Everyone knows about Brat. The obnoxious neon marketing and simplistic cover describes itself perfectly; bratty. Not playing into modern expectations of what pop is or should be, opting instead for a bold cover to represent the loud club music within the album. It took the world by storm, turning Charli xcx from being a “one-hit wonder” in the public eyes to the bratty pop girl she is now.
Months after Brat’s release, it was graced with a remix album titled Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat, almost every single one of the 18 songs off the original album getting a remix with a guest artist. It’s a genius move to keep the brat spirit running but does it stack up to the original album?
In short, yes, it does. The songs are expertly remixed, but some definitely hit harder than others.
The Highs
Namely, two of the highest highs are the Guess remix featuring Billie Eilish and the Girl, so confusing remix featuring Lorde. A standout track in my eyes was Talk talk featuring Troye Sivan.
Billie’s voice lends itself well to the song and her verse is so perfect that it sounds straight from the original song. Lorde’s feature is like a breath of fresh air, her style meshing very well with Charli’s. They certainly did work it out on the remix!
As for Troye Sivan, it’s only fitting that he ended up being one of the album’s best features. Charli and Troye’s Sweat Tour just came to a close, selling out every last show. They’re close friends even off stage and out of the studio, and when considering their personalities and style, both in fashion and music, it just makes sense.
The Lows
For songs I thought were misses, I did not enjoy the 360 remix featuring Robyn and Yung Lean or the Club classics remix featuring Bb trickz. Sadly, the Mean girls remix with Julian Casablancas ended up being the worst.
The problem with these tracks is mostly the lack of chemistry between the guest vocals and Charli’s vocals with the instrumentals. The 360 remix in particular felt too crowded and overwhelming, even by Brat standards, while the Club classics remix just felt like a general downgrade from the original track.
As a fan of the Strokes, the Mean girls remix was a disappointment. The instrumental was hard to listen to, and neither vocalist could redeem it. Julian Casablancas was not the best guest for this style of music, and was not utilized well in the slightest.
Brat was more than an album, it was a phenomenon. The remix album helped cement it as one of the most iconic pop incidents of this decade, maybe even further. The “Brat Green” might be harsh to look at, but the album was a gift and a breath of life into the pop scene. Whether or not Charli continues with Brat or moves on from this, it was a joy to live through.
