Hello “Brat-umn,” goodbye “BRAT” summer.

Charli XCX released “Brat and it’s completely different but still brat” on Oct. 11. This project is a remix album containing 16 refurbished tracks inspired by her sixth album, “BRAT.”

Five tracks on the album were previously released as singles, which left fans in anticipation for months after the original album’s release. The standout single from the album is undoubtedly “Girl, so confusing” featuring Lorde. Not only was this track extremely successful in streams, but it also allowed Charli XCX and Lorde to iron out their real-life differences and, as the lyrics state, “work it out on the remix.”

During the lead-up to the album’s release, there were concerns that it was a money grab or a way to cling to “BRAT summer.” Charli soothed these worries by releasing multiple remixes that sounded completely different from the originals. A remix that showcases this is “Sympathy is a knife” featuring Ariana Grande. As soon as the album’s featured artists were announced, Ariana Grande’s track quickly became the most highly anticipated track. Fans began trying to predict what Grande’s feature would sound like, but they would soon be proven wrong. This remix disregarded the original lyrics and instrumental but stayed true to the song’s meaning, which is the comparison and mistreatment of female artists. 

“Brat and it’s completely different but still brat” feels reminiscent of Charli’s albums “how i’m feeling now” and “Pop 2.” Both albums are perfect balances of vulnerable lyrics set over experimental instrumentals. A track from the remix album that showcases this is “Everything is romantic remix” featuring Caroline Polachek, where Charli confides in her friend and asks, “Everything’s still romantic, right?” This track honors the original by simply highlighting the unexpected beauty in every aspect of life.

A personal favorite off of this album is “I think about it all the time” featuring Bon Iver. As a Bon Iver fan, the reveal that he was featured on “I think about it all the time” felt odd because the song is about the worry that the time to have children is running out. However, this ended up being the most hard-hitting song on the track list. Charli is somehow more vulnerable here than in the original, and Bon Iver’s point of view accompanied by his vocals is extremely impactful.

“Spring breakers” is a fan favorite of Charli’s, so fans took notice to its lack of a remix on the initial album drop. Thankfully, the long-awaited Kesha remix was swiftly released two days later. The intriguing part of “Spring breakers” is the incorporation of Charli’s songs “Boom Clap” and “Vroom Vroom” within the lyrics. Kesha did the same on “Spring breakers” referencing “Praying” and “TikTok” in her verse. 

While many new Charli XCX fans are hesitant about this remix album, it lived up to every expectation. The features, while some initially confusing, made perfect sense and gave each track a new life. “Brat and it’s completely different but still brat” feels less like a remix album, and more like an entirely new record. 

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