By Alice Besidski
Famous singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter’s new album Man’s Best Friend recently arrived on August 29th, 2025, barely a year after her previous album, Short n’ Sweet. Man’s Best Friend is Carpenter’s seventh studio album, and includes 12 tracks, the lead single titled “Manchild”. With elements of disco-pop, funk, R&B, and synth-rock, the album is a satirical exploration of modern romance and heartbreak. The lyrics are filled with sexual innuendos, as well as complaints about dealing with immature men.
The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, with all 12 of its tracks landing in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, breaking records along the way. However, the album was causing a stir long before its release.
The cover of Man’s Best Friend has been the topic of heated debate on the internet. The cover depicts Carpenter on her knees with a man grabbing her hair. The implication, when taken in the context of the album’s name, seems to be that women are men’s “dogs”, or that men own women.
Understandably, the cover sparked heavy criticism online according to the Guardian, with many arguing that it is both degrading to women and inappropriate. Others defended Carpenter, saying that the cover was satire, or a commentary on the societal expectations of women and harmful stereotypes.
Carpenter has since insisted in numerous interviews that the imagery was for open interpretation and not intended to be offensive.
Even though Man’s Best Friend is doing well on the charts, reactions to the album have been mixed. While some say that it feels rushed, unoriginal, or the lyricism clunky, others enjoy the album.
“I think it’s her worst album so far,” says junior Zoya Bhandari. “It’s too similar to Short n’ Sweet. It taints that iconic era, which you can argue is her best one. She’s also trying too hard to be country pop, and it’s not working.”
Personally, I think that the sexual themes of the album are starting to feel a bit over used for Carpenter, but the album is enjoyable. Although they could have benefited from more time in the studio, the songs are energetic and fun. The lyrics expand upon the playful and flirtatious persona that Short n’ Sweet built for Carpenter.
Sophomore TJ Cairo explains his own opinion, saying “I think Man’s Best Friend is a very upbeat kind of album. However, I think the message of the album is pretty freaky, and the album cover is also pretty weird.”
My personal favorite song from the album is “When Did You Get Hot”. The lyrics are funny, and I like the dynamic backing track. The song has also gone viral on TikTok, along with many others from the album.
Overall, despite the controversy surrounding the album cover, the songs within are definitely worth a listen, especially if you like country or pop!
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