header image: tyrell hampton
words: meg hilborne, @meghillbilly
some of the finest work in xcx's discography
following the cultural phenomenon of brat, charli xcx returns with music, fashion, film – an album that feels both expansive and deeply personal.
as the title suggests, the record explores the three creative worlds that have shaped charli’s career, but beneath its daring production and infectious hooks lies her most introspective work yet. across the album, she grapples with fame, identity, creativity, ageing, relationships and even mortality, offering a level of vulnerability that we rarely get to see. not every experiment lands, but when it does, music, fashion, film reminds us why charli remains one of pop’s most fearless and fascinating artists.
below is a list of every track, ranked from worst to best.
11. card declined
‘card declined’ is the one track that never quite clicked with me. representing the fashion side of the album, it’s slower and more restrained than much of the record – but it lacks the emotional weight of the project’s more reflective songs. on first listen, the lyrics feel somewhat empty, though there is an interesting idea buried underneath. references to buying a smile or an entirely new backstory before having her card declined could be interpreted as a comment on how wealth and status can’t buy happiness or identity. even so, it’s a track i found tricky to connect with.
10. yeah
aside from its strong beat, ‘yeah’ feels surprisingly underdeveloped. the lyrics don’t really go anywhere, making it one of the album’s weaker moments. it almost feels like a sketch of an idea rather than a finished song – while the production keeps it enjoyable enough, it’s the only track that feels slightly rushed.
09. 2007
a nostalgic look back at where it all began. “p-pop star in my bedroom like it’s 2007” takes listeners back to the year charli first started creating music, reminding everyone how firmly she’s been building towards this moment. the lyrics are fairly straightforward, but the infectious production and irresistible chorus make it impossible not to sing along.
08. i’m afraid
one of the album’s most intimate moments, ‘i’m afraid’ offers a glimpse into charli’s anxieties surrounding her marriage to the 1975’s drummer george daniel. lyrics like “what if i ruin it? / take the ring, take the ring” reveal fears that many will sympathise with despite charli’s superstar status. the production perfectly complements the vulnerability, creating one of the record’s most emotionally honest tracks.
07. persona
named after ingmar bergman’s iconic 1966 film, ‘persona’ explores performance and identity; charli simultaneously critiques and celebrates the version of herself she presents to the world, questioning where the performer ends and the real person begins. it’s one of the album’s smartest lyrical ideas, backed by an addictive beat that makes it endlessly replayable.
06. magic metal montana
perhaps the sweetest surprise on the album, ‘magic metal montana’ is charli’s love letter to longtime collaborator a.g. cook. speaking on the nicky at night podcast, she described it as “a love song… about my most long-term collaborator” – and that affection shines through. her vocals sound fantastic, while the production carries an early-2000s energy that makes it feel both nostalgic and fresh.
05. rock music
the album’s lead single is deceptively simple. ‘rock music’ is ultimately about creating art with friends and rediscovering inspiration. at a time when many artists speak openly about burnout and creative exhaustion, hearing charli celebrate the joy of making music feels refreshing. sometimes simplicity is exactly what a song needs.
04. camera
one of charli’s most personal songs to date. as her acting career expands with projects including the moment, erupcja, 100 nights of hero, and i want your sex, she questions where she belongs creatively: is she at her happiest making music, or does she want to become “the girl on the screen”?
the lyric “how it makes me feel” becomes almost hypnotic, making this one of the album’s catchiest tracks despite its uncertainty.
03. no one lasts forever
few artists could end a song with a monologue from david cronenberg and make it feel completely natural, but charli somehow pulls it off.
‘no one lasts forever’ continues the album’s existential themes, reflecting on fame, public judgement, and mortality. rather than fearing those things, she embraces the idea that nothing lasts forever – it’s philosophical without losing its pop appeal, resulting in one of the album’s standout songs.
02. wink wink
sometimes less really is more. ‘wink wink’ proves that you don’t need complicated lyrics to create an unforgettable pop song. built around an irresistible hook, charli cheekily insists she’s not a “bad girl anymore” before immediately undermining herself with a knowing wink. it’s playful, infectious and impossible not to dance to.
01. ss26
ss26 is, for me, the masterpiece of the moment. beneath its sleek production lies one of charli’s most devastating lyrical statements: “spring, summer ‘26 / when the world is gonna end, no hope for any of it / yeah, we’re walking on a runway that goes straight to hell / nothing’s gonna save us, not music, fashion, or film.” those final words perfectly encapsulate the album’s central themes. throughout music, fashion, film, charli explores those three creative worlds as both passions and escapes, yet here she admits that even the things we rely on most can’t protect us from an uncertain world.
it’s an unexpectedly vulnerable and existential statement from an artist who so often hides behind confidence and charisma. the result is not only the album’s strongest song, but one of the finest songs of her career.
