CHARLI XCX Vinyl & CDs

Review: A compelling epilogue to the already legendary Brat, an exploration of sub-mainstream pop stardom, delving into anxieties around commercial success via tracks like 'Rewind' and 'Sympathy Is a Knife'. Musically, it's a diverse and experimental space, as Bon Iver, Jon Hopkins, The Japanese House and more take on remix duties, and although the songs are pushed into unexpected sonic territories the influence of a key producer remains clear. Glitchy electronica, pure pop moments and surprising combinations create a dynamic listening experience - the collaborations on tracks like '360' and 'Girl, So Confusing' are particularly effective.

Review: Hot on the heels of her blockbuster album BRAT, Charli XCX delivers Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, a remix project that defies the conventional obligations of such releases. This album is a celebration of her newfound fame, marked by unfiltered creativity and a dizzying array of collaborations. Each track features new vocals, often transforming the originals into something wholly unique. The guest list is impressively eclectic, ranging from established artists like Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande to emerging talents like Bb Trickz. These collaborations highlight Charli's ability to bridge genres and eras, creating a vibrant tapestry of sound that reflects her experiences with fame. Lyrically, Brat and… dives deep into the complexities of celebrity life, navigating themes of loneliness and connection with surgical precision. Charli’s candidness is refreshing, eschewing platitudes for raw, introspective moments. The album swings between melancholic and euphoric, showcasing both the highs and lows of pop stardom. Ultimately, it’s a thrilling, unpredictable ride that reinforces Charli XCX's place at the forefront of contemporary pop.

Review: Charli XCX's Brat And It's The Same But There's Three More Songs So It's Not is the deluxe edition of her genre-defying album Brat. Here her avant-pop brilliance and ability to blur the lines between underground innovation and mainstream appeal is on full display and the deluxe edition arrives just as Charli celebrates her first UK #1 single, 'Guess,' featured on this release. Charli XCX has consistently pushed the boundaries of pop, fusing experimental electronic elements with infectious hooks, and this deluxe edition is no exception. Each track brims with the creative energy and rebellious spirit that have become her trademarks. From its bold production to its daring lyrics, this album offers fans an even richer experience of Charli's trailblazing sound, ensuring her influence on pop culture continues to grow.

Review: Charli XCX's Brat And It's The Same But There's Three More Songs So It's Not is the deluxe edition of her groundbreaking album Brat, now pressed on white vinyl. This edition highlights Charli's unique ability to merge avant-pop artistry with mainstream sensibilities and since its release on June 7, 2024, Brat has garnered widespread acclaim, earning a spot on the Mercury Prize 2024 shortlist and achieving Gold status in the UK with over 100,000 copies sold. The deluxe version coincides with Charli's first UK #1 single, 'Guess,' which is featured in this expanded release. Known for her relentless innovation in pop music. Her influence on modern pop - not to mention wider culture, as the massive viral Kamala Is Brat meme proved - and this release simply further cements her position as a trailblazer.

Review: After a longwinded brat summer, this re-iteration of Charli XCX's sixth album features 16 reimaginings of the smash success tracks from 'brat' from a star-studded list of appearances - namely Robyn, Yung Lean, Dua Lipa, Lorde and the first-ever feature from Billie Eilish. The club-influenced album became a smash success, catapulting her to become a top 100 artist overnight following a viral marketing campaign - whether you know it or not, the puke green and blurry font has definitely crossed paths with you. Whilst we have already had some great moments, with Lorde's verse on 'girl so confusing' responding to the original song, with Charli venting about a woman that she was incessantly compared to that she was jealous of and therefore couldn't be certain of the foundations of their friendship. The song of course broke the internet just like Charli foretold in the lyrics "One day we might make some music, the internet would go crazy". Many fans will just be excited to hear more in general, hardcore fans are eagerly awaiting the '365' remix by rising legend EASYFUN (aka Finn Keane), PC Music alumni, 1/2 of Thy Slaughter and producer for the likes of Bree Runway and Charli herself of course. The long-awaited remix album promises to close this era with a bang.

Review: The ingredients of Charli XCX's latest album, Brat, are clear, but intriguing: dance-pop songs arranged and sequenced to make it sound like a "club record" (a nod to her roots performing at London raves as a teenager), with lyrics and vocals that are in turn "aggressive" and "vulnerable". This approach - dance-pop with genuinely soundsystem-friendly weight - pays dividends. For proof, check recent singles '360', where Charli XCX's attitude-laden vocals rise above punchy beats, deep bass and eight-bit synth sounds; the deliciously up-tempo, grandiose and brilliantly bonkers 'Club Classics' (mutant garage meets everything-but-the-kitchen-sink peak-time madness); and growling EDM-pop of 'Von Dutch'.

Review: The fourth album from the English pop experimentalist was made over just six week in a "do-it-yourself" collaborative process with her fans. It is inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and was executively produced by A. G. Cook and BJ Burton. Fans and critics alike fell immediately in love with the record which was also shortlisted for the 2020 Mercury Prize. Edgy experimental production and hooky pop songwriting have rarely collided as successfully as they do here, with plenty of hyper-energetic sounds and shimmering synths, bubblegum bass and mechanical motifs all making this as much an impromptu mixtape as a studio album. Truly, this is a work of its time.