Sabrina's retro flair

The words “I’ve heard this before” pop into my head as I listen to Sabrina Carpenter’s recently released album titled “Man’s Best Friend.”

- AUDIOJUNKIE BY PUNCH LIWANAG

I’ve put off listening to Sabrina’s latest, the followup to her ultra successful “Short ‘n Sweet” album that upped her status from ‘post-Disney-actor-era’ to pop superstar levels, so that I can have some distance. Because, like everyone, there was a time when I couldn't shake off humming “Espresso” in my head.

I wanted to absorb the album, not rush-listen-review it to be fair to Sabrina Carpenter, only because the album, right after a mega-successful campaign, is always interesting. One gets the measure of a pop artist after a big hit single. Is she going the same route? Is she going the way nobody expects? Is it going to be the same music team and all that jazz?

Which leads me back to “I’ve heard this before.” Because this is old music that she’s playing. The ’70s and ’80s pop kind, to be exact.