New album takes on on relationships in singer’s singular style … again

By Chloe Kowalyk

Sabrina Carpenter released her highly anticipated album “Man’s Best Friend” on Friday, Aug. 29.

The singer’s seventh album features 12 songs, including her previously released single, “Manchild.”  You can check out our full review of “Manchild” here. 

While the songs in the album have already begun circling in popularity on social media, it’s the album’s cover that has been in the limelight the most. 

The cover, which depicts Carpenter on her knees in front of a man who grabs her hair, sparked significant controversy when it was initially revealed in June 2025. 

This depiction, combined with the album’s title, shocked many who are not as familiar with Carpenter’s style.

Tons of people took to the internet to drag Carpenter, accusing her of setting back feminism and oversexualizing herself as a marketing tactic. 

Glasgow Women’s Aid, a women’s advocacy group based in Scotland, posted on Instagram criticizing Carpenter’s album, alleging that the cover is “regressive” and “promotes misogynistic stereotypes.” 

The organization has since disabled the comments. 

Those who know Carpenter and her work know that her sexual innuendos and themes are typically satire and intentionally over-exaggerated. 

According to Forbes, while Carpenter says the cover is up for interpretation, she thinks of it as young women “being in on the control, being in on your lack of control,” and deciding “when you want to be in control.”

Many others who have taken to Carpenter’s side view her as a feminist icon, empowering women’s sexuality and the right for women to express their sexual idenities. 

Music is art, and art is, of course, up to interpretation.

Local record store Hi-Fi Hits held an album release party on Aug. 29. They gave away free bumper stickers to all attendees, as well as posters with the purchase of the album. There was also a raffle for a “Man’s Best Friend” slip mat. Nearly 50 people attended the event.

Review: 

Manchild

As mentioned, this song was previously released as a single on June 5. 

The first song on the new album, Manchild is a familiar tune many fans have already been singing the past three months. 

Despite being released earlier this summer, the song has a timeless beat and catchy rhythm that keeps it on my playlist without ever being skipped. 

The line-dancing inspired routine made popular on TikTok makes it sure to play out at parties and in nightlife settings. 

Tears

This song shocked many listeners as it was expected that a song called “Tears” would be a sad song. 

Instead, this song is very sex-positive, with tears referring to a sexual response, not the act of crying. 

While the lyrics are a bit jarring at first, but are extremely catchy and get stuck in your head very easily.

The music video for “Tears” was also released this past Friday, already surpassing 13 million views and trending on YouTube. 

Seemingly continuing from the “Manchild” music video, the video begins with Carpenter laying in the grass outside of a crashed car. 

Fit for a horror movie setting, she explores what appears to be a haunted house. 

Instead, inside, are many queer and drag performers, including actor Colman Domingo in drag. The dancing and costumes are akin to the style of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” 

The video ends with her throwing one of her high heels at a man who was featured in a previous video. 

The clips is a self-aware nod to her recent trend of killing men in her videos. She jokes at the end of scene, “We have to give the people what they want.”

My Man on Willpower 

“My Man on Willpower” is a song about Carpenter’s partner falling out of love with and losing interest in her. 

The man used to be head over heels for her, but now he seems to be busy all the time and focusing on other aspects of his life. 

Carpenter writes, “He used to be literally obsessed with me / I’m suddenly the least sought after girl in the land.”

The melody of this song might be my favorite, as Carpenter easily cascades up to high notes with a strong, sure voice.

Sugar Talking 

Many people have said that listening to this song for the first time is an ethereal experience. 

The backing vocals and instrumental are very dreamy, as Carpenter floats through this slower paced track. 

The song seems to be about men who “sugar talk” women, using charisma and charm to get what they want from a woman. 

Carpenter is fed up with this, as the sweet words never seem to match up with how she is being treated. 

“Aren’t you tired of saying a whole lot of nothing?,” she laments. 

She sees through her partner’s hollow words, and urges him to “put [his] loving where [his] mouth is.” 

We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night 

Another slower-paced song, “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” might be one of my personal favorite songs on the album. 

This piece is about a relationship constantly on the fritz, always on the edge of ending. 

A beautiful song both vocally and instrumentally, “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” is a great description of instability. 

Nobody’s Son

It’s pretty evident across her music and corresponding music videos that Carpenter is pretty fed up with the men in her life. 

In this song, “Nobody’s Son” refers to the fact that Carpenter feels she cannot believe in any men left in the world. 

In the chorus, she writes, “probably should’ve guessed, he’s like the rest, so fine and so deceiving.” 

This track has a bouncy beat with Carpenter’s vocals leaping up and down as the melody continues. 

The instrumentals feature a beautiful string component that really enhances the style of the song. 

Never Getting Laid 

The album’s most petty anthem, “Never Getting Laid” is Carpenter’s farewell to a partner following a messy breakup. 

She seems both jealous of her ex-partner moving on, yet an anger for how the relationship ended and how she was treated. 

One part of the lyrics has gone viral online. Carpenter writes, “Wish you a lifetime full of happiness and a forever of never getting laid.” 

When Did You Get Hot? 

A short, yet bumping song, “When Did You Get Hot?” is a confidence boosting song with smashing glasses and high-energy lyrics.

Carpenter is detailing how a person she once knew is now very attractive. 

This track details obsession and a new crush.  

Go Go Juice 

A high energy song with country twang, “Go Go Juice” refers to liquor, as Carpenter turns to alcohol and a rebound to help her deal with heartbreak. 

She writes, “A girl who knows her liquor is a girl who’s been dumped.” 

The more somber reality of the lyrics is hidden behind the fun, flirty sound of the music. 

Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry

This is the slowest piece on the album, reminding many listeners of “Lie To Girls” and “Don’t Smile” from Carpetnter’s previous album, “Short n’ Sweet.” 

An admission to manipulation, Carpenter sings about how she keeps men wrapped around her finger like no one else. 

She writes, “And I’ll never call you right back / But when I do, I’m making you laugh / Then I’ll b*** you out when I please.” 

The constant back and forth, “emotional lottery,” as it’s described in the song, is what keeps Carpenter’s partner around. 

You can even see this cycle in the title of the song, “Don’t Worry, I’ll Make You Worry.” 

House Tour

“House Tour” definitely takes inspiration from an ‘ 80s pop song, and it is definitely my favorite song on the album. 

Carpenter jokingly promises “none of this is a metaphor” in the song as she invites a date over after dinner. 

Definitely insinuating she wants a physical relationship with her date, Carpenter describes how she wants to show her date her house, flaunting her favorite parts, including a comfy couch, and going as far as to say it’s where her date’s dreams will come true. 

It’s fun to pick out all of the innuendos she hilariously writes through her lyrics.

My favorite line is when the singer writes, “My house is on Pretty Girl Avenue.” 

A fun, flirty, song, “House Party” is a bouncy song that is sure to end up on tons of pop playlists. 

Goodbye 

This is the final track on the album, and also Carpenter’s “goodbye” to her ex. 

She writes, “Goodbye means that you’re losing me for life.” 

With some jazzy fusion mixed into the song, Carpenter loudly sings she is over her partner, and they aren’t ever getting back together. 

This piece is a fun one as Carpenter teases her ex-partner, yet powerfully closes off the end of the relationship.