’s vocals are great. The songwriting is emotional and clever, and the aesthetic of the whole project feels polished and intentional. I genuinely love the album for what it is.

But “Short n’ Sweet” never fully wrapped itself around me the way “Man’s Best Friend” eventually did. It didn’t take over my listening habits or get stuck in my brain on repeat for days. I appreciated it, admired and enjoyed it, but it didn’t create that same obsession.

“Short n’ sweet” has a softer, more emotional energy. It feels reflective, dreamy and personal. It showcases Sabrina’s storytelling and her vulnerability. It’s an album you can cry to, relate to or just vibe with when you want something pretty and mellow. 

“Man’s Best Friend,” on the other hand, is pure chaos in the best way. It’s bold, messy, dramatic, playful and catchy. It’s the kind of album that sneaks up on you and suddenly refuses to leave your head. The production is louder, the hooks are crazier and Sabrina leans into a fun, chaotic persona that feels almost addictive. It’s not about perfection — it’s about energy.

So even though I didn’t love “Man’s Best Friend” at first, it became the album that surprised me, the one that hooked me completely. And “Short n’ Sweet,” while still an amazing album, just didn’t have that same grip on me. That’s the funny thing about music — sometimes certain artists, albums and music just magically click with you. 

Angel Rodriguez loves a writing style with a prominent voice and is very passionate about equality, self-expression and what matters most. He is always willing to hear feedback and new ideas at [email protected]