I expect nothing but greatness from Coco & Clair Clair, and that’s exactly what their new album, “Sexy,” is: greatness. Sprinkled with dreamy beats and iconic features, “Sexy” is made for the sexy yet eccentric femme audience.
Coming in at just over 32 minutes, this digestible yet beautifully created album sticks to the Coco & Clair Clair formula: unexpected pop culture references, swelling choruses and witty, soft-spoken verses. While it does have a formula, it’s not boring by any means. Their lyricism kept me on my toes.
“Cherub” provides a soft start to the album with a self-described “RuneScape type beat.” It’s not the best song on the album, but it has one of the most fun beats. “Bad Lil Vibe” follows and presents their fuckgirl aesthetic on a silver platter. Their aesthetic focuses on getting men to do what they want, championing having a good time over getting in a relationship. Their lyrics flip the script on rap music, overtly objectifying men and treating them like trash. This song also contains one of the best lines on the album: “He wanna sync up with my period / Meanwhile he saved in my phone as ‘Idiot.’”
Related: [COLUMN: Three albums to listen to as the weather gets colder]
Their first fauxcoustic song, “The Hills,” features up–and-coming rap artist DEELA who perfectly matches Coco & Clair Clair’s musical and lyrical aesthetic. The beat evokes busy dreaminess, a staple on this album. All of their featured artists feel like great friends of the duo, honoring their creativity by bringing their A-game.
“U + Me” feels so familiar every time I hear it. Initially released in 2020, its beat captures the haunting feeling of being stuck inside while the lyrics boast about an innocent love. Britney Spears is cited as an influence on the song with the inclusion of “It’s Britney, bitch” in every chorus, as well as sampling her song “Everytime.” “8AM” doesn’t do it for me just because the vocal distortion throws me for a loop. That very same distortion does give it that early morning grogginess that I think they were going for.
It’s hard to compete with “Bitches,” easily the most out-of-pocket song on the album. “Bitches” artfully showcases their songwriting talent and creativity as well as the talent of Marjorie-W.C. Sinclair, who is featured on the track. The best two lines on the album are hidden within this gold mine of a song, the funniest being, “Girl built like a vape pen and think that she compare.”
“Pop 1” has a tough act to follow, and it feels lackluster compared to the rest of the project. “Love Me” deviates slightly from the fuckgirl persona yet still holds up to the Coco & Clair Clair formula with one of the catchiest choruses yet. Followed by the second fauxcoustic song, “Lamb,” it stands out in the second half.
Related: [COLUMN: Harry Styles sucks the life from dull melodrama ‘My Policeman’]
Porches provides a more melodic feature on “Lamb.” The song itself mentions the desire to move away from their party identity without losing the signature production and chill party vibe. “TBTF” is the only not-cringe body-positive song I’ve ever heard. It’s easily the most danceable song on the album without overshadowing the intricate beat that follows in “Be With U.” Once again featuring an artist that pairs beautifully with their music, Deto Black’s verse adds some needed variation to the song.
Strategically ending with their most iconic song “Pop Star,” Coco & Clair Clair put their heart and soul into “Sexy.” “Pop Star” is featured in thousands of TikTok edits, trends and fashion videos, blasting the duo to fame. “Sexy” is the perfect casual clubbing album for going out with friends or staying in for a solo dance party.
Support the Indiana Daily Student to beat Purdue's student newspaper, the Exponent, through making a donation to the IDS Legacy Fund! Whichever publication raises more money before the Purdue v. IU football game Nov. 26 "wins" the challenge, but all donations go to support student journalism at the respective publications. To help IU beat Purdue and support the IDS, follow this link to donate.
