At the end of July, Carly Rae Jepsen released a new album, The Loveliest Time, the B-side to her 2022 album, The Loneliest Time. After releasing Dedicated in 2019, B-sides have become a ritual in her album release process. It is safe to say that Jepsen did not disappoint fans with her new project.
Carly Rae seamlessly carries the momentum from The Loneliest Time onto The Loveliest Time, while still providing listeners with sounds that are fresh and new. Each side sonically showcases a side to her we have yet to experience. In 2012, Carly Rae Jepsen went viral with her hit “Call Me Maybe,” and it felt as if not too many people paid attention to what the singer did next. Since her 2012 album, Kiss, Jepsen has created a strong discography of pop gold. The Loveliest Time does not fall short of the gorgeous pop music Jepsen has been giving fans over the past decade.
Isn’t she lovely?
The thirteen-track record starts with an upbeat opener, “Anything to Be With You,” setting the tone for the rest of the album. Followed by “Kamikaze,” Jepsen effortlessly incorporates synth and bass creating a track that makes you want to dance. “Shy Boy,” was the only preview fans had of The Loveliest Time, accompanied with a black and visualizer giving the track a retro aesthetic. Jepsen released the new album just a month after announcing “Shy Boy.”
STAND OUT TRACKS
Jepsen’s songwriting maintains the hopeless romantic emotions that she has channeled on previous records especially on tracks like “Aeroplanes” and “Shadow.” Jepsen slows things down on her track “Kollage” with a calm, psychedelic sound. Jepsen’s smooth vocals make for easy listening creating a trance like feeling. The way Jepsen is posed on the cover of The Loveliest Time is exactly what it feels like when listening to “Kollage.” My personal standout track is “Psychedelic Switch”. Jepsen sonically takes listeners to a place that feels previously unexplored. All while maintaining the upbeat rhythm from previous songs on the record. Jepsen keeps the dance party going with back-to-back groovy tracks, “So Right” and “Come Over.” With bubbly lyrics and funky bass lines, it is almost impossible to dance to these tracks.
On “Stadium Love,” Jepsen gives listeners a rock and roll influenced pop song while expressing her longing for love. The Loveliest Time concludes with “Weekend Love,” a glittery track reminiscing on a past love. Jepsen consistently delivers well beautifully crafted pop songs one after the other, expanding her distinct sound as an artist. Vocally, this is one of Jepsen’s strongest projects yet. The production is crisp and clean highlighting the singer’s vocal abilities.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Loveliest Time, is the kind of pop record that you blast in your car with the windows down while the sun is setting. It is a continuation of The Loneliest Time where we fully get to see Carly’s journey with the feelings of loneliness transition into feelings of introspection and joy. Essentially, The Loveliest Time feels like a celebration, a time to dance and a time of happiness. When I first gave Carly Rae Jepsen’s new album a listen, I fell in love with the songs instantly. This record feels fresh and different than a majority of the pop music circulating on the charts today.
WHAT’S NEXT?
So, what’s next for Jepsen? After a three-night run at the Bellwether in Los Angeles, Jepsen took to Instagram to reflect on the conclusion of her latest tour. After expressing her gratitude, she joked about being in bed for the next year and asked fans for series recommendations. While we wait for what Carly has in store for us, we can enjoy The Loveliest Time.
