Review: “Charm” by Clairo explores ups and downs of love

Claire Cottrill, an American singer-songwriter known as Clairo, released her third studio album in July, delightfully titled “Charm."

“Charm” is easily one of my favorite albums from this year. It’s a tenderhearted retention of fleeting moments — rosy windows in time that grow fuzzy around the edges, becoming even more charming once they’ve passed. It’s around 38 minutes of whispery jazz, soft rock elements, groovy orchestral motifs and undeniable warmth, with Cottrill’s lyricism humming along to each easy-going melody.

Much like its predecessors “Immunity” and “Sling," “Charm” — her first self-released album — tells us a story. While “Immunity” explored youth and “Sling” delved into the multifacetedness of growing old, “Charm” lies somewhere in-between: falling in love. 

“‘Charm’ is the moment when two people meet, and they have separate life experiences, all their own stories and feelings,” Cottrill said in an interview with The New Yorker. That invigorating buzz of meeting someone new and flirting with the future ahead carries throughout the album.

The album starts with “Nomad," which is a reflection on a past relationship.

“Every time I see someone new / I just think of you, nothing I do / Can help it now,” Cottrill sings.

I think this idea of ‘starting with the end’ is important. It points to how “Charm” represents iterated cycles of love, finding it over and over, reliving those ups and downs each time. This cycle is something about “Charm” that I believe sets it apart. In a music industry that is constantly leaning towards monetization, Cottrill remains true to storytelling. 

The next song, “Sexy to Someone," is the next phase of the story. It expresses that feeling of wanting to move on from the past and once again feel the intimacy of being cherished by another person. 

“Oh, I need a reason to get out of the house / And it’s just a little thing I can’t live without,” Cottrill sings in each chorus.

Other songs on the album, like “Terrapin” and “Juna," feel like whimsical testaments to this hope. They remind me of the thrill of leaving a party early with a lover — that giggling excitement that spurs you on as you hasten past the parked cars and balloon-covered mailbox. 

“With you, there’s no pretending / You know me, you know me / And I just might know you, too,” Cottrill sings in “Juna." 

However, hidden among the honeyed tracks are also songs that tell a different story. Or, at least, a different side of this story. 

When I first listened to “Charm," I missed this. Not because I didn’t listen to each song, but because Cottrill has camouflaged them by keeping their tone light-hearted and sultry. It took the second listen to realize that Cottrill isn’t just singing about the good parts of love, but also the bad or more painful parts. The camouflage Cottrill is using here, I think, adds another layer to the meaning of “Charm." When we’re in love, we sometimes see things as we want to see them, rather than as they are. 

“Thank You” is an example of this. Sonically, the song shares the same upbeat, syncopated quality as the rest of the album. Lyrically, though, it gives me a sense of loss. It feels like looking toward the future, anticipating when a new love will, inevitably, end.

“I really hate to admit it / I put my pride on the line / ‘Cause when I met you I knew it / I’d thank you for your time,” Cottrill sings. 

I think “Thank You” is an anthem of anxious love. Enjoying the moment, but then remembering the pain of a possible conclusion, like feeling nostalgic for a moment you are still living in. While I was listening to “Charm," I could feel how Cottrill was zeroing in on the aches and pains of love. There is something raw and relatable about it.

Finally, the album ties the ribbon with “Pier 4," which brings us back to square one. Except, Cottrill asks her questions differently now.

“What's the cost of it, of being loved? / When close is not close enough,” She sings. 

Like “Nomad," “Pier 4” is a reflection. Is being with someone charming and exciting worth a lack of understanding? Or does it take away from the value of love? Whatever the answer, Cottrill ends “Charm” with the ability for us to decide what happens next. Does the cycle restart? 

Well, hit that play button and find out!