"Taylor really is no longer a main Pop girl"— Fans react as Pitchfork gives Sabrina Carpenter's new album an 8/10

Online music publication Pitchfork offered pop and R&B singer Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album, Short n’ Sweet, a rating of 8 out of 10, on Monday, August 26. The subtitle of the article written by Quinn Moreland read:

“After a summer of hit singles, Sabrina Carpenter sets a high bar for big pop with a refreshingly light album that’s cheeky, clever, and effortlessly executed.”

Short n’ Sweet is Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album and includes the already-hit singles Espresso, Please Please Please, and Taste. The full album was dropped on August 23 under the label of Island Records.

In the wake of Pitchfork’s 8/10 rating for the album, the internet is having varied reactions. For instance, X user @positionsmafiaa commented under Pop Crave's post by claiming that Taylor Swift was not the only “main” female pop singer around anymore.

“Taylor really is no longer a main pop girl omg.”

The user also shared a screenshot of Pitchfork’s recent ratings of several musical artists and their albums. These included Charli XCX’s Brat, Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts, Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter, Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess, Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine, Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard & Soft, Peppa Pig’s Peppa’s Adventures: The Album, and Carpenter’s recent album.

Notably, Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, was rated 6/10 by Pitchfork when it was released in April 2024. Regardless, several others joined the conversation and reacted to Pitchfork’s 8/10 rating to Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet. Some fans claimed her album was “better” than Taylor Swift’s.

“Great, it's 10x times better than Taylor’s latest album,” a person wrote.

“Ended Taylor Swift lmao,” another person wrote.

Others celebrated Sabrina’s success and the rollout of her 2024 album.

“She's always crushing it, I'm so happy for her success,” a netizen wrote.

“That’s awesome! Sabrina Carpenter must be thrilled. An 8.0 from Pitchfork is no small feat—sounds like 'Short n’ Sweet' is a hit!” one netizen wrote.

“Eight out of ten shines, Carpenter's sweet notes resonate, Critics nod in time,” another netizen wrote.

Some even hailed Pitchfork for giving Carpenter a much-deserved and long-overdue “good” review.

“Pitchfork has been getting it so right lately,” an individual wrote.

“Pitchfork having taste,” another individual wrote.

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Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet charted at the top of Billboard’s weekly music release

Last Friday, Sabrina Carpenter rolled out her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, which is currently charting at number 23 on the Billboard 200 list. The 25-year-old also unveiled the music video of her third single Taste, featuring actress Jenna Ortega.

The 36-minute album comprises 12 tracks, including the already-released three singles as well as Bed Chem, Juno, Good Graces, Slim Pickins’, Lie to Girls, Don’t Smile, Dumb & Poetic, Coincidence, and Sharpest Tool. There is also a limited-edition bonus track titled Needless to Say.

Pitchfork, in its review, described Short n’ Sweet as a “refreshing glass of escapism,” called its sound “occasionally fuzzy,” and lauded its “diamond-sharp” sense of humor. Meanwhile, Variety called the album “the powerful next step in her evolution as an artist, person, and persona.”

According to the poll of Billboard’s “What’s Your Favorite New Music Release of the Week,” 49.62 percent of the listeners voted for Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, beating multi-artist collaboration We Pray by Coldplay, Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyana, and TINI that came second.

Earlier in August, the former Disney actress told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that she is calling her newest album Short n’ Sweet for more than one reason. One is her “vertically challenged” stature, and the other is her short-lived relationships, which have impacted her life and career.