Earlier this summer, Sabrina Carpenter caused a frenzy when unveiling the cover for her new album "Man’s Best Friend."
The cover depicts her on her hands and knees with a man grabbing a fistful of her hair. All the while wearing a sultry expression.
"My interpretation is being in on the control," Carpenter said in an interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King. "Being in on your lack of control and when you want to be in control. I think as a young woman, you’re just as aware of when you’re in control as when you’re not."
Here’s the thing — I don’t think Carpenter did that. Or at least did it well.
Discourse spiraled for days after the reveal, with many noting how a title like "Man's Best Friend" and a picture of her on her hands and knees can be perceived as degrading not only to Carpenter herself, but to women in general.
Others defended the cover, choosing to view it as a subversive satirical take without knowing any of the album's lyrical content.
At its best, "Man's Best Friend" is a witty, cheeky album poking fun at dating, men and the tragic things women can do for male validation.
At its worst, the album is forgettable and overflooded with slower tracks that I don’t think will stand the test of time.
Stand outs include the second half of the album that was full of invigorating danceable songs like "Nobody's Son", "When Did You Get Hot?", "Go Go Juice" and "House Tour". All upbeat tracks with interesting production where Carpenter does what she does best — being conversational and in on the joke.
The song where I understand Carpenter's take on control is "Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry." It is one of the album's better ballads with lyrics on the pushes and pulls that you perfectly calculate to try to get your way in a relationship:
"But on the 40-minute drive home, you’re internalizing my jokes. And your mother even agrees, that emotional lottery is all you’ll get with me."
It plays better to me as compared to another song about control and dominance, "My Man on Willpower." Right off the bat, I didn’t enjoy it; the lyrics felt too meta, whiny and the production was too familiar.
In its entirety, the album wasn’t bad, and it wasn’t overtly good either. It had some really solid tracks and some that, unfortunately, don’t really stand out in Carpenter's catalog.
"Man's Best Friend” didn't really stand a chance after the virality of "Short n' Sweet" due to the comparisons and controversy online.
For Carpenter, it seems like this project was born out of a place where she just couldn't stop creating. On an Instagram post announcing the album's release on Aug. 28, she wrote, "How special to make something out of pure inspiration and zero pressure."
Starting over ten years ago on Disney Channel and having produced seven studio albums, I’m sure she’s no stranger to the pressure that is sustaining a music career. It’s easy to overlook the time it’s taken Carpenter to build her massive presence in pop culture.
It’s safe to say that she’s found her footing. Like I said, her poppy tracks with sneaky jokes full of double entendres are what make her stand out as one of the major pop stars of 2025.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Editor's note: The opinions presented in this review are the author's and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Edited by Kasturi Tale, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at jagon128@asu.edu.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Jazlyn Gonzales is junior studying Journalism and Mass Communication. This is her third semester with the State Press. She has also interned at KJZZ.
