Man’s Best Friend - Sabrina Carpenter

 

Man’s Best Friend

Sabrina Carpenter

LP7

August 29th 2025

Background

Sabrina Carpenter is an American songwriter and artist from Pennsylvania, United States. Coming from acting roots on Disney Channel. She then signed onto a Disney-owned record studio, releasing her debut album 2015.

My Opinions and Takes

Track List Overall Rating:

1. Manchild (10/20)
2. Tears (14/20)
3. My Man on Willpower (16/20)
4. Sugar Talking (16/20)
5. Wa Almost Broke Up Again Last Night (13/20)
6. Nobody’s Son (15/20)
7. Never Getting Laid (13/20)
8. When Did You Get Hot? (12/20)
9. Go Go Juice (9/20)
10. Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry (18/20)
11. House Tour (17/20)
12. Goodbye (16/20)

Why (My Reasoning and Perspective) 

Complete opposite of what I listen to and that made it so hard to understand and put what I thought to words about this album. Which is a shame, because this album I have many of words for. I released the TikTok side of this review in early September and I don’t know if you can tell it’s almost October as of writing. 

It started very icky at the beginning, until My Man on Willpower & Sugar Talking which was very different than the first 2 which was a nice change of pace. It’s a nice two tracks. 

And the other tracks were okay, nothing much about them. What is my main take away is that SHE HAS BARS and then LOWSSS!!! And they’re always on the same track. And it sucks because I get into the song just to be stripped of what I like, dangled in front of me, then like a dog I chase after it for it to be thrown to the next song and then repeat. 

I would rate WDYGH? higher but I didn’t really take anything from up which was a major problem for me in the songs. A lot of it was just song. Not much bad not much good. Just song? 

Then the biggest low. Holy shit Go Go Juice. I’m like holy moly!!! This is starting so good bro? Then FOR THE WORST TIME THE CHORUS AGAIN TAKES IT AWAY FROM ME BRO. And there was one lyric that I was so confused on “Could be John or Larry” I was so confused if it was a bar or like not. And I’ve decided here. No it is not a bar. When I think of John and Larry I think of an old ass white Texan man.

Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry was the best off this album I had a nice time listening, however -2 points because every time I read the title where’d the comma go. /j. For the only time of the song the chorus wasn’t actual like dangling. It was a really good chorus that fit the rest of the song. 

House Tour would’ve been higher but I just didn’t feel like it, I don’t know why.

Goodbye wasn’t anything special I don’t know why I’m writing this

Overall great singer, mediocre lyrics, okay backing band

15/20 

Don’t Tell The Dog - James Marriott

Don’t Tell The Dog

James Marriott

LP2

June 13th 2025

Background

James Marriott is an English indie rock musician, he was first known as a Commentary YouTuber before releasing his first single Slow Down (2020). Before Slow Down he often made music as small gags in his videos (Adios Lele). 

My Opinions and Takes

Track List Overall Rating:

1. Ventriloquist (16/20)
2. Something’s Wrong (17/20)
3. Plasticine (16/20)
4. It’s Only Love (14/20)
5. Food Poisoning (18/20)
6. Toothache (15/20)
7. I Don’t Want To Live Like This (18/20)
8. How Could I Say No? (19/20)
9. Pillow Fight (19/20)
10. Why Don’t You Just Kill Me? (15/20)
11. Limbs (19/20)
12. Staring At The Sun [BONUS TRACK] (19/20)

Why (My Reasoning and Perspective) 

Do not tell the puppy or so I’ve been told, “Don’t Tell The Dog” is the second studio by James Marriott. The album is great, however the sudden whiplash from “Are We There Yet?” to “Don’t Tell The Dog” is honestly very seen. As much as I would’ve loved one more transitional song, going straight to the new sound is definitely a statement. Plus “Pillow Fight” truly carries the weight in that department 

The album shows how James has grown as a musician since 2023’s “Are We There Yet?” and feeds me showing how maybe ONE DAY he will release a “Slow Down” and “Grapes” remaster (ONE DAY). The lyricism is definitely great, you can’t tell from the tracks what James’ favourite word is. The best song for instrumentation to me would definitely either be “Limbs” and “I Don’t Want To Live Like This” specifically IDWTLLT 

If I were to name albums or tracks that came to mind whilst listening to the album it would definitely have some “Is This It?” - The Strokes influence to me, specifically “Food Poisoning”

“Something’s Wrong” was definitely one of my favourite singles, I had found an early live version somewhere and there it went into my local files instantly. Somehow although I am allergic to live songs, it was on rotation. The fact it was nearly not a single if not for the fandom felt like a crime. 

“Plasticine” and “Why Don’t You Kill Me?” are my only like down sides to the album, they felt to, just song. They didn’t truly make an impression on me, “Toothache” is also guilty of this but on a lesser level. 

Overall a great album from a great musician with a great backing band. 

18/20 

Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

 

Ants From Up There

Black Country, New Road

February 4th 2022

LP2

Background

Black Country, New Road is a six-piece, formerly seven-piece English indie rock band. Formed in Cambridge, they became popular in the Brixton Scene in 2019.

My Opinions and Takes

Track List Overall Rating:

1. Intro (Interlude but a solid 14/20)

2. Chaos Space Marine (15/20)

3. Concorde (14/20)

4. Bread Song (18/20)

5. Good Will Hunting (19/20)

6. Haldern (18/20)

7. Mark’s Theme (15/20)

8. The Place Where He Inserted The Blade (18/20)

9. Snow Globes (16/20)

10. Basketball Shoes (20/20)

Why (My Reasoning and Perspective) 

This album is all over the place, yet stays the same all in a carefully crafted good way????

I’m not a very jazzy or musical person, I tried to play alto sax, and I was okay at it, but I didn’t take much away from it, when I tell, you by the end of the time listening to this album around a few months ago I wanted to get back into it so much.

The lyrics sometimes falter as you can tell as the band clearly has a few favourite words (Concorde, Clamp) but the instrumentation picks up for it. Intro although an interlude is a song I cannot skip when listening to the album, many people around me find it annoying but I think it’s a highlight in its own.

I may be a little biased, but the Alto Saxophone on this album is a genuine peak; the tone is perfect. For some reason, after listening to other bands, I would’ve liked it to sound like how it sounded in Mark’s Theme in the other tracks. 

Haldern and Snow Globes pluck at the heartstrings they are genuinely beautiful songs like I could envision dying while those songs play.

There isn’t truly a band that sounds like how they do, but some songs kind of remind me of Are We There Yet? - James Marriott, specifically Good Will Hunting > Going Postal at The Party

The lyricism is peak, instrumental is peak 

19/20