Amidst controversies and pearl-clutching from the internet, Sabrina Carpenter’s highly anticipated album Man’s Best Friend has finally arrived. The singer-songwriter’s seventh studio album sparked many debates, especially after the release of its original album cover. Yet, Carpenter has always had a knack for taking unfortunate situations and turning them into hilarious, nonchalant comebacks. The album must have been born from this ability, because despite the hate before its arrival, it had more than enough outstanding tracks to defend itself and make it worth listeners’ while.
Man’s Best Friend was released on Aug. 29, 2025, and to some older fans’ disappointment, it resembles Carpenter’s sixth album Short n’ Sweet more than it does her fifth, emails i can’t send. Still, the album is noticeably different from Short n’ Sweet, with more focus on storytelling and more catchy tunes than upbeat bangers. Whereas Short n’ Sweet interweaves sadder songs between its bright, poppy beats, Man’s Best Friend explores similar themes of heartbreak, disappointment, and want with a more light and humorous outlook.
With an overall theme of bemoaning male partners and all that they lack, many of the lyrics are very entertaining and each song has the potential to become listeners’ next earworm. The album has twelve total tracks, starting with the chart-topping single “Manchild” which set the tone well for the rest of the album, and ending with a song fittingly titled “Goodbye” as Carpenter tells an ex that since he has left her, he is gone for good.
“Manchild”, track one, is the album’s lead single. Released on June 5, 2025, the song is Carpenter’s first-ever number one debut single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A hilarious three minute and thirty-three second long lamentation about how every man chasing her ends up being an immature and incompetent partner, the track is an accurate representation of the kind of men the rest of the album is about. The music video is a perfect depiction of these men: some with ridiculous outfits, others lacking personality, and more with no common sense. In fact, in the opening line of the song, she talks about how one man thought his phone was broken when he really just forgot to charge it.
Provided by YouTube.
Frustrated, Carpenter sings in the pre-chorus: “Stupid… or is it… slow? / Maybe it’s useless / But there’s a cuter word for it, I know.” Unsurprisingly, the first word in the chorus and the end to that verse is the word manchild. The song is incredibly catchy, with fluctuating intensity to match the lyrics. “Manchild” was an outstanding choice for the lead single, captivating listeners everywhere and earning a well-deserved number one spot with its debut.
“We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” is the fifth track on the album. Although the title is wordy, the song is not too complicated. Carpenter describes an unstable relationship that comes close to ending regularly, but miraculously becomes good enough for both parties to decide not to break up before the cycle repeats itself: “And when I reach to pull the plug / I swear, it starts working out,” Carpenter sings. The contrast between the verses and the chorus creates an excellent build-up, as the listener begins to understand the gravity of the situation. The chorus itself, along with the outro, is one of the best parts of the song, with emotional layering that proves that this is not a happy story. Though the lyrics are not anything special, Carpenter’s vocals and the music elevate the track significantly.
The following song, track number six, is titled “Nobody’s Son”. Ironically upbeat for the angst Carpenter sings about, this song stands out because of its conversational tone and lyrics. Carpenter discusses how she is once again broken hearted because of a man, leading her to believe that nobody’s son is left for her “to believe in.” In the chorus, she mourns: “Probably should’ve guessed he’s like the rest, so fine and so deceiving / There’s nobody’s son, not anyone left for me to believe in.” The verses have an addictingly unique sound that makes the song satisfying to listen to. Carpenter seems to be talking to the listeners, telling them what exactly her ex said to her when they broke up and that she is fine when she really is not. Interestingly enough, the music that underlays her grief is upbeat and merry, which can remind listeners of Taylor Swift’s “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart”. In the bridge, Carpenter addresses the mother of this specific man, wanting her to know that it is, in fact, her son who has wronged her. The lyrics and tone of the song, combined with the contrasting music, make it an obvious pick for the best track on the album.
“Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry”, the tenth track on Man’s Best Friend, is another mouthful. In contrast to the other songs on the album, this track describes Carpenter as the problem rather than the men she dates. Still, she re-incorporates the theme of the album by mentioning that this man is a little dumb for not reading the signs in the first place. Additionally, this song is a lot slower and less upbeat than the rest of the album. In it, she admits her actions will mess with his head and make him overthink more than anyone else he has ever met: “So don’t worry / I’ll make you worry like no other girl can.” Like many of the other songs on the album, the chorus is one of the best parts of the song, with each verse setting it up well. The change in her tone from loud and expressive to quiet and more ambiguous keeps listeners hooked, but at the same time, isn’t too distracting. “Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry” capitalizes on Carpenter’s versatile vocals and makes an intriguing addition to the album.
Other than these top four songs, Man’s Best Friend boasts other outstanding tracks: “Tears”, with its scandalous play on words, and “When Did You Get Hot?”, with its funny, relatable lyrics and a catchy sound.
Man’s Best Friend is a clever and humorous addition to Carpenter’s discography that listeners will no doubt relate to in some way, whether it be mistreatment at the hands of others or having to deal with a manchild of their own. Regardless, Carpenter has once again managed to make a distinct album with a cohesive theme that stands out from her other works. Despite this, many of the songs do have shallow and repetitive lyrics, making it seem less impactful than her previous albums and EPs, like emails i can’t send. I believe it would have been more of a satisfying listen if certain songs were more lyric-focused rather than being unserious and music or sound-focused.
Overall, Carpenter has made a solid collection of tracks for album number seven. Although certain lyrics aren’t as deep as some were looking for, they are wildly entertaining and a fun listen for most. If you enjoyed Man’s Best Friend, be sure to check out Carpenter’s previous album Short n’ Sweet or Tate McRae’s So Close To What for more upbeat, catchy songs and playful lyrics.
8/10
