The Loneliest Time

Though there are bright spots of disco bliss, for the most part, The Loneliest Time is a rather reflective project. Its creation took place at one of the most uncertain periods of our recent history, and that uncertainty made Jepsen’s songwriting introspective. ... Deep questions aren’t answered on the record, but her struggles make for some beautiful music.

The album’s only real mishap is the lack of sonic cohesion between energizing jams and moments of quiet clarity, but each song is able to hold its own as a solid pop offering.

Her charm holds together The Loneliest Time's whirlwind of daydreams, confessions, and decades of pop allusions, making it another strong album from an artist who knows her niche and how to grow beyond it. At its best, it's pop written by and for those who dream of something, and someone, real.

As a record, Time isn’t just a sonic heart-swell for listeners, it’s the latest shift for a singer-songwriter who seems as if she’s constantly stretching toward the most whole version of herself.

The Loneliest Time is still a solid leftfield pop album, showcasing Jepsen’s ability to draw across eras and genres to push the boundaries of what pop can be: ultimately, this is what makes her such a compelling artist.

For all the broken romances on The Loneliest Time, it’s an uplifting experience.

The soundscapes on ‘The Loneliest Time’ may not be as grandiose, or as sugar-coated as we’re used to from her, but that doesn’t mean the feelings aren’t still a lot. ‘The Loneliest Time’ is definitely Carly’s most introspective album.

Fully fleshed out pop songs with endless charm, if this is what living in the moment sounds like, it suits her.

It’s a shame there are a couple of tracks here that don’t quite meet the quality of the rest. ... Where The Loneliest Time works best is in its ability to provide sheer, plain honest fun.

The Loneliest Time ends up toggling between this effervescent disco-inspired pop and Laurel Canyon folk sensibilities, with neither shedding light on a new facet of the other. In spite of The Loneliest Time’s tinge of cynicism when it comes to relationships, the title track (which serves as the album’s finale), ends everything on a high note.

Jepsen’s wide range of diverse influences is still on display, but she’s the most mature and refined she has ever sounded.

As fun as this record is (I mean, it’s a Carly Rae Jepsen record, which is basically the definition of “fun”), the loneliness and weight of the last three years definitely seem to be holding Jepsen back from reaching the euphoria of, say, “Cut to the Feeling” or “I Really Like You.” ... The Loneliest Time finds Jepsen taking a much needed (if small) step inward from the periphery she’s walked for a decade.

We have an album that diversifies Jepsen’s sound in intriguing ways, while sounding a bit rough around the edges at times.

With The Loneliest Time, Jepsen strikes a delicate balance.

There’s no question that Jepsen can write songs that transport you—to the heat of the moment, the late-night neon glow, the driver’s seat on the way out of town. With a more defined roadmap, the whole album might have led somewhere worth sticking around for a while.