how i'm feeling now; album review

>> introduction <<

Charli xcx is one of those artists who was always teetering on the edge of breaking the mainstream but, for one reason or another, always seemed to barely miss the mark. Despite having a few hits in the 2010's, she wasn't quite able to grab the mainstream's attention until very recently with her iconic album 'BRAT'. Which is still bizarre to me, even to this day. 'BRAT' has a lot of the same experimental pop/hyperpop elements that kept her hidden away for so long, and yet she still managed to push forward and finally capture the general public's attention. To that, most people would argue that she didn't actually do anything new or revolutionary on the album and didn't make any impact on the genre like pop legends Lady Gaga or Lana Del Rey did. This review is my counterargument to that- because I think Charli's reach and impact is only just beginning. Any Charli xcx fan who is aware of her full discography knows it's a gold mine that's just waiting to be found. 'how i'm feeling now' is the embodiment of that, and I'm predicting this album (and many of her older projects) will start blowing up as people discover what they've been missing out on all this time. And we already see this happening with 'party 4 u' starting to find traction on social media. In light of that, I've decided to finally review this album which I've been loving for years now.

This album has 11 tracks;

pink diamond
forever
claws
7 years
detonate
enemy
i finally understand
c2.0
party 4 u
anthems
visions

>> pink diamond <<

What a great song to start this album! You press play and are immediately hit in the face with loud synths and bass. When the intro ends and Charli comes in, you get to hear one of the nastiest beats ever. It feels like you're being put in the shoes of someone stumbling around the bathroom of a party, maybe taking a few mirror pictures and feeling yourself, then permanently deleting them from your phone the next morning. I don't really have a lot to say about this song, it's honestly just a hyperpop masterpiece and I hope it can get the recognition it deserves.

>> detonate <<

'detonate' is a low-key song with a cute little synth jingle. It doesn't overstep its place and stays out of the way, acting as a mostly inoffensive track. It's a song about having an unstable love life where you attach yourself to people and quickly leave at the drop of a hat. This line in the chorus says it best- "I'm about to detonate, pull you close and then I'll be gone." This song has a lot of fun but creative metaphors that make it a fun yet thoughtful song. I want to give Charli and her producer some props, I hadn't heard a sound like this before when I first listened to this. The little beep that sounds like a bomb timer is also a great attention to detail! This was one of those songs that had to grow on me a bit, but it eventually got stuck in my head and I have no regrets in giving it a second chance.

>> c2.0 <<

Probably one of the most experimental songs from this album, 'c2.0' is a rollercoaster of a song that likes to divert your expectations. It starts out abrasive and very repetitive, as Charli repeats the same lyrics over... over... and over again. Because of that, I didn't think I was going to like the song that much the first time I heard it. But then, Charli's voice faded out, and the song entered its second stage. It went from an almost meaningless song to one about missing your closest friends and the memories you've shared together. Not to mention the production gets a lot more easily digestible at this point. It has a nostalgic vibe as well, being reminiscent of 2010's pop in some parts. This track quickly went from my least favorite on the album to a memorable one that I revisit often. It's definitely a song made to keep you on your toes!

>> party 4 u <<

Ever since I first heard it, I knew 'party 4 u' was going to be one of my favorites from this album. It's similar in sound to 'detonate', but is less experimental when compared to other songs from this project. Regardless, it still manages to feel like something fresh and new that you can't find in most other pop songs right now. It's a simple song about wanting that special someone to show up to the party that you only threw in hopes of seeing them walk through the door. This song is one of many examples that you don't need super complex songwriting or production to make a good pop song, and that's why it's seeing some attention right now. People are finally starting to let go of the mindset that everything needs to be super deep and complex- and they're filling the gap with underrated pop masterpieces like this. I'm hoping to see this song get all of the attention it deserves.

>> anthems <<

Yet another banger from Charli. This song is absolutely a highlight of this album. It's easily within my top 3 when it comes to my favorite tracks from this project. It's got a beat that makes you bop your head, and the instrumental during the chorus is insane. I can't even explain it, but the synth sounds during the intro and break after the chorus are so addicting and are so satisfying to listen to. I REALLY need to hear this song at a party sometime soon or I might go insane. If you found '365' from 'BRAT' to be a good time, then I'm positive you will find something to enjoy about this song. Go give it a listen if you haven't!

>> visions <<

This song is interesting on so many levels. It takes you down multiple different paths and switches its sound several times throughout the track. It's easily one of the best songs on this album production-wise and is severely underrated, even among her fanbase. It's got a great buildup and almost has a nostalgic synth-wave thing going on here and there, which helps it stand out among the other tracks from this album. The second half of this song is interesting because it doesn't really go anywhere. Maybe it's just me, but the first time I heard it, I thought there was going to be some sort of climax near the end, but it didn't really happen. Regardless, this song has a fun and unique structure and a production that keeps me coming back for more. A great closing track for this album, for sure.

>> final thoughts <<

This album is such a fun listen, but for a different reason than you may first suspect if 'BRAT' was your first Charli album. Yeah, there are some fun electronic/dance tracks on it that'll get you up and moving. But more than anything, it does a lot with what it has and makes for a very cool first-listen experience. It goes in so many different directions and keeps you invested the whole way through. Even if this kind of music isn't your cup of tea, it's hard to say that the album is boring at any point, which is something to admire. I think this album has the potential to be Charli's best, but it's hard to say. Charli has so many good projects hiding in plain sight, and I'm hoping that if you are just starting to get into her music you will take a trip through her discography and see what you've been missing out on.

'how i'm feeling now' by Charli xcx

Song Ratings:

(5/10 being average)

pink diamond - 9/10
forever - 7.5/10
claws - 8/10
7 years - 7/10
detonate - 9/10
enemy - 8.5/10
i finally understand - 6/10
c2.0 - 8/10
party 4 u - 9.5/10
anthems - 9.5/10
visions - 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

TLDR: 'how i'm feeling now' is a surge for any hyperpop fan and has easily earned the right to be called one of Charli's best works to date. It's an interesting and unique listen that has a lot to offer, from mellow, low-key pop to abrasive yet energetic songs that will get you up and moving. A must-listen for any Charli fan or anyone who enjoyed her "BRAT" album.

Earworm ~-~-~o

Thanks for reading!

-Joey :)