Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen isn’t finished bringing infectious tunes to her listeners as she drops her seventh studio album, The Loveliest Time, released on July 28 under 604, Schoolboy, and Interscope Records. This 13-track album is a companion and loose thematic inversion of her previous album, The Loneliest Time, consisting of disco-pop songs such as “Shy Boy,” “Kollage,” and “Psychedelic Switch.”

For some background, The Loveliest Time was produced from Jepsen’s usual process of releasing “B-sides” for her previous albums such as Emotion and Dedicated. In an interview with Variety in July, she explained the decision to create a B-side for The Loneliest Time, “I really leaned into it being one of the most exciting processes for me. The B-sides territory is this expansive world where I can play in all directions.” 

In line with that, she mentioned that this album isn’t only a play on dark and light themes. When interviewed by Rolling Stone, she emphasized that “I didn’t want it to just be as simple as a dark and light. We’re not as simple as that as humans. It’s more about stepping into the experience of being alive and coming out from that state of hibernation and then loneliness.” The Loveliest Time brings out the best of yourself from the darkness and highlights the idea of personal growth. 

A whirlwind fantasy romance

Starting with “Anything to Be With You,” this upbeat track captures the feeling of doing anything to be with that special someone you hold dear. With the invitation of pre-chorus lyrics of “I really wanna feel with you. I can be down when you’re down. Anything to be with you,”  listeners would also want to take that chance in being with someone before they slip away. Additionally, the song contains dreamy vocals of Jepsen that echo her desires and bright drumming that will get you into the groove. 

The romantic start then turns chaotic with “Kamikazee.” There’s a gradual build-up of the song that explodes into a synth-pop-infused chorus about a type of chaos when visiting a former lover over the weekend. Moreover, the song touches on a form of fatality for both lovers when rekindling their flame for each other. The song's lyrics aren't as upbeat and romantic, but it provides some solace for dealing with the past and moving forward even if it hurts. 

Another notable track on this album is “Shy Boy.” The first and only single of The Loveliest Time,  which had reworked lyrics as part of the singer-songwriter’s previous songs such as ”It’s Like This” and “Depends On You.” The song has a golden chorus that shines and sparkles with the lyrics “Shy boy, stir me up. You didn’t even know you got the Midas touch.”  It’s certainly a song to get up and dance to. 

Waking up to reality

Next is “Kollage” which contrasts from the pop sounds familiar to Jepsen. The song has a notable psychedelic-like guitar and steady drumming which transports listeners to the skies. Its lyrics are as fragile as it covers the subject of dealing with the feeling of hurting oneself. There’s some soul-searching and taking the time to be at peace with your emotions on this track.  

“Psychedelic Switch” begins with some nostalgia with its guitar build-up and minimal beats. The song captures the feeling of living in the moment. It could even be the inverse of the song and hit single “The Loneliest Time,” from the same-titled album. Its lyrics narrate being out in the open and not being afraid to show all your insecurities to someone you love. Moreover, the song is unapologetic and has quick repetitive beats to also keep you on your toes. 

Then we have “Weekend Love,” a romance song that has experimental riffs along its track. It also stands out for its theme of spontaneity with its lyrics, “I haven't seen you around, But it's alright, I'm alright.” This track also wraps up the entire album with its flirtatious melody and unusual sounds which are still as catchy and fun as the album’s other songs.

The star continues to shimmer

Certainly, we've had an enjoyable experience listening to this companion album to “The Loneliest Time.” It showcased Jepsen's willingness to experiment with her music further and demonstrate that she is more than a "one-hit wonder" from her "Call Me Maybe" days. Her other songs and albums, such as the B-sides, are well worth hearing as they provide a fresh viewpoint on Jepsen as a singer-songwriter. 

Supplementary Recommendations:

• “After Last Night” - A glitch-filled track that takes listeners to the stars when infatuated with someone. 
• “Come Over” - Another invitational song about desiring to see someone. It has a fun instrumental to bop your head to during its lyrics which makes it an underrated track in the album. 
• “Put it To Rest” - A piano-filled melody about shaking off your regrets of things you couldn’t control.

The Loveliest Time captivates listeners with its experimental pop sounds and widely recognized CRJ-style emotional lyrics. Listeners will certainly be eager to see where Jepsen will lead them in her upcoming musical pursuits as the album ushers in The Loneliest Time's last chapter.

For now, jump into the dreamy worlds of The Loveliest Time, available now on various streaming platforms.