2025 Grammy Album of the Year: Is Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ the Winning Album?

With her new album Brat set for release in September 2024, Charli XCX seems poised to expand beyond her image as an avant-garde popstar. Though she first found fame writing massively popular hits for other artists like Icona Pop and Iggy Azalea, Charli has spent much of her solo career on the fringes of mainstream pop. However, Brat shows she is ready to fully embrace her pop sensibilities while staying true to her artistic vision. Songs like “Von Dutch” and “360” blend catchy melodies with Charli’s signature experimental production. After over a decade of cultivating her unique style, Brat may finally be the album that cements Charli XCX as a major force in popular music. If it resonates with listeners and critics, she could be a top contender for Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

Does Brat Signal a Return to Charli XCX’s Dance Music Roots?

Early in her career, Charli XCX cut her teeth performing at underground raves and club nights as a teenager. With driving dance beats and waves of synthesizers, Brat seems to revisit the electropop sound that first inspired the young singer. Singles like “Von Dutch” have an energetic, danceable quality reminiscent of her past work. However, they blend these electronic textures with elements of punk, pop, and hip-hop that she has explored across her recent albums. Though Brat is not a complete return to her roots, it does draw heavily on the musical influences that shaped Charli XCX’s early artistic identity. This could help her connect with longtime fans while also showcasing her growth and versatility as a songwriter and producer.

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Has Charli XCX Found the Right Balance of Artistic Expression and Mainstream Appeal?

Throughout her career, Charli XCX has oscillated between mainstream popularity and underground experimentation. She has openly admitted that albums like Sucker were attempts to court chart success at the expense of her creativity. On the flip side, projects like her Vroom Vroom EP dove headfirst into abrasive, futuristic sounds with little concern for accessibility. With its blend of bold textures and solid pop songwriting, Brat seems to strike a balance between these two poles. Songs like “Lightning” pair experimental noise with undeniably catchy melodies. If these songs resonate with both her cult fanbase and the general public, it could point to an ideal middle ground where Charli XCX can reach a wider audience without compromising her vision.

Does Brat Capture the Carefree Spirit That Has Defined Charli XCX’s Career?

Even while exploring a variety of different sounds, Charli XCX’s music has always carried an irreverent, carefree attitude. She first gained notoriety for her MySpace demos created as a young teenager, showcasing a youthful spirit. Across albums like True Romance and Pop 2, her candid lyrics and playful persona have remained central to her work. Brat looks to continue this tradition, with Charli citing the album title itself as a reflection of her cheeky, unfiltered worldview.

If songs like “Yuck” and “Crash” transmit this sense of reckless fun to listeners, it would show she has preserved the essence of her artistry that endeared her to fans in the first place. This could help Brat feel like a cohesive expression of Charli XCX’s musical identity.