Clairo – Charm

Charm, released in 2024, is the third studio album by Clairo (Claire Cottrill). The record marks a graceful evolution in her sound, moving further from her lo-fi beginnings toward a rich, analog-driven palette. Drawing influence from soft rock, soul, and jazz-inflected pop, Clairo pairs her gentle vocals with warm instrumentation—live drums, horns, and vintage keyboards—all arranged with a sense of restraint and intimacy. The result is lush yet subtle, maintaining the quiet vulnerability that has always defined her work. In her discography, Charm feels like a confident maturation. Produced with Leon Michels, the album glows with analog warmth and a timeless sensibility, trading immediacy for depth. Lyrically, Clairo explores affection, memory, and self-acceptance through soft grooves and layered harmonies, capturing a late-summer stillness. It’s a record that prioritizes mood over spectacle—deeply personal yet effortlessly poised.

Reviews

“Her voice glides over Charm’s grooves effortlessly, and the songs on Charm radiate warmth and yes, charm.” – Slant Magazine

“On her third album, Charm, Clairo has abandoned the dynamic bedroom-pop artist she used to be, in favour of a matured sound that feels somehow too polished.” – Far Out