About the artist: Claire Cottrill, known as Clairo, is a 26-year-old American singer-songwriter. She began releasing music when she was 13 years old and is commonly known for her songs “Bags,” Pretty Girl,” and “Sophia,” and now for her new album, Charm. This new album has received a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album this year. I encourage everyone to listen to the album independently before forming an opinion, as we all have different tastes.
The long-awaited album was released on July 12th, 2024 (three years after her last album) and did not disappoint. Clairo uses this to explore love, growth, exploration, risk, and acceptance. The album was a smashing hit, reaching number 8 on the US Billboard 200—her first time reaching the top 10! The soft rock jazz project was addictive, forcing you to nod and tap your feet.
The most beloved track of the album, featured second in her lineup, talks about the yearning for love and how being in love would motivate them to do more in life. This introduces the idea that without love, life is pointless. When put in such blunt terms, it seems bleak, which highly contrasts with the beautiful melody of the song and her enchanting voice.
In contrast, “Thank “You, the album’s fifth track, has a message of mourning love. More specifically, it emphasizes being thankful for past loves, what they teach about yourself and others, and the good times you had. The two songs are a potential cause-and-effect situation.
My personal favorite song on the album is “Add Up My Love,” which, in my opinion, brings the project to a whole new level. It’s addicting, and when I first listened to it, I had to put it on replay for at least a week. It’s upbeat, fun, and makes you want to dance with your friends late at night.
Overall, Charm was one of many great albums from the summer of 2024. However, it sets itself apart by identifying as a jazz album. Not many other stream artists these days explore jazz, and fewer do it successfully, so Charm is perfect. We all needed to relax, chill, and go with the grove of our hectic summer, and Charm is just the way to do that.
