Cabello, Camila
C,XOXO
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

Sealed 2024 gatefold original pressed on limited edition baby pink vinyl. "Early on C,XOXO, Camila Cabello calls herself out, singing "Cute girl with a sick mind," a lyric that could easily stand as the one-line pitch for the album. Her follow-up to 2022's Familia, 2024's C,XOXO finds the Havana-born, Florida-raised Cabello entering her bleach-blonde era, both literally and figuratively, as she embraces her inner Miami party girl and celebrates the sweaty, dayglow club atmosphere of her hometown. The aforementioned lyric pops up in "Chanel No. 5," a woozy, minimalist R&B number built around a fractured piano riff that sounds like it was lifted off a warped vinyl children's LP, all of which nicely encapsulates the consciously brand-centric, 2000s Zeitgeist atmosphere Cabello is exploring here. Produced by Pablo Díaz-Reixa (aka El Guincho), Jasper Harris, and Daniel Aged, C,XOXO is a bold sonic departure for the singer, eschewing much of the Latin-tinged pop of her past work in favor of a sleazy, hyperpop sound marked by dump-truck synths, clipped trap beats, and a tidal wave of Auto-Tuned vocals. This is an album of Cabello feeling herself, leaning into the club-going experiences and romantic heartbreak of her past, and transforming them into moments of aspirational bliss. This is especially true on the opening "I Luv It," where she turns her sexual empowerment into a never-ending bass drop, an experiential "meteor shower" that could go on forever but for sure won't. That the song also manages to take a sample of Gucci Mane's "Lemonade" and a guest appearance by mumble rapper Playboi Carti and push all of it together in a cohesive fashion, speaking to Cabello's clear aesthetic vision and her strong grasp on her influences. Equally potent guest spots pop up elsewhere, including Lil Nas X on the flirty, disco-house-infused "I Think He Knows" and JT and Yung Miami of City Girls, who take a ride on the euphoric, evocatively titled hip-hop anthem "Dade County Dreaming." Prime among the guests, however, is Drake, who duets with Cabello on the sultry electro-dancehall number "Hot Uptown." That said, one might be left wondering why Drake is essentially allowed to sing solo on "Uuugly," a baffling choice on an album that otherwise does a good job focusing on its star. Another interesting if vexing decision is the addition of several mood-setting interludes, including what amounts to a spoken confessional by rapper BPL Kosher praising Cabello's music. At just over 30 minutes in length, C,XOXO is breezy, and these short interludes come off as somewhat superfluous. Regardless, the album is never boring, leaving you with the sense that Cabello is letting loose and blowing off some creative musical steam. She also gives herself some room to dig into some deeper emotions, as on the synthy, neon-lit R&B anthem "DREAM-GIRLS" and the acoustic guitar-driven ballad "Twentysomethings,' both of which ruminate on ways even the wildest club kids can mature into themselves. At its best, C,XOXO is a vibes album, musical perfume -- a spritz of Cabello's "meteor shower" pop moment." All Music Guide - Matt Collar