At first glance, this album may look closer to an arduous scholarly examination than a new pop project by an artist whose previous hit featured an international pop star. Divided across 4 different sections and voiced in 13 tongues, it is a breathtaking classical-tinged work that delves into female mystique, religious transcendence, and physical change, often by way of the lens of different saintly figures. The end of a romance—a theme handled with grounded honesty elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, supported by the lush presence of a full orchestra and contributions from an award-winning songwriter among a long list of collaborators. Its sheer daring alone renders the work of contemporary artists look quite modest.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
That this album succeeds in avoid overly academic chin-stroking is nothing short of a miracle, and complete praise going to the artist. While this is not the first time album to blend historical sounds with modern styles, the scale are far higher on Lux, with the balancing act more precarious. The element that really elevates her fourth release, beyond its multilayered tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core spirit of fun. Much like the legendary Björk at her height, there is a wondrous quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you into its tornado. When she's breaking hearts in two, the listener nevertheless want to stay right there for the ride.
A Prime Example of Joy
That exuberant energy comes forth brightly on a stunning piano-led ballad about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy over several minutes. Suddenly, everything drops silent, to reveal we hear a gleeful giggle and a declaration before a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo crashes in like comedic force. The song immediately segues to the wild single driven by racing strings, a powerful choir, and a cameo role from none other than Björk.
"The charm with this album is that the listener never quite know—nor want to predict—where it will go next."
Almost each song finishes in a completely different point than where it started. A track explores the fleeting trappings of celebrity over a delicate orchestration only to collapsing into electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a cut echoing the artist's earlier trap-infused work begins off moody and sinister, with menacing beats, until sudden traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus enter to soften its rough edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Accessibility
A key balancing act on the album involves straddling the gap between radical experimentation and mainstream appeal. This is no surprise that the album has achieved the artist's first release to crack the Top 5 of key charts: at its core a suite of truly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in English builds on a refrain that seems to collect more and more infectious hooks as it spirals upward. This feat is echoed on a different expansive track that grows and constricts, weaving layered tunes like an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused number seduces with its playful, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares the pop culture honesty of other heartbreak songs, eviscerating a former partner labeled an "emotional terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the singing carry a sharp edge, akin to a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
This album represents pop on a grand scale, an ambitious reach for capital-A Art in an era of impending AI-generated blankness. It rejects self-absorption for sublime elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is an abundant well of buried gems that takes time to fully mine but doesn't feels like a chore. Where some major pop albums of 2025 seemed like feasting on scraps, this record is a lavish banquet at which the characters around it, some tipsy on holy wine, flit between conversations about historical saints, the profound sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about useless partners. It is a contemporary musical from pop's most endlessly inventive visionary.
