Claire Cottrill, better known as Clairo, has been making waves in the indie and lo-fi scene since the viral success of her song “Pretty Girl”, in 2017. This success led to her debut EP, “Diary 001”, and her following studio albums, “Immunity” and “Sling”.
In 2019, “Immunity” ranked 22nd on Billboard’s “The 50 Best Albums of 2019” list. Much of “Immunity” is diaristic, and was inspired by the experience of falling in love with a close friend. “Bags”, the record’s lead single, turns inner-dialogue into a catchy soft rock ballad. “Can you see me? I’m waiting for the right time / I can’t read you, but if you want, the pleasure is all mine.”
“Sling”, released in 2021, illustrates the journey of finding your place in the world as a young woman. On the track “Reaper”, Clairo questions what motherhood means to her with lyrics reading “There’s a claw on my shoulder and she’s saying the obvious / ‘You know eventually you’re gonna have to be a provider, too,’” and “I’ll spare you pain, I can feel my shame come through that door / I can’t f**k it up if it’s not there at all.”
“Honestly, I look back at those two records and see someone trying to become an adult and doing it in front of a lot of people,” Clairo said in a 2024 interview with Crack Magazine.
“Charm” welcomes not only a new sound for Clairo, but a coming of age.
“Nomad” starts the album off with an atmospheric instrumental — leading into lyrics that convey a similarly melodramatic feeling.
“I’d run the risk of losing everything / sell all my things and become nomadic.” A nomad can be defined as someone who moves from place to place in an effort to avoid settling down. This track seamlessly sets the tone of the album, with Clairo’s diaristic lyricism expressing a hunger for connection. “It’s even irrational for me / I’m cynical, a mess / I’m touch starved and shameless.”
The first single of the “Charm” album roll out was “Sexy to Someone”, a tongue-in-cheek track that quickly became the earworm of the summer for fans of the indie-pop genre.
On the chorus, Clairo pleads, “Sexy to somebody / It would help me out / Oh, I need a reason to get out of the house.” The jazz influence sprinkled throughout this record is enough to get you dancing on first listen.
If you liked “Sexy to Someone”, you’ll love track eight — “Add Up My Love”, The upbeat track features a 1970s inspired groove, overwhich Clairo questions a past lover, “Add up my love / But it wasn’t enough / Is it ever enough?”
“Charm” stands out from previous works with its lush, yet varied sonic landscape created within the record. This new sound can be largely credited to producer Leon Michels, a recent collaborator of Clairo. In regards to the recording process, Clairo told Crack Magazine that there was a sense of immediacy when working with Michels in order to capture the raw emotion the album needed. “He helped me find the sound I’ve always wanted,” she explained.
Track nine, “Echo”, is one of the most unique songs on the record. The track feels intimate, with hushed vocals alongside psychedelic instrumentals, causing it to feel reminiscent of an Alice Phoebe Lou song.
One of my personal favorite tracks is “Second Nature”. With romantic lyrics such as “Like the sap from a cedar / Rolling down to be near her / It’s second nature” and “Soon you’ll realize too / How it aligns you / Ought to know the truth.” This track feels like the heartbeat of the album, capturing feelings of lust, desire, and raw honesty poured throughout the record. Throughout the track, Clairo playfully vocalizes drum sounds over a soft laughter track.
If you are at all familiar with Clairo’s work, you probably know she has a knack for picking a powerful album closer. With “Immunity’s” closing track “I Wouldn’t Ask You”, and “Sling’s” “Management”, the closing track for “Charm” had high standards to live up to — and it did not disappoint.
“Pier 4” is one of Clairo’s most introspective works yet. The track begins with a light acoustic instrumental that slowly transforms into a melancholic harmony. In this final track, Clairo asks herself, “What’s the cost of it, of being loved? / When close is not close enough.”
With a short run time of under forty minutes, “Charm” is sexy, passionate and delicate. Whether you’re looking for an easy listen or an immersive album experience, this record has something for every type of listener.
