Crash
by Charli XCX
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Mar 18, 2022
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 333 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 297 out of 333
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 333
  3. Negative: 18 out of 333
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  1. nagnagnag
    Mar 29, 2022
    8
    On the hood of a car, bleeding in a mannequin-like complexion, with an expression at once detached and empowered, Charli XCX dares you to listen to her new album. So you didn't think she could make inoffensive pop like the rest of them? That she couldn't compete with the retro-modern flavors of Dua Lipa or The Weeknd? Think again. Wait, wasn't Charli set apart by her reluctance to play itOn the hood of a car, bleeding in a mannequin-like complexion, with an expression at once detached and empowered, Charli XCX dares you to listen to her new album. So you didn't think she could make inoffensive pop like the rest of them? That she couldn't compete with the retro-modern flavors of Dua Lipa or The Weeknd? Think again. Wait, wasn't Charli set apart by her reluctance to play it safe, instead twisting pop music into strange *no pun intended* new shapes? The super-smooth lines and glitzy day-glo atmosphere that make up Crash could trick us into believing she's sold her soul for a run-of-the-mill sound, but as it turns out, the joke's on us. Writing fizzy pop anthems is just one of her many talents, and how she got her first forays into the top 40 anyway. Are we also gonna forget how she leaves a spot for mainstream sounds even on her most avant garde leaning projects? Anyway, don't be that confused. Charli's point for Crash is simple but brilliant. Use my last bullets before ending my major label contract and churn out dance-pop just like the GP knows and wants it, rehashing samples, melodies, and clichés like it's nobody's business. One reviewer at Stereogum said it veered into ''karaoke'' territory, I say that's impossible. Not only would Charli kill it at karaoke, but with her brash, wonky and upfront character, wild sense of rhythm and just the right amount of sensitivity, she has the talent to take even the most tested formulas and turn them into something fresh and emotive. ''Lightning'' and ''Constant Repeat'' are prime examples, but also ''Move Me'', a stereotypically moody and sexy mid-tempo number Charli rekindles with unmistakable passion and movement. Every note of the album denotes a palpable love for pop music, nothing like that initial window-dressing of cynicism or nihilism would lead you to believe. Crash is fun, fat-free (except for two or three stiff clunkers when it goes too self-consciously retro), and flows as easy as a top-down drive through the city; ''Twice'' ending the ride with Charli's eyes twinkling, anime-style, even in the face of dark and serious topics. Charli XCX is a very clever artist and Crash a heartfelt attempt at mainstream pop.… Expand
  2. joaotekiaware
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    Crash it's going to hit you up with some groundge, deep and viscerous emotions. This is a result of someone pure who experienced some traumas and become a bad girl that still loves, but can be heartbreaker. Charli reveals her freedom as a woman in dance tracks wich talks about love and a wild life. The production it's captivating, nostalgic and at the same time, futuristic. The referencesCrash it's going to hit you up with some groundge, deep and viscerous emotions. This is a result of someone pure who experienced some traumas and become a bad girl that still loves, but can be heartbreaker. Charli reveals her freedom as a woman in dance tracks wich talks about love and a wild life. The production it's captivating, nostalgic and at the same time, futuristic. The references of 80s, the samples, the talent as composer (that's not new for Charli's listeners) made this album one of importants of 2022.… Expand
  3. daniflag
    Aug 20, 2022
    7
    the best work of Charli's carreer, so great songs and visual of album artwork and style, so creative, not the perfect album but is on the way.
  4. Amogetswe17
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    TALENTED , BRILLIANTED , SPECTACULAR , NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE , THE POWER THAT THAT HAS ! Her best album I fear.
  5. Wanesta
    Mar 18, 2022
    9
    After creating new boundaries in pop music and slowly becoming the mainstream queen of "heavy pop", or more commonly known as "PC pop" with her last studio album and her more recent homemade mixtape, Charli decided to take another road on Crash: the one of the reinvention through an 80s-bloody-bimbo driven by vengeance and nostalgia mixed with clear (and voluntary) Janet JacksonAfter creating new boundaries in pop music and slowly becoming the mainstream queen of "heavy pop", or more commonly known as "PC pop" with her last studio album and her more recent homemade mixtape, Charli decided to take another road on Crash: the one of the reinvention through an 80s-bloody-bimbo driven by vengeance and nostalgia mixed with clear (and voluntary) Janet Jackson influences. Although it might not be as closely-tighted and precise like her recent predecessors, it's still a brilliant follow-up and hold a proud candle over the halls of Charli's discography. Honorable mention to Lightning, a new staple in her career, followed by the title track, Yuck, Twice, New Shapes, Beg For It.… Expand
  6. SimonXCX
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Excellent album. Cohesive, fun, the songs don’t sound the same! It’s incredible. Must listen
  7. macstar
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Charli XCX did what had to be done. This is a really strong pop album. AOTY!
  8. Joffreychvlr
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    INCROYABLE ARTISTE album incroyable. my car is ready to crash..............
  9. OedipeRoi
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Once again, she raisin the bar for us all. Since 2012, Charli has become a pop scientist singing facts
  10. edwinsarpong2
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Crash might be her best since pop 2! Love this album. Go on Charli get your grammy nominations you deserve it sis!
  11. xbadblood
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Não era de se esperar menos! O álbum é coerente e as músicas vão se encaixando. Sem falar de todo trabalho visual que a Charli vem fazendo nessa era.
  12. zebadonk69
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    another day another slay periodt!
    Very cohesive, my top 3 are lightning, crash and move me.
  13. lhmr
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    One of her best albums, she once again served a masterpiece by redefining the pop music codes, and all of this coming along with a powerful tribute to her close friend SOPHIE. Congrats Charli, you did great with this last album with Atlantic
  14. renatvera
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    La forma en que Charli se involucra de lleno en cada trabajo que hace, simplemente brillante, pop en su máximo esplendor, bops y baladas pop a los 80', jugando siempre con los sintetizadores, autotune, mezclando todo su mundo para dar un increíble álbum.
    La intensidad con la que canta, su propósito de ser una verdadera estrella pop en este su último álbum con su sello discográfico.
    No hay    La forma en que Charli se involucra de lleno en cada trabajo que hace, simplemente brillante, pop en su máximo esplendor, bops y baladas pop a los 80', jugando siempre con los sintetizadores, autotune, mezclando todo su mundo para dar un increíble álbum.
    La intensidad con la que canta, su propósito de ser una verdadera estrella pop en este su último álbum con su sello discográfico.
    No hay manera de describir esta joya pop creada por Charli XCX en este 2022.
    Beg for you, Good Ones & Used to know Me Canciones claves del álbum.    … Expand
  15. cassiogrande
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Esse albúm é incrível do ínicio ao fim, a transição das faixas, as batidas, o pop que eu sentia falta, te amo charli.
  16. dj0nes_
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Great, cohesive pop album from the ultimate pop star herself. Constant Repeat, Twice and Move Me are favourites, with the latter sounding like a more mature track from the True Romance era.
  17. All_ButTrU4
    Mar 18, 2022
    7
    Crash:7.8

    Charli xcx has been great at capturing a mood and riding for the feeling. I should've kept faith even as the slew of singles failed to stick and instead felt Charli xcx imitations but now the full body of work is out I can say it left the exact same imprint Caprisongs left earlier this year,meaning an artist commonly known for reinventing and grasping new sounds is leaning    Crash:7.8

    Charli xcx has been great at capturing a mood and riding for the feeling. I should've kept faith even as the slew of singles failed to stick and instead felt Charli xcx imitations but now the full body of work is out I can say it left the exact same imprint Caprisongs left earlier this year,meaning an artist commonly known for reinventing and grasping new sounds is leaning towards a pop inclined accessibility. Despite her marketed and self proclaimed "sell out era" CRASH is anything but! It's a heady adrenaline rush of pop gems sequenced with admirable care. Even in the space of the record CRASH lead singles still stand as it's weakest tracks although the background of the full track list makes them appeal more than they had. "Constant Repeat " is a thrilling almost 80's inspired admission of not being able to move on,it like the title suggests repeats with an almost coy but desperate observation of not being forgotten. The Rina inspired "Beg for you" is a club ready banger I appreciate more now. It's such a shameless bop so is the synths heavy "new shapes " that denies permanent truths but given it is followed by "good ones" goes to show reality hit sooner than we thought. There title track is a Janet Jackson wonder child that despite listing it's own self destructive or toxic tendencies it pulses with a self assured confidence that they're only like that because they aren't afraid to crash. There is not a bad song on here like the electric" baby" sounds like a sweaty workout on the dance floor and I went from hearing it's single once and being bored to repeating. "Baby" has a confidence we last saw on "next level charli" in 2019. But my two favorites come when charli channels her past selves around long standing "True Romance " era producer's like Ariel R,like on the album pinnacle " Lightening " which comes down with a near perfect critique of the parasitic dependency between pop stars and their fandoms and it's truly elevated when the production (like the album title already suggests) crashes into itself, falling together and apart with nearly visible sparks of electricity. Truly phenomenal stuff here closed off by the repetitive bliss of "twice" that seeming breaks in two towards the end as if charli is floating away at the end of the world and given how fantastic the record was you'll be happy to go with her.    … Expand
  18. yosrege
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    an amazing pop album. i love how she brings a new side to her in this new era. gonna be streaming all day and can’t wait to see her perform these songs!!!
  19. pam8wlkr
    Mar 18, 2022
    8
    Charli moved away from hyperpop, leaving only transparent hints of it, and returned to her original genre, adding a touch of 80s synths to the project. The album is dynamically balanced, rich in good lyrics and listens in one breath. This is still the same Charli, her character is still clearly heard in the songs, but not everyone will like the production of it.
  20. papelouplastico
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    é um dos trabalhos mais coesos e polidos dela. ela prometeu fazer uma síntese de todos esses anos de contrato com a warner em um só álbum e conseguiu. parabéns charli, você é artista.
  21. rebella
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    That's how you make a perfect pop album. Hope she finally wins a grammy or gets nominated at least.
  22. Apbavaro
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Wonderful. A breath of fresh air in the modern pop era where everyone is trying feverishly to bring back disco. Charli has done just that and more with this collection of high-impact sounds
  23. frankiexcx
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    She had the producers all held hostage to make this the best it could and it worked.#1 rule for new artists it to write your songs about cars.
  24. sushibyjane
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    great albumb, i love Charlie and this is amazing album, congratulations for this record
  25. Luistheking
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Charli is out here delivering the best album of the year and one of the best pop albums of the decade.
  26. RedTox
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Charli just gave us probably one of the best pop albums of the year and the most exciting thing about it is that she managed to give it a pinch of hyperpop.
  27. Lucia89
    Mar 20, 2022
    0
    No me ha impresionado nada la verdad, tiene talento pero este álbum no creo que merezca la pena.
  28. SmashingReviews
    Mar 18, 2022
    4
    If there was someone that would take the 80's synth-pop revival, that has recently become a trend, and make something great out of it, that person would be Charli. And we actually got that with tracks like "Crash" and "Good Ones". But the album isn't full synth-pop, instead it's a mix of that, classic Charli's hyperpop, and sometimes modern pop production. It's a mess, and not a good oneIf there was someone that would take the 80's synth-pop revival, that has recently become a trend, and make something great out of it, that person would be Charli. And we actually got that with tracks like "Crash" and "Good Ones". But the album isn't full synth-pop, instead it's a mix of that, classic Charli's hyperpop, and sometimes modern pop production. It's a mess, and not a good one I'm afraid. I was left feeling the album lacked a real identity. Lyrically, Charli has adopted since the start of her career simple and naive lyrics that would better compliment her hyperpop style, sometimes it feels right because it's funny and sincere, but in this album half of the time it doesn't feel anything but bad and cringy.… Expand
  29. bertobellamy
    Mar 18, 2022
    8
    A great collection of bangers with a cool 80s, 90s, and 00s vibe. Also, there's something futuristic in it that completely sets it apart from other recent pop albums.
  30. sabino0
    Mar 19, 2022
    10
    Honestly, one of her best albums yet. She DELIVERS bang after bang. The fact that there are only 2 featuring in the album makes it even better. Charli herself handles perfectly this CRASH. Lighting, Used To Know Me and Yuck are the most powerful songs in the album. The part of Caroline Polachek in New Shapes it's the highest high in the album. I'm SO THANKFUL to her and Charli.
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Most Discussed Album of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Variety
    Apr 1, 2022
    80
    So, whether she means “Crash,” as some sort of elaborate art joke or her most direct-ever (potentially) hit-filled work, Charl XCX is going out from her longtime label with a bang.
    Read full review
  2. Resident Advisor
    Mar 30, 2022
    60
    Though not without its charms, the floundering moments of Crash suggests that Charli XCX may be most comfortable making subversive music.
    Read full review
  3. Under The Radar
    Mar 25, 2022
    75
    Crash, while certainly not for everyone (what is?), is Charli XCX’s own translation of wounds—ahead of its time yet delivered somehow at the appropriate moment.
    Read full review
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