Album Review // Clairo // Charm

Self-Released

4/5 stars

Clairo is more than just a flash in the pan. You may not have heard that specific allegation against her recently, but you've certainly heard the one about her being an "industry plant," or the one about her sophomore album Sling as being glorified background music. And while those things may or may not be true, it's relieving to see singer-songwriter Claire Cottrill return with a self-released third album with a purpose. By splitting the difference between her debut's inimitable songwriting and Sling's warm, lo-fi production, Clairo's third album Charm strongly signals that she's here to stay.

Charm also signals an evolution in her songwriting. Where the younger songwriter might have been timid in the past or avoided unusual topics in indie music, Cottrill boldly claims her right to be young and adventurous. Lead single "Sexy to Someone" is a perfect example, allowing Cottrill to let down her hair and sing about being wanted against upbeat piano and vintage-sounding mellotrons. She expands on this desire later in "Juna," when she sings, "You make me wanna try on a new dress/You make me wanna slip off a new dress." Charm isn't just a sensual album, but a comfortable one, and an album that makes sense of all the sounds and identities Clairo has tried on before arriving here. It's one of the smoothest listens of the year.