Album Review: Charli XCX’s ‘Sucker’

It’s here, suckers!

Charli XCX released her killer sophomore effort, Sucker, today and I think at this point it’s safe to say that this album is her key to superstardom. She’s been quoted saying that she wants to take over the world and now her empire stands on such solid foundation for that dream to take flight. With this album brings everything pop music has been missing since the Spice Girls said goodbye and punk faded from the somewhat-mainstream scene.

It was only a year ago that 22-year-old Charlotte Aitchison lived in electro-pop obscurity, releasing her debut, True Romance, a budding chart-topper with an impressive tracklist of synthpop heaven into the world. Though this London queen held the reigns way before she hit Top 40, being at the helm of Icona Pop’s “I Love It,” it was her rather “Fancy” collaboration with rap superstar Iggy Azalea and the main single to The Fault In Our Stars soundtrack, “Boom Clap,” that catapulted her to where she is now. It’s about damn time.

Sucker opens with the appropriately-titled title track and a very loud, “f$%# you, sucker!” “Sucker” sets the tone of the record without giving away too much as “Break The Rules” and the Ramones-esque, “London Queen” (which blares resemblance to punk royalty’s “Blitzkrieg Bop” on so many levels, I almost always expect her to be shouting “hey, ho, let’s go!” in the background) take us through the mind of what it’s like to be a burgeoning pop star in a world where the word “punk” only comes to mind in the fashion world and 90’s nostalgia roams far and wide.

While the singer previously stated that fans of her first record may not like her new sound, songs like “Doing It” and closing track, “Need Ur Luv,” seem to prove otherwise with just enough synth to keep True Romance lovers hooked. There’s really nothing she can’t do.

Sucker is the perfect wrap-up album to a long year. Let loose and enjoy this one. It’s a new chapter. I have no doubt that XCX will be emblazoned into our heads all through 2015. Are you ready? If you’re not, she’s just gonna do it anyway.

Sucker is available now HERE.

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