With just one shot of ‘Espresso’, Sabrina Carpenter instantly gained fame. Today, her name is firmly embedded in discussions about mainstream pop.
If you're unfamiliar with her music—no worries, it’s perfectly fine—you might be surprised to learn that this popstar, who resembles a real-life Polly Pocket, has over a decade of experience and seven studio albums to her name. While she hilariously claimed twenty-nine albums during her VMA acceptance speech for Album of the Year, we'll stick to the accurate count of seven.
Her most recent project, ‘Man’s Best Friend’, was released not long ago. With nearly two weeks passed since its launch, there’s ample time to consider how it compares to her earlier works. This list aims to do just that.
#7: Eyes Wide Open (2015)
Sabrina Carpenter's debut, ‘Eyes Wide Open’, began as an EP a year before becoming a full-fledged twelve-track album under Disney’s Hollywood Records. Originally titled ‘Can’t Blame a Girl For Trying’, the EP featured four songs that achieved moderate success on U.S. charts, laying the groundwork for the future album’s tracks.
With songwriting credits on only four songs, Carpenter's lyrical contribution here may not be as prominent as one might hope, though it’s expected that a Disney record wouldn’t achieve the nuanced storytelling she would later master. The co-written songs, such as ‘Too Young’ and ‘Your Love’s Like’, showcase surprisingly sophisticated narratives, indicating her ability to lead in songwriting if given the chance. The album leaned more towards contributions from other writers, including Meghan Trainor, a notable name among them.
‘Eyes Wide Open’ is a solid entry in teen pop, featuring impressive vocal abilities that defy expectations for a fifteen-year-old—signs of the boundless potential she would later refine. The title track aptly represents Carpenter’s early career—tenacious, curious, and grateful. However, it falls short when compared to her later albums.
Best tracks: ‘Eyes Wide Open’, ‘Too Young’, and ‘White Flag’
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#6: EVOLution (2016)
Released just a year after her debut, ‘EVOLution’ showcases Carpenter's embrace of a bolder, dancier sound. While it still aligns with Disney’s image, Carpenter co-wrote nine out of its ten tracks, revealing her growing sense of humor, especially in ‘Feels Like Loneliness’ (“you’re not asking for much, but / it just seems like a lot”). Mostly, it approaches coming-of-age with a more mature tone.
Interestingly, the opening track ‘On Purpose’ was not initially slated to lead the album; however, after Carpenter’s 2016 single ‘Smoke and Fire’ was unexpectedly cut, ‘On Purpose’ took over and proved to be the ideal introduction, marking a darker shift from ‘Eyes Wide Open’ and nearly doubling the streams of the earlier choice.
With catchy choruses pervasive throughout tracks like ‘Thumbs’ and ‘Shadows,’ and fueled by electrifying production that draws inspiration from electronic and techno elements, ‘EVOLution’ stands out. ‘Run and Hide,’ a promotional single, is rich with longing against a backdrop of relaxed production that highlights Carpenter's serious tone. Conveniently positioned in the album, it manages to shine amidst the rest, allowing it to explore dimensions that its predecessor didn't achieve.
Best tracks: ‘On Purpose’, ‘Feels Like Loneliness’, and ‘Run and Hide’
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#5: Singular: Act II (2019)
What was supposed to be Carpenter’s third studio album got split into two as part of her escape from Hollywood Records, resulting in ‘Singular: Act II’, which signifies the closing of a chapter.
This fun album utilizes many of its tracks as promotional singles (‘Pushing 20’, ‘Exhale’, ‘In My Bed’, and ‘I’m Fakin’), along with a collaboration with American rapper Saweetie on ‘I Can’t Stop Me’. While it contained many qualities deemed essential for success, it ended up becoming a cult classic.
Track seven, ‘Tell Em’, shines brightly in Carpenter's body of work, offering a nearly five-minute journey into the state of falling in love. It provides a blend of laid-back synths and R&B-inspired vocals, establishing groundwork for beloved tracks like ‘Honeymoon Fades’ and ‘Don’t Smile’ among her loyal fanbase.
Though 'Singular: Act II' is an important part of Carpenter's artistic evolution, allowing her to navigate confidence and vulnerability, it occasionally comes across as mild. ‘Take Off All Your Cool’ is undeniably catchy due to Carpenter’s performance, but the buildup doesn’t quite lend justice to the result.
Thus, ‘Singular: Act II’ can sometimes fade into the background compared to her later work under Island Records, where she signed next. Nevertheless, it marked a significant stride forward.
Best tracks: ‘Tell Em’, ‘Take You Back’,
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With just a single hit of 'Espresso,' Sabrina Carpenter quickly soared to fame. Her name has since become closely linked with discussions in the mainstream.