Throughout the rollercoaster ride of Planet Her, Doja Cat often pushed back against her detractors. The “Edgelord” made it clear she wasn’t afraid to rile up her audience. But could she keep the attention focused on her music rather than her antics?
Doja Cat’s Scarlet album review
Doja’s best moments on Scarlet explore her ferocity in creative and intriguing ways. However, the album’s worst moments rely on familiar tropes and subjects. Her predictable issues about haters, trophies, and her success started to sound monotonous.
With 17 tracks, Scarlet also feels bloated at times as it covers all of her favorite topics without bringing anything new to the table. Still, even when the record isn’t hitting on all cylinders, Doja delivers to her fans. Her ability to connect with her listeners and make them feel heard has never been more evident than it is on this album.
From the sultry, seductive “Attention” to the abrasive “Demons,” Doja Cat makes Scarlet an evocative reminder that she’s here to stay. Whether you’re an edge lord or not, you’ll have to admit it’s pretty hard not to want to give her a high five for that. Despite the highs and lows, Scarlet is Doja’s most artistically adventurous to date.
It finds her embracing her demons in her most unapologetic way. The lead single, “Paint the Town Red,” debuted atop the Billboard 200 and has already scored a second week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. A power pop bop, the track has Doja swaggering in and calling out her detractors.
She’s dressed in a red body paint that doubles as blood. Adorned with long, claw-like fingernails. It gives off equal parts Sissy Spacek in Brian De Palma’s Carrie and Dianne Ladd’s red lipstick-smeared psycho mom in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart.
