In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, Charli xcx reflected on the past year of her career and said “BRAT” (2024) was the “total opposite of an overnight success story.” This year, Charli xcx is experiencing a new level of success: the critically-acclaimed “BRAT” album, a nationwide arena tour and now the release of a remix “BRAT” record with features from artists like Ariana Grande, Lorde and The 1975.
“Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” (2024) is, at its core, a club record. Remixes of songs like “Club classics,” “Von dutch” and “365” feel more like songs you’d hear during a DJ set than on the original version of “BRAT.” They lack the same traditional song structure present in their original versions, but that makes them even better tracks to listen to at a club at 2 a.m. when the strobe lights are flashing.
The remix album does have some more downtempo moments, though. “I might say something stupid featuring the 1975 & jon hopkins” is more ballad-like than the original version with more live instruments. It’s certainly tongue-in-cheek to include Matty Healy, The 1975’s frontman, on a song about saying the wrong thing, given his propensity for controversial soundbites. While that might be a funny choice, the song drags and Matty Healy does not provide substance — an ironic feat for someone who always has something to say, whether it’s good or bad.
“I think about it all the time featuring bon iver” is a better example of a slower track that still works within the confines of a club album. With Bon Iver being a folk artist, it might seem like an odd collaboration with Charli xcx. However, Bon Iver’s previous experiments with electronic elements and autotune in his 2016 album, “22, A Million” have made him a comfortable collaborator. Both artists croon back and forth with autotune-laden vocals as Charli xcx muses about whether or not she wants to become a mother. This track might not be one to dance to, but it is a worthwhile listen.
One of the most emotionally potent moments on both versions of the album is the track “So I.” Both tracks center around Charli xcx sharing her feelings on her late friend and frequent collaborator, pop artist SOPHIE. On the original version of “So I,” Charli reflects on her regrets from their relationship, singing “Why did I push you away?” over a simple, somber electronic beat.
On the remix track, Charli xcx and A. G. Cook — Charli xcx and SOPHIE’s frequent collaborator and producer — celebrate SOPHIE’s life. “Now I wanna think about all the good times,” Charli xcx repeats as the beat, which is more lively than the original track, builds to an abrupt conclusion.
The biggest weakness of the remix album is the need for more cohesion. Some songs are club bangers while some are more saccharine, and that difference is often stark. The songs also vary in the degree to which they have been remixed. Songs like “Club classics featuring bb trickz,” “Sympathy is a knife featuring ariana grande” and “Talk talk featuring troye sivan” are complete reimaginings of their original tracks from “BRAT.”
However, there are some songs such as “Girl, so confusing featuring lorde” and “Guess featuring billie eilish” that have the exact same beat as their original versions, just with a new verse from the featured artists. Both of those songs are still great, especially Lorde’s track where she and Charli xcx mend their friendship through their collaboration. Nevertheless, in remixing some songs completely and leaving others barely changed, Charli xcx leaves the listener unsatisfied and searching for more.
While “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” might feel a bit uneven, it is an impressive cherry on top for Charli xcx’s career-defining year. “BRAT” has left its mark in almost every pocket of pop culture, from music-nerd appeal and TikTok fame to an SNL sketch and presidential election headlines. The fact that Charli xcx could put together an album of remixes featuring famous artists from across the musical spectrum confirms that 2024 was inarguably the year of “BRAT.”
